ABOUT THE OLYMPIC EQUESTRIAN CENTER

Olympic Moments in Markopoulo    The Olympic Equestrian Centre in Markopoulo has continued to live Olympic moments every year since 2004. It was there that three years ago Greece hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Games.    In 2004 the Olympic Games returned to their home, to the land which gave birth not only to the ancient but also to the modern Olympics. It is a well-known fact that the first Olympic Games were held in Ancient Olympia in 776 BC, while the first modern Games took place in Athens in 1896. 219 horses from 38 countries from all five continents were accommodated in the stables of the Olympic Equestrian Centre to take part in the three disciplines of 3-Day Eventing, Dressage and Show Jumping. To be more precise, 75 combinations of horse and rider participated in the 3-Day Event, 52 in the Dressage and 77 in the Show Jumping. Furthermore, 209 grooms stayed in the 'Village" at the Centre.    The gates of the Olympic equestrian Centre were opened to the public for the first time in August 2003 when the test event for the Olympic Games, in the discipline of 3-Day Eventing, was held. Then, the Hellenic Equestrian Federation used the centre to hold their important national and international events in October 2003. In fact, since April 2006, the offices of the Federation have been in the administration building in Markopoulo. The Centre and its Facilities    The Olympic Equestrian Centre is one of the few Olympic sites which is found to be in a better condition than during the Olympic Games. Many of the riders and chefs' d'equipe who have visited the centre since 2004 have commented on this fact. The complex comprises state-of the-art facilities in one of the most developed areas in Attica, while also being within easy distance of both the international Athens airport, Eletherios Venizelos, and the Attiki Odo, the main arterial connection to the capital.    The centre contains two main competition arenas of Olympic size, one of grass with dimensions 90X120m, where the Show Jumping events were held during the Olympic Games, and one of sand, with dimensions 80X40m, which was used for the Dressage events. In addition, there is an indoor school with sand, 70X30m, a general training area with grass, 90X90m, two general training areas with sand, 90X45m and 3 Dressage training areas with sand, 60X20m each. Moreover, there is a cross country course 5,710m in length. The stable blocks have been built to accommodate 280 horses, while next door there is a fully equipped veterinary clinic, used also for the treatment of horses from the nearby race track. International Competitions in Markopoulo    2003 was the first year that the World Show Jumping Cup, Athens CSIO4*-W, was held at the Olympic Equestrian Centre, taking place in the sand arena. In October 2004, immediately after the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the World Show Jumping Cup CSIO4*-W took place once again at the Olympic Centre but this time in the grass arena. 2005 saw the introduction of a third international competition, making it three that year, the new CDI-W being held first at the end of September, followed by the CSI2* and then the CSIO4*-W. In 2006, the European Juniors and Young Riders Championship were held for the first time at the centre in Markopoulo but for the second time in Greece. Later that year the CSI2* and CSIO4*-W were held once again. The Hellenic Equestrian Federation organizes all international and national events at the Olympic Equestrian Centre, while its offices lie at the Administration Building of the Centre.