Aachen, August 23rd

"Golden Ring" Highest commendation for
Earl Landsberg-Velen

Today, the Honorary President of the German National Federation, Earl Landsberg-Velen (80), was awarded the "Golden Ring" by the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV). The ALRV awards this highest commendation as a tribute to exceptional personalities, who have served the CHIO and the equestrian sport as a whole to an extraordinary degree.
"Earl Landsberg-Velen's commitment has contributed immensely towards us being able to experience these FEI World Equestrian Games here in Aachen,"
commented ALRV President, Klaus Pavel. Earl Landsberg-Velen - who was also a member of the ALRV Advisory Board from 1994-2003 - was visibly moved. The FEI World Equestrian Games crown the efforts of many people. We will all celebrate a wonderful festival of equestrian sport here."

Earl Landsberg-Velen, who lives in Balve, Germany, has decisively shaped and hallmarked German equestrian sport. President of the Westphalian Equestrian Association from 1961 - 1969, Earl Landsberg was elected President of the recently founded German National Federation (FN) in November 1968. He was thus the first President of the first complete union of all institutions and organisations in the history of the German equestrian sport. Earl Landsberg was appointed to the Office of the Fédération Equestre International, FEI, even before the Olympic Games in Munich began. In 1973 he was then also voted onto the Board of Directors of the National Olympic Committee (NOK). In the same year Earl Landsberg also took the Chair of the German Olympic Equestrian Committee (DOKR). A year later, in 1974, he was elected Vice-President of the DSB (German Sports Federation).

The fact that Earl Landsberg was appointed Vice-President of the FEI in 1979 reflects the growing esteem that the FN enjoys, also at an international level. In 1993 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decorated Earl Landsberg with the "Olympic Order" for his worldwide services to the sport and for his promotion of the Olympic idea.