It was today announced that the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games has been unanimously awarded to Bromont/Montreal as host city. It is the first time in the history of the World Equestrian Games that the prestigious event will be held in Canada.

The announcement was made by members of the Bromont Bid Committee, along with Equine Canada President, Al Patterson and CEO, Eva Havaris. In addition to being the first time the event will be held in Canada, it will mark only the second time the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Bureau event will be hosted outside of Europe, with the first time being in 2010 in Lexington, KY.

The Games will be held at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park.

"This is an exciting announcement and a great opportunity for equestrian sport, and will make an outstanding economic impact on Bromont, the province of Quebec and the horse industry in Canada," Al Patterson, president of Equine Canada, said via release. "On behalf of the Equine Canada Board of Directors and members, I would like to thank the WEG Bid Committee for their tireless work and efforts in raising the funds needed to secure the 2018 Bid."

Already a world class facility, the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park currently hosts FEI jumping, dressage, eventing and driving competitions. The Games will significantly boost the local, provincial and Canadian equestrian communities as well as the local and provincial economies.

"This is an incredible opportunity for Canadians to watch the best in the world compete right at home," said Eva Havaris, Equine Canada's CEO. "Hosting two major Games – 2015 Pan American Games at the Caledon Equestrian Park and 2018 WEG at Bromont – is a gift to Canadian equestrians that will enhance the industry at all levels."

To accommodate the best in the world coming to Canadian soil to vie for the podium in 2018, the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park will also be expanded and enhanced so the eight FEI disciplines of jumping, dressage, eventing, para-dressage, reining, driving, endurance and vaulting will have top-notch, world class competition facilities. This will leave the already outstanding equestrian venue in Bromont as a legacy to Canadian equestrian sport.

"We are thrilled with the decision from the FEI today," said Paul Côté, president of the Bromont Bid Committee. "We believe that the impact of this event in Bromont in 2018 will be felt for decades to come and will represent a significant time for Canadian equestrians."

WEG 2018 will be the largest single sporting event ever held in Canada with 4,500 accredited participants, from 65 countries, with an estimated 500,000 spectators.

The FEI World Equestrian Games are held every four years, in the middle of the Olympic cycle. The eight FEI disciplines are all included on the competition schedule. The inaugural FEI World Equestrian Games were hosted in Stockholm (SWE) in 1990. Since then the Games have been staged in The Hague (NED) in 1994, Rome (ITA) in 1998, Jerez (ESP) in 2002, Aachen (GER) in 2006, and Kentucky (USA). The 2014 Games will be held in Normandy, FRA, from August 23 to September 7.

(With files from Equine Canada)