Economic, social and environmental impact of Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy

In 2014, France hosted the World Equestrian Games in Normandy. As part of a collaborative research program carried out by IFCE, INRA, and Limoges CDES, an economic social and environmental impact study of the event was conducted. A methodology has gradually been built and tested during the previous years on various small size equestrian sporting events. It combines quantitative and qualitative approaches, pushing the classical limitations of impact studies. The economic evaluation uses Base Theory and Keynesian multipliers. Social utility is addressed through the monetarization of use and non-use values of the event for spectators and inhabitants and is completed by an analysis of the reasons for these values. We study the various items that impact the environment through their specific units and the efforts made by the organizers to minimize the impact of the event. We base the results on the collection of information from the Games organizers, field observations and around 2,300 surveys conducted during the event. The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy gathered together more than 300,000 spectators and 1,060 participants. In the short term, they represent a source of economic, touristic and media benefits for the territory. Their total economic impact amount to 102 million euros for Normandy and their social utility is evaluated at more than 36 million euros. Our analysis also highlights the organizer's involvement to preserve the environment. This research will now focus on the long-term impact of the Games. This study represents both a contribution to academic research and to the horse industry, participating in the methodological and theoretical advances in impact studies and in reflections on optimizing the benefits of equestrian events for the territories that host them.