Update #2 from Tokyo

Here's my latest update from Tokyo...

On Wednesday we had a full rehearsal with all our volunteers and I had the opportunity to see Charlotte du Jardin win bronze in the dressage. Well done to Germany on gold and silver. 

Thursday the Eventing competition started with the inspection of horses. This is to check they are fit and ready to start. Then there are two days of dressage. They have had the last two days to watch the best in the world in dressage. For those who watched any of the dressage, you will notice there are slightly different types of horse. You now have horses that can do dressage, jump an 8 minute solid fence cross country course at speed and then come back for a third day and show jump. These horses aren’t quite the same level as the pure dressage horses you have seen already. 

Thursday we also rehearsed with the Outside Broadcasters (OB) who will be using eventing as a show case site on Sunday with the cross country. It’s the big day for me with a 4am start and then sport starts at 7.45 am Japan time. If you have time on Sunday, I think this will be well worth watching as the sport will be great but also with the amazing back drop of the city. The OB have 30 cameras (a lot!) as well as a big high wire and two tracks. For the rehearsal we used buggies instead of horses despite the fact they don’t jump and don’t go as fast! I'm just hoping we don’t get more rain.  
 
That’s all from me until after cross country day but here are some photos of the course and the views.