FEI Sports Forum 2025: Roadmap to LA 2028 Takes Shape
The opening session of the 2025 FEI Sports Forum focused on the Olympic and Paralympic qualification systems for Los Angeles 2028. With detailed presentations by FEI department heads and feedback from stakeholders, the session laid out the strategic timeline, quota allocations, eligibility requirements, and reallocation mechanisms that will guide national federations on the road to LA.
FEI President Ingmar De Vos opened the session, sharing updates on quota discussions with the IOC, principles of gender equity, and venue planning for future Games. “Let’s not repair what is not broken,” De Vos said, emphasizing the FEI’s goal to maintain a consistent, transparent system with only minor refinements following the success of Paris 2024.
No to Gender Quotas, Yes to Equality
De Vos reported that the IOC had pushed for gender parity in equestrian athlete quotas, proposing 12 men and 12 women for youth competitions. The FEI refused:
“We clearly said, no way. No passarán… Our uniqueness is that all genders compete together. We don’t even have a definition of man and woman in our rules.”
He added with humor:
“We don’t have the chair like they used to have in medieval times to see if the Pope was male or female.”
Minor Tweaks, Major Timeline
Full presentation from Aine Power
Áine Power, FEI Deputy Legal Director, walked delegates through the multi-year roadmap leading to final IOC approval:
- Draft qualification systems to be published July 8, 2025
- Stakeholder review and feedback over summer 2025
- Final proposal vote at the General Assembly in November 2025
- IOC submission shortly thereafter
“Not everything is up for discussion today,” Power said. “Formats, ownership rules, substitutions — all of that is coming in 2026.”
Key Dates for LA 2028 Qualification
- Start of qualification period: 2026 World Championships in Aachen
- Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs): Jan 1, 2027 – June 11, 2028
- NOC Certificate of Capability deadline: early January 2028
- Final sports entries: June 26, 2028
“Just because you have the quota place in your hand doesn’t mean your athletes have met the MERs,” Power reminded federations. “Three distinct phases: qualify, confirm, and achieve.”
Eventing and MER Clarifications
Frédérique Reffet Plantier, FEI Director of Eventing, confirmed that the established events rule will remain:
“If a country wants a 4-star Olympic MER qualifier in 2027, it must already have successfully hosted that level in 2026.”
Also maintained:
- Two MERs at different venues
- Confirmation result if qualification occurs before Dec 31, 2027
- Updated definitions aligned with 2025 Eventing Rules review
She emphasized consistency:
“The wording of the MER criteria will be updated, but the principles remain.”
A question raised concerns about the European focus of Nations Cup qualification. Reffet Plantier responded:
“We would very much welcome events from outside Europe… It’s definitely one of the main points we’ll discuss with the Eventing Committee in May.”
January 2025.
Jumping: One Major Shift
Todd Hinde (AUS) presented jumping’s qualifications, noting that the only change is the removal of Olympic spots from the Longines League of Nations Final:
“We felt it wasn’t fair to limit qualification to just the top 10 nations that can access Barcelona. The spots will go back to the 2026 World Championships in Aachen.”
In total, seven quota spots will be allocated from Aachen.
“It’s the fairest path to LA.”
Dressage: No Changes
Ronan Murphy confirmed that dressage qualification would remain unchanged from Paris:
- 15 teams of three via the same qualification path (Worlds, Europeans, Pan Ams, and regional qualifiers)
- 15 individual slots, same distribution
“We are not proposing any changes for dressage at this stage.”
Reallocation Rules Updated
Power detailed a key change to team quota reallocation. In the past, NOCs that couldn’t meet the certificate of capability would automatically receive one individual slot. That will no longer be the case:
“Now, if a team gives back its quota, the NOC must earn an individual spot the same way as others — via rankings or regional qualifiers.”
Reallocation procedures now vary by discipline:
- Jumping: back to original event, then ranking
- Eventing & Dressage: try composite teams first, then convert to individual spots if needed
Next Steps
The FEI’s Olympic qualification draft will be circulated in July. Stakeholders are encouraged to study, test, and submit feedback before the final vote in November.
“The qualification system worked well for Paris,” said Ingmar De Vos. “Let’s build on that success — and deliver again in LA.”
FEI Official Press Release on the session
Quote Bank – LA 2028 Qualification Systems
Ingmar De Vos – FEI President
On being asked to put teams of 15 boys and 15 girls to the Youth Olympics
“I’m very proud of the FEI and the board, because we clearly said: no way, no passarán. We don’t even have a definition of man and woman. How are we going to do it? We just want to have the best. That’s it.”
On the proces towards LA 2028
“Let’s not repair what is not broken. Paris was very successful… We can be very proud and very happy. Thanks to our investment in the Olympic campaign, we improved… and consolidated our position in the Olympic programme. We had a viewership growth of 38% overall — and over 55% in team competitions.” not. refering to broadcast figures
Áine Power – FEI Deputy Legal Director
“There are three distinct phases: qualification events, the NOC certificate of capability, and achieving the MERs.”
“Just because your NOC has accepted a team quota doesn’t mean the athletes have achieved their MERs.”
“The final selection always rests with the National Olympic Committee.”
“We’ll no longer automatically allocate an individual spot if a team can’t fulfil its place. They’ll need to qualify individually, like everyone else.”
“We are proposing a simpler, more transparent way to display quota reallocation — in a dedicated Olympic hub, not within a 12-times-updated document.”
“What we propose for LA is the same MER deadline as Paris: four and a half weeks before the opening ceremony.”
Frédérique Reffet Plantier – FEI Director of Eventing
“The concept of established events will be maintained — if you want to host an MER event in 2027, you need to have successfully run it in 2026.”
“We welcome bids from outside Europe. That’s definitely something the Eventing Committee will look at in May.”
“The wording for MERs will be updated in line with the Eventing Rules, but the key principles will remain.”
Todd Hinde (AUS) – Jumping Representative
“For jumping, we don’t envisage much change at all from our Paris 2024 qualification system.”
“We will no longer allocate Olympic qualification places via the Longines League of Nations Final in Barcelona.”
“Instead, those two team quota spots will be reallocated to the World Championships in Aachen 2026 — increasing its quota to seven.”
Audience Member (French Federation)
“Do you not feel it could affect how the FEI is promoting its own product here?”
“Giving a slot to those teams [from the League of Nations] can also be seen as a fair way — based on sport merit.”
Áine Power – Session Moderator (FEI HQ)
“It feels like just a couple of weeks ago since those magical days in Versailles.”
“We’ve had some scenarios where an NOC, for various reasons, chose not to send a team to the Games despite earning the quota. For individuals, the quota goes to the NOC — and it’s up to the NOC to decide who goes.”