Originally scheduled for June 18-21, the second edition of the Longines Masters of Lausanne won’t be going ahead, EEM, the founder, owner and organizer of the event announced today. The decision was taken as a precautionary measure, in view of the intense and unpredictable developments in the COVID-19 epidemic which is currently striking Europe and the rest of the world.
To date and, in the current state of the global health crisis, no one knows whether sporting and cultural events will be able to go ahead in Switzerland in mid-June. No one can guarantee that we will be out of this crisis, that we will be able to welcome horses and the public and deliver the wonderful event that everyone is awaiting. More importantly, the current dialogue with suppliers and partners, who, given the context, may be reluctant or even unable to operate due to containment and/or due to the economy being at a standstill, means that running the event is made impossible. The Longines Masters Series is world- renowned for its excellence, a level that we are not sure we can achieve under the current conditions for preparation,” explained Christophe Ameeuw, founder and president of EEM.
“After the cancellation of the Longines Masters of Hong Kong and Asia Horse Week, we have cautiously proceeded with the organization of the Longines Masters of Lausanne, with the passion that characterizes the team surrounding me. Despite this, wisdom dictates that we should forego the Swiss leg of our series this year. This is a difficult and strange period: it is up to us, as players in the global equestrian sector, to take heed of the lessons we are learning, and start building our world for tomorrow.”
The next stage in the series will be the Longines Masters of Paris, from December 3 to 6, 2020.
Source: Press release 23 March 2020