Games of The XXIII Olympiad

Los Angeles (USA), 28 July – 12 August 1984

When, at the 80^th IOC session of 19 May 1978 in Athens the 23^rd Olympic Games were allocated, there was only one candidate: Los Angeles. They wanted to organise Olympic Games without public finances from tax payers, but with income from the private sector: TV-sales, sponsorship and franchising, ticket sales and they did! Those who feared that the concept of “financial responsibility” by this no-tax supported Organising Committee would lead to cutting corners in installations or arrangements were pleasantly surprised. Everything was there as required.

In response to the boycott by the West of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, a boycott led by the Soviet Union marked the 1984 Olympics but did not have a hugely detrimental effect. A record 140 nations took part and for equestrian, the only interesting Eastern European team at the time, the dressage riders from Slovenia (then Yugoslavia) ignored the Communist boycott and appeared in Los Angeles.

The celebrated Santa Anita racetrack was chosen as the competition site for the equestrian events. It was a fortunate choice as it marked the first time an Olympic equestrian event was organised by an existing management of proven competence and long experience. The track, near the city of Arcadia, north-east of Los Angeles, was opened in 1934. Its grandstand seats 15,500 seats, not counting the 4,000 seats in the various clubs and there is parking for 22,000 cars. Ion terms of capacity, 2,100 horses can be stabled in 55 barns and the whole property is 320 acres.

The only complaint raised at Santa Anita was the press service provided: not enough telexes (the main transmission at that time) and practically no access to the riders.

A tradition since 1921- to hold the Jumping final in the Olympic stadium prior to the closing ceremony had to be dropped, due to organisational constraints, and the whole equestrian programme was held at Santa Anita racetrack.

The equestrian programme lasted nine days and each National Federation could enter 14 riders and 22 horses (minimum six-year-old).

Key Figures (general):

• ·                140 nations
• ·                 6,829 athletes (1,566 women; 5,263 men)
• ·                 23 sports
• ·                 28,742 volunteers
• ·                 9,190 media (4,327 written press; 4,863 broadcasters)

The Los Angeles Games were the first since 1896 to be staged without government financing, the organisers depended heavily on existing facilities and corporate sponsors. Although criticised at the time, the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games became the model for future Games, particularly after it was revealed that they had produced a profit of US$ 223 million.

Key figures (equestrian)

• ·                 30 nations (Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherland, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, Virgin Islands, Yugoslavia)
• ·                 157 entries (66 in Jumping; 43 in Dressage; 48 in Eventing)

The US led the way in the equestrian medal count and while they had, from 1980 to 1983, won all World Cup Finals and, certainly, were among the favourites - they won the gold medals with a superiority rarely experienced before or since.

Joe Fargis (USA) and Touch of Class were the first to achieve a double clear in the Olympic team competition.

Fifty-one riders competed in the individual competition on the closing day. Fifteen countries used the full quota of three entries. In addition there were six individuals from as many countries. Only two of the 51 starters were women, but they did extremely well. Heidi Robbiani on Jessica won the bronze medal and Melanie Smith with Calypso tied for seventh. Of the 51 horses only three were mares. Again they did very well: Touch of Class carried Joe Fargis to the gold medal, Jessica and Heidi Robbiani were third and Overton Amanda with Michael Whitaker had a brilliant first clear round before hitting seven fences the second time around.

DRESSAGE

Three sold-out stadiums with 22,000 spectators were the backdrop for the dressage competitions at Santa Anita. Forty-three riders from 18 nations took part in the Grand Prix, 12 with full teams of three. The federal Republic of Germany again won team gold, but only after a heroic ride by Reiner Klimke on Ahlerich.

Klimke’s 1797 points (71.88 percent) also saw him heading the individual standings of the Grand Prix, 96 points ahead of Anne-Grethe Jensen on Marzog and 184 ahead of Hofer. Anne-Grethe Jensen and Marzog, who had won the European title the previous year with a superb display of impulsion, lightness and grace, lacked that characteristic impulsion in Los Angeles.

EVENTING

Despite the space at Santa Anita it was not possible to hold the endurance there. After the rejection of other sites, Fairbanks Ranch a 1,240 acre property in the San Dieguito river, 30 km north of San Diego, but a two hour dive from Santa Anita, was chosen.

The Pacific Ocean is only 10km away and it was a stroke of luck that a breeze from the sea materialised just as the first horse started the cross country. The soil at Fairbanks Ranch is fine river sand, with practically no rocks. 50,000 tickets at 20 Dollars each were available, and were all sold. The competition began at Santa Anita with two days of dressage. The United States took an early lead, ahead of Sweden, France and Great Britain. Individually the Swiss Hansueli Schmutz on Oran, the European champions of 1981 were ahead, followed by the Americans Bruce Davidson and Karen Stives and the ultimate winner, Mark Todd on Charisma.

The Endurance test at Fairbanks Ranch had the following demands:

A   Roads and tracks   4,180 m      19 min

B   Steeplechase        3,105 m     4 ½ min   9 obstacles

C   Roads and tracks   11,779 m   53 ½ min

D   Cross-country        7,410 m       13 min   33 obstacles

The No.7 obstacle of Neil Ayer’s cross-country course proved to be the most challenging. Some luck was needed to jump properly from the water on to a walkway and to have the space to jump over a rick into the water again. Hansueli Schmutz, the dressage leader, lost his possible gold medal here with a refusal.

After another rest day to transport the horses back to Santa Anita the jumping competition saw only one major change of placings: Karen Stives and Ben Arthur had one knock-down and lost gold to Mark Todd on the 11-year-old Charisma. Virginia Holgate was third on Princess. The USA narrowly won team gold, with 186.00 points against 189.20 for Great Britain. In third place was the Federal Republic of Germany, with four riders all under 30 years of age. Among them was Bettina Overesch, who went on, under her married names, to win many more honours.