The Chronicle of the Horse, Aug. 9, 1996

Chronicle Commentary

Missed Opportunities In Atlanta

The Olympics in Atlanta were an incredible opportunity for American horse sports. First and foremost, it was a rare chance for our riders to shine in front of a hometown crowd during an international competition. While the successes and shortcomings of the competitors were played out in front of some of the biggest audiences in history, some very ordinary people also realized their dreams in Atlanta on a much smaller scale. The Games offered many spectators a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity--to see an international competition contested in their backyard.

These Olympics were an occasion for Americans to see famous foreign names in action for the first time: Rembrandt, Blyth Tait, Isabell Werth, Ratina Z, Michael Whitaker. But perhaps more valuable was the opportunity for equestrian enthusiasts to feel a part of one of the world's most impotant competitions. It was a chance for a novice eventer to imagine riding through Rabun Hollow on the cross-country course, and for a budding dressage rider to picture herself cantering down centerline in the Grand Prix.

Those spectators hoping to experience firsthand what it would be like to compete in the Olympics were disappointed, however. They probably could have gained a better feel for the competition by watching it at home on television. The configuration of the Georgia International Horse Park kept spectators well away from competitors, denying them all but a glimpse of the warm-up areas. Onlookers were even kept at bay on the cross-country course, prohibited from walking in the galloping lanes until both the team and individual competitions were over.

Organizers certainly had their reasons for the restrictions. The athletes' safety was one of the utmost concerns, and reason enough to keep spectators well away from stable areas. And the turf of the cross-country course was far more forgiving than it would have been after walking by an extra thirty thousand pairs of feet. But even the most logical reasoning seems a little hollow when trying to figure out how to ride a five-element water complex from outside the white tape of the galloping lane.

The spectators who missed the most at the Olympics, however, were the inexperienced ones. For many, it was their first contact with a particular discipline, or with horse sports in general. Without any sort of an official show program, spectators were on their own to figure out what was going on. Efforts by the announcers to explain the competitions as they progressed were difficult to hear and to follow. Most likely, the only newcomers to go home with a true understanding of the sport were those sitting next to the veterans in the grandstand.

ACOG probably had more pressing concerns than making sure onlookers understood the intricacies of the Grand Prix, but it's surprising that none of the American equestrian organizations took advantage of the captive audience of interested, but uneducated, spectators. With all the recent talk of making horse sports more spectator-friendly, the Olympics would have seemed the perfect opportunity to recruit new converts.

Despite the heat, crowds, organizational and transportation problems, and the shadow of the terrorist attack that hung over the Games, Atlanta still represents the highest caliber equestrian competition held on American soil to date. Spectators couldn't help but be in awe as they watched 200 of the best horse-and-rider combinations in the world compete for their medals. The U.S. riders didn't disappoint--they captured their share of the glory with 2 silver medals and two bronzes. Winning at home had to make the victories even more special for the athletes. It's too bad the spectators couldn't share equally in the excitement.

Erin Harty (eharty@geocities.com)