Emotional Opening Ceremony with a "big surprise"
FEI WEG Aachen 2006 commence on Sunday

1,000 riders, dancers and youths, 350 horses and ponies. Plus the world premiere of a big German state stud quadrille with 64 stallions. The Opening Ceremony of the FEI World Equestrian Games Aachen 2006 (August 20th - September 3rd) on Sunday (3 p.m.) will welcome the visitors from all over the world with a diverse and spectacular show in the main stadium of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV). "We will incite even more enthusiasm for the two WEG weeks," says ALRV General Director, Frank Kemperman. "The World Championships live from the sport, but above from the emotions." There are still tickets left for the Opening Ceremony and for the competitions in seven disciplines and they are available from the telephone hotline +49-(0)241-917-1111.

Numerous equestrian sport personalities as well as celebrities from the political, economic and show business circles will be there to celebrate the WEG inauguration ceremony. And Soenke Lauterbach - member of the WEG OC for the German National Federation and responsible for the planning of the Opening Ceremony - also has a "big surprise" in store for the tens of thousands of visitors. "It will be typical for Aachen," Lauterbach notes. But we are only going to reveal this much: It has got nothing to do with Printen, the Aachen biscuit speciality. And Charles the Great only plays a small role in it too.

There will in addition be "spectacular displays and show effects" the 33-year-old promises. But Lauterbach doesn't want to give anything else away. Except that it is going to be an emotional journey through the many facets of the equestrian sport. Among others, Jürgen Nees, the director of the show is going to make sure of this. The dramatic advisor from Hamburg showed how he impresses his audience when touring with Peter Maffay's children's musical "Tabaluga". And the Dutch composer, Cees Slings, has written an impressive overture especially for the Opening Ceremony.

The equestrian sport fans in the stadium and in fact throughout Germany - ZDF is broadcasting live - will experience a nostalgic review of the history of the equestrian sport as well as a preview of the highlights of the coming two weeks. The programme will last for a total of 90 minutes and will include many well-known faces, Aachen specialities and the colourful "Parade of the Nations". Quite simply pure emotion.

Ticket hotline for the FEI World Equestrian Games:

+49-(0)241-917-1111

Informations about tickets