WEG Total Chaos

Another one just returned from WEG. Overall a great experience in terms of the marvellous competitions and performances we witnessed. But the organisation was simply chaotic and unhelpful. Our word of the week was 'interdit'. It seemed to be the only reason they could give for most of the things we thought we're reasonable and they didnt allow us to do. The worst day was xc. We knew how chaotic Haras was having been there for both dressage days. The early party from our accommodation (should have been a 45 min drive) left at 7am with picnic and not too much water as not intending to need the loos all day. We queued for about 1.5 hours but made it in just in time for the first horse. We were in a long queue down a country lane. To our amazement, when we got to the car park, not only was there one narrow gateway, but cars from the main road were entering at the same gate meaning that there was one car from each direction taking turns! Our other friends were about 45 mins behind us. We rang them and said we didnt think they would make it at a time worth getting there. So they turned round and went to Caen as they had been told there was a big screen showing xc near the station - nothing on. So off to the village. Got there 10.45, by now missing horses going. Trade village opened at 11am. Explained to those on gate that they couldnt get to xc and wanted to watch screen, so could they come in - NO! Other people in the same situation, so they pleaded to be let in to watch, but they deliberately didnt let them in till the dot of 11am. In the circumstances, just completely unhelpful. Others days bad queues at main stadium and quickly gave up completely on overcrowded and infrequent buses. Yesterday we decided to eat in the village following the show jumping. It finished around 6pm, so we walked down (good 20 mins), had a look around and did bits of shopping. Went to get a table for dinner around 7pm - not serving till 7.30pm - WHY - just doesnt make sense and just typical of whole attitude. However, not really willing to believe it is typical of the region as we did a lot of sight seeing and all the tourist venues were extremely well run and accommodating with friendly helpful people.
 
Glad I wasn't the only one who felt it was all rather chaotic! We went to the dressage freestyle and were queuing for over an hour before we got into the stadium. Thankfully the traffic was flowing in Caen but the car parks were full and no one was able to direct us to other car parks!

But cross country was definitely the worse day for me. It should take me an hour and a half from where I was staying to get to Haras du Pin, we gave ourselves two hours and was stuck in traffic for ages and it took us four hours in total to get there! I met an Australian who had gone to see the dressage and he had to park on the road and walk 30 minutes to get to the venue as the traffic was a standstill!

Having said that, I was glad I went to see the dressage, the atmosphere was great and watching the show jumping on TV you really don't appreciate how big the venue is. But I felt disappointed about the XC.
 
Just got back from Burghley, and managed to catch Yogi B being interviewed in the celebrity talk area. He said he had to fill in a WEG feedback form and gave them 0/5 for how they looked after teams and spectators. He says Blair, next year, will show them how to treat visitors!
 
I've just come back from working 2 days as a judge secretary on the dressage test of the carriage drivers and watching the marathon as a spectator yesterday. At least the carriage driving was well organised, I really can't think of anything that was badly done on the three days. I'd like to go to another WEG to compare. My experience of it was very good and the only serious issue seems to have been access to Haras du Pin. Pity!
 
Rumtum very good report explaining the good and the BAD beautifully.

Echo like you the stadium bits were fantastic, the cross country 0/5 is to good a score.

Kandor having been to Kentucky 2010 and having the most wonderful time, we had spent 4 years looking forward to this year! The whole event was slick and well run in Kentucky and I would be surprised to hear any complaints about it. Do I go to Belmont 2018 I really do not know now, though the girl on the desk said they were there to learn and to not repeat this years mistakes.
 
I went yesterday and was dreading it after the reviews but had a fantastic time. We took the ferry over then walked and got a bus. Absolutely no problems.

No mud in sight, didn't queue for anything all day, toilets were clean and again had no queues, catering was top notch, fab (if slightly scary!) view from the top of the stadium. Stadium was an easy walk from the games village, I dot know why people were getting buses. My sister had to go out to a team hotel out of town for an interview in the morning, we had no problems getting there and all the buses were free all day!

All in all a really good day and would definitely go again.
 
RumTum, my vistors from USA agree with your comments on Interdite!!! Their summary of our awful day at Haras du Pin, which was such a shame.

However, on Saturday the HDT were just great. Fantastic competition. A quick bus ride, plenty of buses queuing up and helpful volunteers. The only downside was the long walk between the two groups of obstacles at each end of the course and local volunteers who directed us to a non-existent crossing, which meant another long detour.

We visited on three separate days and with a long journey morning and evening, we never made it to the village. Lost custom for the traders.
 
Bear glad you had a great time. The difference was the volume of people for the Kur and the cross country. Looking on the telly this last week has had nearly empty stadiums. After the kur it took 40 mins to walk to the village because of the volume of people and 45mins to queue to get in. Sunday morning it 45 mins to queue to get in to village but the walk to the stadium was only 15/20mins, the queue was only 1/2 hour instead of the hour for the Kur.
The cross country day was what really upset people as we paid to see next to nothing the rest we could live with. Rolling if you had got to the village you would have found some very peed off stall holders they also suffered for the French's stupidity.
 
Just back after going to WEG for the show jumping ( and on for holiday after!) with mixed group of UK and USA citizens.

We stayed in Deauville and drive to Caen daily. the car park was well signed and by the second week had been surfaced and with the great weather no problems there. There were food outlets outside the stadium so we went in and out to get food/drinks etc.

Big problem - on Nations Cup two days they had issued two lots of tickets am and pm (who ever heard of paying to watch the first two of a team then having to pay and 2nd ticket for numbers 3 & 4 - a bit like two tickets for each half of a football match?!) so at lunchtime we were evicted from the stadium. Too far to walk to village before afternoon session so we were left on the concrete at the front fo the stadium - no food and no toilets!

Successive days - they announced the start time and time of gate opening(bear in mind no reserved seats so big groups had to arrive early to sit together). Sadly they did not open the gates at the stated times - sometimes up to two hours later - and spectators were queuing on the pavement in very hot weather and the queues went from the stadium all the way to the Beaulieu car park. Not a happy bunch of fans!

The toilets in the stadium were basic a la france! However people do not help when taking paper towels and putting them down the loo - even when there was a sign saying not to do this. Hey Presto a blockage but these were always cleared pretty quickly by the organisers.

All in all having been to every WEG apart from Stockholm I would happily say it was one of the worst - The hague was not too great!
 
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