Bundeschampionat with spectators
Warendorf (fn-press).
Falling incidences, rising vaccination rates: The 28th edition of the Bundeschampionate in Warendorf will take place again with visitors and exhibitors. Just the city of Warendorf has agreed to a model trial that allows 4,000 spectators. Exceptionally on a new date, namely from August 11 to 15, in consideration of the shortened calendar of events due to the pandemic. Despite pleasing developments and relaxations - for organizers events are a challenge. FN-aktuell has spoken with tournament director Markus Scharmann.
FN-aktuell: What does it mean to organize an event like the Bundeschampionate in the second pandemic summer?
Markus Scharmann: That is indeed a challenge, because we do not know well in advance, as we usually do, under which conditions we are organizing. In part, you have to plan the event completely from scratch. Many questions remain unanswered for a long time. But what makes us happy and motivates us is that spectators are allowed to be on site again. The breeders and horse owners can finally be there live again and join in the excitement when their horses present themselves at the Bundeschampionats. Our biggest challenge is therefore to manage the balancing act between official requirements and atmosphere. For example, we are redesigning the entire grounds. With a one-way street system, we are directing the flow of visitors with as little contact as possible. At the same time, our aim is to make visitors feel comfortable and to maintain the event's experiential character.
FN-aktuell: What do visitors have to be prepared for?
Markus Scharmann: Visitors will once again see all horses and ponies, all disciplines - riding horses, dressage, jumping, eventing - and all age groups in one weekend. Shopping is just as possible, as the talk of experts belonging to the Bundeschampionaten at the edge of the test places or comfortably in the catering trade. Who wants to be present, must fulfill one of the 3G - vaccinated, tested, recovered. The test must not be older than 48 hours. By the way, there is also a testing station - for a fee - on site at the main entrance.
The Corona Protection Ordinance of North Rhine-Westphalia does not allow on-site ticket offices. Tickets can therefore only be purchased online. Via www.bundeschampionate.tv you can go to the presale, where you can get the tickets, which are limited to 4,000 visitors per day. Of course, you can still buy tickets online during the running event, if the contingent of 4,000 spectators per day is not exhausted. For traceability, we use the Luca app or a corresponding proof of attendance. Of course, hygiene and distance must still be observed. Where this cannot be maintained, such as on the stands or in the tents, masks are compulsory.
FN-aktuell: Again to the layout of the grounds. What is changing?
Markus Scharmann: There is only one visitor entrance and it is now opposite the main stadium, the show jumping arena. The exhibitors are arranged around the jumping stadium to the riding horse arena and at the dressage arena. We are concentrating the catering on the so-called Hackschnitzelplatz, where the registration office, organizing office, helper tent and toilets used to be. This will be a nice place, centrally located between the riding horse arena, dressage arena and eventing arena. All visitor paths are laid out as a one-way system. The covered grandstand at the show jumping arena will give way to exhibitor tents. The six covered grandstand modules will be distributed equally among the show jumping, riding horse and dressage arenas, so that there will be covered grandstands at all competition venues. The event grounds, which cover around six hectares, are completely fenced in.
