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For the french.... WEG improvements for 2014 (yes, Normandy is in France... P3...)

Archives 2018 World Equestrian Games
#41

It does not matter WHERE the Games will be, you can be assured the prices will be up there anyway.
But good food in Normandy is a given: apples, camembert, crêpes, tripes à la mode de Caen, caramels, Calvados, Cider… yummy!!

I was in Normandy 3 years ago and loved the farms, the horses, everything!! I don`t think anyone will have to twist my arm too much to convince me to go. The Haras du Pin is a neat place to visit and hopefully during WEG, they will have many demos! and English speaking guides.

Caen has a very interesting Memorial to WWII in French/English/German. The landing beaches are humbling, the cemeteries very thought provoking. There are also two fairly big Canadian cemeteries close by (Bény and Bretteville, south of Caen).

The Mont St-Michel is wonderful!
I have two friends planning on going, so I am seriously thinking about it (and, added bonus, I speak the language).

#42

Is this the mosaic display for which you were asking about a website? The guys with the big Let the Games Begin piece?

http://www.eofc.com/

Very neat guys. I, too, appreciated their variety of prices. Definitely a place I’ll keep in mind for the future when the budget allows more.

#43

I’m a bit puzzled by the multiple references to the lack of spectator shuttles to the various venues. There were lots of them. Big wagons pulled by John Deere tractors. I flagged them down a few times when I couldn’t find a media golf cart going to where I needed to be.

But I do agree on the lack of clear signs (I hate that word “signage”) for those whose first language might not be English. Pictograms would have been a great idea. Outside the gates where I entered most days (by the media parking in the campground), there was a taped welcome message playing which said, among other things, “Translators are available if you need assistance … please contact language services on your arrival at the Park.” In English only. Great help.
:eek:

#44

[QUOTE=ridexc;5151902]

But I do agree on the lack of clear signs (I hate that word “signage”) for those whose first language might not be English. Pictograms would have been a great idea. Outside the gates where I entered most days (by the media parking in the campground), there was a taped welcome message playing which said, among other things, “Translators are available if you need assistance … please contact language services on your arrival at the Park.” In English only. Great help.
:eek:[/QUOTE]

I agree with the lack of signs in multiple languages. Yet every volunteer or their supervisor knew about Language Services. Even in the volunteer booklets that were to be kept with the volunteer at all times there was a list that they could show the visitor that had the language listed in English and in their Native language.

I was a part of language services. Didn’t speak to many visitors as most Dutch speak English but spent a lot of time with the athletes.

#45

First off, I went into WEG with an intimate knowledge of the horse park layout so that helped me get around easier. And I went in with a good attitude about this being a huge event so I didn’t get bothered by the little things. My group planned our days accordingly and went with the flow.

But…

  1. More food vendor locations so that folks don’t have to hike to one central locale to get a sandwich.

  2. Food vendors walking the stands during events, like ballgames, selling drinks and snacks. People are spontaneous and will spend more money if it’s fast and easy.

  3. more signage so when you walk away from the map, you know you are headed in the right direction.

  4. A complete list of competitors. I was very disappointed after spending $15 that the program had NO info on the competitors. I realize the programs were propably printed well before many had even qualified. Some drivers were still qualifying as Iron Horse in Sept. But still, I guess I was used to the big National show programs where there are lists of horses and riders in the show program. I never thought when I purchased it that it was a souvenir and nothing else.

#46

[QUOTE=Kinsella;5150510]
Good list, but from an organizers standpoint #2 is a logistical nightmare. Trust me.

Also, didn’t know there was an issue with the Trot Ups… The two we did went right down the list horse by horse.[/QUOTE]

Well, I was just going off my experience of UK events… We always have the score sheets at the end of the day. Yes, you could get them when you get to the hotel, but that assumes the hotels have free computers, or that you have brought your laptop with you. When going to horse things, I rarely take my laptop as I have no need for it in the horse park and hotels aren’t the safest place…

We were told as we entered the park on Sunday morning that there was no trot up list, only the SJ list. That list was in reverse order, not in trot up order. Maybe we misunderstood the person at the programme booth so apologies if you did have them.

#47

[QUOTE=winfieldfarm;5151950]

  1. A complete list of competitors. I was very disappointed after spending $15 that the program had NO info on the competitors. I realize the programs were propably printed well before many had even qualified. Some drivers were still qualifying as Iron Horse in Sept. But still, I guess I was used to the big National show programs where there are lists of horses and riders in the show program. I never thought when I purchased it that it was a souvenir and nothing else.[/QUOTE]

There were the Daily Sheets for each discipline, showing the previous day’s results and the event line-up for the day. I only got the ones for dressage and eventing, but they had all the up-to-the-moment competitors with exact times for each. You bought them at the same place they sold the programs, as soon as you came in the gate. The days I was there, they were available each morning.

