or1980v2pt1

Equestrian Sports
The Olympic equestrian sports
competitions were held from July 24
to August 1 at the Equestrian Sports
Complex of Trade Unions in Bitsa
Forest Park (with the exception of the
Jumping Grand Prix, individual competition,
which was contested on August
3 at the Lenin Stadium Grand
Arena).
The complex facilities had the following
seating capacities: dressage
field—3,000; show jumping stadium—
12,000; Lenin Stadium Grand Arena—
100,000.
Installed at the show-jumping
stadium was a multi-purpose
scoreboard: 12 lines of 36 light planes
each, the last line being matrix (Electroimpex-VBKM-Villesz,
Hungary).
Used on the dressage field was a
mobile multi-purpose scoreboard (8
lines of 30 light planes each) of the
same make.
Installed in the area of the starting
and finish line on the dressage field
and cross-country track were three
large demonstrations score-sheets of
Soviet make, which expeditiously reported
marks, mistakes en route and
other information.
Time was kept at the jumping
grand prix and on all the endurance
tests in the three-day event by apparatus
furnished by Swiss Timing-
Heuer Leonidas (Switzerland).
The rest of the gear and equipment
at the Equestrian Sports Complex
were of Soviet make.
Vehicles specially manufactured by
Soviet enterprises were used for transporting
horses.
In pursuance of a FEI decision a
number of changes were made in the
competition programme. The individual
jumping competition was held on
the last day of the Games; in the past
the team competition used to be
staged at this time.
The fields and field houses for the
competitions met FEI requirements.
However, due to the heavy precipitation
prior to the Games, the fields for
the endurance tests were ready only
by the very start of the competitions,
and their testing by the participants
caused certain difficulties.
Each national team was furnished
the requisite number of boxes for
horses (112 horses were brought to the
Games). They were provided with feed
in accordance with FEL norms and
regulations.
Niagara Therapy Ltd. (Great Britain)
supplied the equipment for massaging
horses.
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Reliable medical and veterinary
services were provided at the competitions.
A first-aid helicopter was used
during the endurance tests.
Two participants in the three
day event were injured during the
endurance tests and were hospitalised.
For staging the competitions the
FEI appointed 19 technical representatives
and judges from 15 countries,
including 4 from the USSR.
Soviet auxiliary personnel (98 persons)
also provided services at the
competitions.
A total of 68 athletes from 11
countries took part in the competitions.
The FEI headquarters was housed
in the administration building of the
equestrian sports complex.