American sporting icon Muhammad Ali helped the World Equestrian Games get underway amid great fanfare at the Kentucky Horse Park on Saturday night in Lexington.
Chants of ‘Ali’ broke out among the crowd when the former boxing great made his entrance, and he and his wife, Lonnie, were driven around the arena in a classic car.
President of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Princess Haya bint Al Hussain, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was joined by Gov. Steve Beshear and Lexington mayor Jim Newberry in serving as dignitaries for the event.
“Few places in the world so tightly embrace the majesty of the horse,” said Princess Haya. “We are witnessing a new beginning which will help spread the magic of horse sport. If these games can do that, and I am sure they will, they will have been a great success.”
In addition to the celebrities, Saddlebreds, Standardbreds, and Thoroughbreds were featured during a salute to Kentucky. The Thoroughbreds took part in a mock race, and the ‘winning’ jockey was none other than Hall of Fame rider Chris McCarron, who won the Kentucky Derby twice.
Also, one of the Saddlebreds was pulling a cart driven by actor and Kentucky resident William Shatner.
The most scenic moment of the ceremony came earlier in the evening when US singer Wynonna Judd performed ‘My Old Kentucky Home’ before an appreciative crowd as the sun set on the outdoor arena.
The opening ceremonies featured a parade of nations followed by the 'reining' competition.
Athletes from 58 countries including UAE will compete in the 16-day competition that is comprised of eight different disciplines. It is first time the event is being held outside of Europe.
Endurance is one of eight disciplines at this year’s Games. The others are dressage, showjumping, eventing, vaulting, reining, driving and para-equestrian dressage which involves disabled riders.
The UAE team led by Sheikh Mohammed are the favourites for the over 100km endurance competition which begins later Sunday.
A former European Open champion, Sheikh Mohammed expressed his satisfaction with pre-race preparations made by the administrative and technical teams after inspecting the health, well-being and readiness of the UAE horses taking part in the competition.
The UAE delegation also comprises Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktourm, Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubail Culture, Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmook and Ali Mohammed Al Muhairi.
The team event comprises of four riders but all five UAE team members will vie for the individual gold. UAE’s Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum won the endurance gold in the World Endurance Games held in Spain in 2002.
Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa will also lead a strong challenge from Bahrain’s Royal endurance team while riders from France and Spain are expected to provide stiff competition in this gruelling ride.
Shaikh Nasser, who is the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports president and the Bahrain Olympic Committee president, will be competing alongside teammates Ghazi Al Dossary, Ahmed Abdulla, Jaffar Mirza and Abdulrahman Saad.
Other countries competing in the ride are the UK, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, India, Japan, Lithuania, Namibia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Uruguay and hosts the US.
Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