I did think the website was difficult to navigate, and not kept up-to-the minute. I couldn’t seem to find anything unless someone here mentioned or linked to it. A great opportunity to help people really plan the details ahead of time was missed there.

Also the main program was hard to read and interpret. The clinic schedule was in it, but not easy to locate and rather confusing. There should have been good maps with the schedule showing WHERE TO GO. Color-coded or something!

Maybe a blank chart and map for each day, so you could plan your schedule as you looked through the program.

I’ve see that sort of thing done online for tech conferences, the ability to plan your schedule ahead and avoid conflicts or distance issues, though it would have to be VERY well done to be helpful.

#48

One more thought for Normandy:

My program had a page for autographs, and I did manage to cop two or three out of sheer luck, but it would be SOOOOO great if there were scheduled sessions for autographs.

It could even be one big session, or one after each discipline, with some sort of charity connection to sweeten the deal for the riders.

#49

Actually, when I tried to get the driving results after marathon off of the web site, a couple of hours after the end of the marathon, they were still not posted- there were some scores up but inaccurate. And there were some days when dailies were not available. Really, it would have been nice IMO not to make people pay another couple of bucks for the dailies, given ticket prices, but rather, hand them out at the venue once the spectators have had tickets scanned. Would have been a nice friendly touch.

#50

Freebies are nice, very true, but when you pay a couple of bucks, you don’t see them littering the ground and blowing away in the wind! :wink:

#51

When the Games were held in Europe (Germany and Spain for example), what was the official language of the Games? Was it like at the Olympics, English and French and host country language? Or mostly host country language?
It will require quite a bit of translation I suppose for all the programs, etc.

#52

[QUOTE=ridgeback;5151183]
Did he have a website??? can you please post it if he did…I missed him and I LOVE mosaic. thank you[/QUOTE]

http://www.eofc.com/

Lovely work. I bought some of his small vignette tiles, which will end up in a new bathroom.

#53

I came across an article at one point where they mentioned that their challenges in Normandy would be different. They don’t need to build a stadium, and they have a ready-made audience of people looking to watch equestrian sport. They start with a huge nest egg, while in Lexington they started with only $1m seed money.

But, they seemed awestruck that any place would have 800+ permanent stalls already built (I think they’re planning temporaries for WEG) and they came away with a deep appreciation for the importance of the footing.

#54

umm. Dunno why the OP is asking the French to “take note”, the next WEG isn’t in France. :confused:

Edited below.
ARGH. Could someone pass me the Dumbest First Post award, thanks. (is there a “rolling eyes while blushing” combined emoticon?)

Of course Normandy is part of France.

note to self when jetlagged stay away from computers

#55

[QUOTE=6c legs;5152653]
umm. Dunno why the OP is asking the French to “take note”, the next WEG isn’t in France. :confused:[/QUOTE]

Yes it is…Normandy is a part of France…

#56

[QUOTE=6c legs;5152653]
umm. Dunno why the OP is asking the French to “take note”, the next WEG isn’t in France. :confused:[/QUOTE]

Normandy has seceded??? :eek::eek:

Corsica I could see, or even Brittany, maybe Alsace-Lorraine going back to Germany… but Normandy, didn’t see that one coming.

#57

[QUOTE=Mickey the Marcher;5152678]
Normandy has seceded??? :eek::eek:

Corsica I could see, or even Brittany, maybe Alsace-Lorraine going back to Germany… but Normandy, didn’t see that one coming.[/QUOTE]

:lol: :lol:

That one made me chuckle :smiley:

#58

I was surprised there was no “app for that.”

So many people walking around the KHP with their smartphones: If the WEG really wanted to send a “green” message, why did they not create an app that would have allowed people to access the entries and results on their smartphones, which would have cut down on the need for printed sheets?

#59

[QUOTE=andy.smaga;5150352]
I will forward your list to the organizers, some great ideas.
Thanks and I hope that you will come to Normandy.[/QUOTE]

I’ll be there for sure. This will be my bucket list trip. I’m going to take French lessons and save my money. I know the French will have wonderful food.

#60

Alsace Lorraine going back to Germany… I am from Lorraine… no way…
And the French are supposed to be so bad in geography…6clegs… you got us beat!!! wow

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