The FEI is to create a series of discipline-specific task forces to evaluate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on its calendar ©FEI

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) is to create a series of discipline-specific task forces to evaluate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on its calendar.

The pandemic has resulted in multiple event cancellations and the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games until 2021.

The FEI Board approved the creation of the task forces during its monthly teleconference.

The task forces, each of which will focus on a single discipline, will remain in place until any further decision by the FEI Board.

FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibáñez, who has overall responsibility for the FEI calendar, will chair each task force.

FEI vice-presidents Mark Samuel and Jack Huang will be members of each task force together with European Equestrian Federation President Theo Ploegmakers and International Equestrian Organisers Association counterpart Peter Bollen.

The FEI calendar administrator, and a representative from both the FEI informational technology and FEI legal departments will sit on each task force.

FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibáñez will chair each task force ©Getty Images
FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibáñez will chair each task force ©Getty Images

The individual task forces, which will also include the chair of the relevant Technical Committee, a representative of the athletes and the FEI sports director of the specific discipline, will review all FEI calendar-related issues caused by COVID-19 and make recommendations to the world governing body on ways to address them.

It is claimed FEI President Ingmar De Vos will be kept fully updated by each task force, and will attend meetings when necessary in order to assist in finalising proposals for solutions to be put forward to the FEI Board for approval.

Following the postponement of Tokyo 2020 on Tuesday (March 24), the FEI says it has already received assurances from the International Olympic Committee that it will work in tandem with all the International Federations to find the best solutions for all issues that arise.

This includes the dates for rescheduling and the impact that will have on the international calendar for all sports.

Earlier this month, the FEI World Cup Finals in Las Vegas were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Originally scheduled for April 15 to 19 at the Thomas & Mack Center, the decision to not go ahead with dressage and jumping events came from the FEI, the United States Equestrian Federation and Las Vegas Events. 

It followed the news that the FEI recommended the cancellation of any of its forthcoming events.