Naples, Florida, April 26,2018.– The IAEJ welcomed Mark Bellissimo, the CEO of Tryon Equestrian Partners to Paris on April 14 to brief members and accredited journalists covering the World Cup Finals on the progress being made at the Tryon International Equestrian Center, venue for the upcoming World Equestrian Games.
Mr. Bellissimo confirmed a few details the Bureau had been anxious about. The three story media center (pictured, photo courtesy of Sue Stickle and taken during April’s Test Events) is underway. According to Sue the TIEC is a hive of construction activity. “They have their own concrete factory on the property so needless to say, buildings are taking shape rapidly,” she reports. “I think they have things well under control at this point.”
The International Media Center will be climate controlled and is centrally located adjacent to both the main arena (Jumping, Dressage) and the Tryon Arena (Eventing and Para Dressage). The upper two floors will be used for hospitality while the actual media workrooms will be on the ground floor with immediate access to seating in the main arena. There will be desk space and seating for up to 420. The Press Conference Room is separate from the workroom (and sound proof) but on the same floor, in the same building. There is direct access to a restaurant.
Golf carts will be used to shuttle media to Endurance, Eventing Cross-Country and the Driving Marathon. Otherwise driving field, cross-country finish and Endurance vet gate are within a ten minute walk.
Media shuttles will run from media hotels and the TIEC on a schedule and there will be shuttles running to and from the airport but on what basis hasn’t been defined. Unfortunately, wifi on the shuttles will not be available at this point but Merrick Haydon, head of media ops is still working on this.
Media parking is planned between the Driving field and the main stadium. There is no charge for media parking.
The Bureau was also greatly relieved to hear that Edith de Reys will have a major role to play on the media ops team at Tryon during Games time.
Further site visits by IAEJ Bureau members are due to take place in May.