Olympic Fever: Designing a Champion Course

The Paris 2024 Olympic cross-country course is bang on schedule. Designer Pierre Le Goupil could say that with confidence when we spoke in June. It was day one of installation and he was standing in the Gardens of Versailles, awaiting delivery of the portable fences.

He said: “I am standing on the field of play. The plan was to start today and we are starting today to install the portable elements on the course. The track is 200 per cent ready and we are waiting for the fences.”

Le Goupil is one of the world's leading course designers, who last year was tasked with challenging athletes at both the FEI European Championships and Pan American Games.

Over the next two weeks, 80 per cent of the fences were put in place. They travelled from all over France, but mainly Saumur which is three hours south-west of the Palace of Versailles. The final details of dressing and last-minute gardening, “to make it as it should be, in such a place”, will take place at the end of July.

Pierre's team have created courses all over the world (Facebook)

Le Goupil said: “All the groundworks have been done for quite a long time, the grass is growing and looking beautiful. The challenge was to get the grass growing in the undergrowth and under the trees. Everything has been done so that we have consistent ground. We have the addition of special volcanic sand to keep that consistency and provide natural drainage, so for any bad weather forecast, it does a job. There are different sorts of ground here, we have an area, ‘sable’, which means sand or sandpit, but it’s not a pit, it’s a little hill. The ground is very good there and there will be a water jump in that area. Like everywhere, it’s not always the same type of ground all around the course, but the most important thing is to have the consistency, so the feeling for the horses and the riders is the same from the start box to the finish line.”

A historical site

The Palace of Versailles, a UNESCO world heritage site, is one of the most visited historical sites in the world. Each day more than 20,000 runners, walkers and tourists enjoy the Grand Canal alone. 

Le Goupil is in discussions with other stakeholders about when they can lockdown the field of play. Some areas are easier to fence off than others, some areas are more secret. It’s those special surprises Le Goupil is keen to keep off social media.

There are many experts, all pulling in the same direction. Le Goupil is grateful for that. He said: “All the different teams are playing the game and it is a pleasure to work with them.” They’ve had plenty of invaluable advice from the team who created the equestrian venue at Greenwich Park for London 2012, not least to make sure local residents are happy with proceedings.

Iconic jumps

Le Goupil teased the suggestion of several iconic jumps. Different areas of the course which will present different elements and terrain. For example, the track lines under the large trees produce long shadows, but enough light for it to be comfortable for the competitors. There are avenues, going through undergrowth and providing natural hazards.

Le Goupil added: “We have the Grand Canal which is very straight; it’s not very long sections, but good enough to stretch the horses and give them a gallop. The pontoons across the canal and the main arena. I think it’s going to be spectacular; it has been treated and worked in a very natural way, it’s looks like a sophisticated garden and is very eye catching.”

Mexico's Jose Enrique Mercado Suarez takes on Le Goupil's Pan American Games 2023 course

Spectacular setting

Fences have been inspired by the history of the venue, the country and the French arts, which Le Goupil thinks is ‘classical’ for this sort of event.

Excitingly there’s an area where centuries old monuments will be featured. Originally, it was out of bounds, but without too much insisting, once the estate saw the ideas and the sketches, they liked it and were happy to change their minds. Le Goupil said: “It’s been a reason for them to restore a place which was needing some restoration. They decided to use the Olympics to make a full re-fit of the masonry. It’s a very, very spectacular setting.”

There is no doubt, such a unique location transcends equestrian sport. The world is going to be struck by the impact this Olympic location will have.

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Words by Katie Roebuck