Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy: economic, social and environmental impact of the event[Les Jeux Equestres Mondiaux FEI Alltech™ 2014 en Normandie : quels impacts économiques, sociaux et environnementaux pour le territoire ?]

This year, France hosted the World Equestrian Games in Normandy. As part of a collaborative research program carried out by the IFCE, the INRA and the CDES of Limoges, an economic social and environmental impact study of the event was conducted. The methodology has gradually been built and tested during the previous years. The results are based on the collection of information from the Games organizers, field observations and around 2000 surveys conducted during the event. The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy gathered more than 300,000 spectators and 1,060 participants. In the short term, they represent a source of economic, tourism and media benefits for the territory. Our analysis also highlights the organizer involvement to minimize the environmental impact of their event. This research will now focus on the long-term impacts 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.