The 2021 European Championships in show jumping and dressage–which had been cancelled when the Olympics were moved to next year–are on again.
The championships were called off when the Olympics were rescheduled to keep the focus on the Tokyo Games. But a number of national federations and the European Equestrian Federation pointed out that many nations had more competitors and horses available to compete than just the three from each county who would be riding in Japan.
The logic prevailed, with the European Jumping Championships allocated to Riesenbeck, Germany, Aug. 30-Sept. 4 and the dressage championships going to Hagen, Germany Sept. 7-12, pending final confirmation from the latter organizer. If these venues for some reason cannot host the championships, they won’t be re-bid.
The European eventing championships are not being held because organizers who expressed interest did not follow through. The European Paralympic championships also will not be held so those competitors can concentrate on their mission in Tokyo.
The European championships are staged on odd-numbered years in the Olympic cycle. The equivalent in the Western Hemisphere is the Pan American Games, but they are held only once during the Olympic cycle.