The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) has given final sign-off on the footing that will be used for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events at Greenwich Park.

The London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) conducted footing tests at a site near Preston in the north of England Dec. 20-21, 2011. The final mix for the footing is composed of nonwaxed sand, felt, and fiber.

Testing of the new footing concluded on Dec. 21 when international riders Geoff Billington (Jumping) and Richard Davison (Dressage) rode on the surface, which had been laid on the platform structure that will be used at Greenwich Park next year.

Leopoldo Palacios, technical advisor to LOCOG, FEI Technical Delegate Frank Rothenberger, footing expert Bart Poels, and FEI Director Jumping John Roche attended the test on Dec. 21. The technical experts produced detailed reports that were submitted to the FEI Executive Board for further evaluation prior to sign-off