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Jerez
2002
WEG
 
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Live from Jerez!
Arrived in Jerez with cameras and all the video editing computer gear. Rental car upgraded to an Opel Zaphir van -- big enough to carry our crew and equipment. Televisions had been delivered at the arena and our booth is the best.
Met the US team at Accreditation. Debbie McDonald, Lisa Wilcox and Guenter Seidel arrived on Saturday and the horses were flying in last night.
Police security is in force.
Everyone is so friendly and helpful although most speak only Spanish. Bought a computer for our booth, printer and monitor for the laptop and video editor. Spanish/English dictionary is already well worn. Hipecor is a shopping complex with everything from groceries to computers. Grocery shopping is fun --- milk only comes in non-refrigerated boxes -- not available in the US. The meat and fish counters have more varieties of fish than I have ever seen.
Apartment is totally renovated and perfect! Three bedrooms - each with a balcony, living room and dining room open to covered balcony. Our landlord even provided a new Expresso maker, milled soap in each bathroom, fully equipped kitchen including wine bottle opener -- personal touches throughout the apartment. Apartment is only 5 minutes from Chapin stadium --- at the traffic circle, go straight two lights and turn right two blocks.
Learning the Spanish way is interesting --- there are three separate keys to enter the apartment -- first opens the wrought iron door to the apartment entryway, second key opens the wooden door to the lobby, third key opens the apartment door and must be horizontal instead of vertical. The hot water heater is butane, light 5 minutes before you want a shower.
International cell phones were a bit of a challenge. Call to the landlord responded with a Spanish "error" message --- "his cell phone is turned off" -- because it was siesta time.
Construction crews are working around the clock and each day it is like coming to a new location -- so much has been accomplished overnight.
Stages for the Opening Ceremony in Chapin I - the dressage and show jumping arena, were erected and positioned for the practice, then they will be removed today so that the horses can see the arena as it will be for the competition -- complete with judges booths. At 6 a.m. on Tuesday, the stages will be erected again for the Opening Ceremony that begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday night when the Opening Ceremony is over, the construction crews will turn the stadium back into a dressage arena.
Sixty three horses will be competing in dressage but lists are not yet available. Horses arrived on Saturday and more are arriving Sunday. Training in the main arena on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. -- 4 to 5 horses at a time are given 15 minutes in the arena mostly in alphabetical order by nation starting with Australia at noon. The US horses are next to last at 4:25. On Monday, the horses are again allowed in the main arena starting at 7:30 a.m. through 4 p.m. with the US scheduled for noon.
Vet jog is Tuesday, 10 a.m. to noon with the draw for Grand Prix ride times at 12:30. Grand Prix begins on Wednesday. Morning session is from 10 a.m. to 1:45, afternoon session from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. -- it is still broad daylight at 8:30. Thursday the second half of the Grand Prix at the same times. Contrary to original information, the team medals will be determined on only the Grand Prix results --- not the Grand Prix and Special combined. The top 25 competitors from the Grand Prix advance to the Grand Prix Special.
On Friday, after the Grand Prix Special, there is a 2 hour light test from 9 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. for the 15 finalists as the Freestyle is on Sunday from 9 to 11:30 p.m.
Saturday is a rest day for the 15 finalists. Individual medals ceremony at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday with a press conference following.
The theme of the Opening Ceremony on Tuesday night is the pure bred Spanish horse (PRE - Andalusian) starting with the Royal Guard and featuring the Royal Andalusian Schhol of Equestrian Art. Hundreds of horses and carriages will be presented including horses from the National Spanish Pure Bred Horse Breeder's Association, the state stud and the Jerez military stud. 600 volunteers including 400 in Andalusian costume will be joined by almost 1,000 extras. A folding mechanical structure with 300 moving parts, 10,000 balloons, two inflated balloons of WEG mascot Fino and a 200 meter stage just for the Opening Ceremony. The Spanish Air Force, the Aguila Acrobactic Flying Team and the Parachute Acrobatics Team will participate. The Jerez 2002 Organising Committee proudly announced that the awards ceremonies will be real ceremonies with a true Andalusian flavour.
Grand Prix Special is on Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:40, prize giving ceremony at 2:50.
I drive to Seville to pick up Meredith and Wendy this afternoon. Monday we go back to Seville to pick up Lu, Kathleen and Will. Monday afternoon we move into our trade stand which is one of only a few to be inside the stadium on the entrance deck with a full view of the arena.
Temperatures are warm, but not hot. High 80s, low 90s. It cools down to almost cold at night. Haven't even needed the air conditioning in the apartment -- just open all the windows and doors and there is a fresh, cool breeze.
Time to meet with the television crews about our camera locations.
Jerez 2002 WEG Live!
Ky
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