Welcome to the Global Champions Tour 2012 season with 13 events in fantastic destinations across the world. After the success of 2011, I am proud to see our sport of show jumping increasing in popularity and participation around the world.
This year Global Champions Tour will travel to four dynamic new venues in Europe and the Far East, which will enhance our position as the world’s premier international show jumping circuit. Shanghai, Vienna, Lausanne and Wiesbaden all promise to deliver thrilling sporting and social entertainment in spectacular locations that are the hallmark of the GCT experience.
With an exciting new 2012 calendar, this Olympic year looks set to be one of the best yet as the new events add an extra buzz to the Tour, which has set a new benchmark for the sport of show jumping worldwide. This year we open in Doha, Qatar, and finish in Abu Dhabi, cementing GCT’s presence in the Middle East region where enthusiasm for the sport is spreading rapidly.
Eurosport will broadcast each Global Champions Tour Grand Prix live to 59 countries worldwide and fans can follow the shows and their favourite riders and horses on regional and national channels like Al Jazeera and, of course, via GCT livestreaming on our website.
I would like to personally thank our sponsors, organisers, staff and, of course, the sportsmen and women who combine to deliver fantastic competitive sport every year.