Preparing to host The World Show Jumping Championships at the RDS in Dublin.
The RDS in Dublin hosts the World Show Jumping Championships from the 8 to 13 June 1982. This is one of the biggest sporting events ever staged in Ireland.
The competition is open to both professional and amateurs will see contestants from 16 countries taking part.
According to the RTÉ Guide (4 June 1982), 17 television stations in 12 countries will be covering the event, making it a great promotional opportunity for Ireland.
Brian McSharry goes behind the scenes to discover what is involved in the build up to hosting the World Show Jumping Championships. Stands are being repainted, roofs are being repaired, fences are being built, cabes and wiring are being installed, new seating and accommodation created for the competitors.
One of the biggest sporting events ever staged in Ireland.
RDS Chief Executive Officer Tony Fitzgerald outlines the amount of work being carried out in preparation for the event. It is a busy year at the RDS with the Spring Show in May, the World Championships in June and the Horse Show in August. The entire staff of the RDS along with a large organising committee are involved in the preparations. The RDS is also getting an enormous amount of help from outside organisations.
All the equestrian interests have cooperated in this to make it a real team effort.
Tony Fitzgerald points out that the size of the World Championships event is far greater than the annual Dublin Horse Show. There are a larger number of teams participating so the logistics can be challenging. He says that the jumping programme itself is almost the simplest part of hosting such a large scale event.
Chairman of the organising committee and of the executive committee of the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) Frank O'Reilly says that the event is very important for Irish tourism, the equestrian world and the RDS.
I believe that it's going to be first class success.
'World Show Jumping Preview' was broadcast on 7 June 1982. The reporter is Brian McSharry.
