CHIO World Equestrian Festival

Tennis has Wimbledon, soccer has Wembley and equestrian sport has Aachen. Here, on the traditional show grounds, the best equestrian athletes in the world meet once a year to compete in the five disciplines of show jumping, dressage, eventing, four-in-hand driving and vaulting. Year after year, they are cheered on by around 350,000 visitors who come for the world-class sport, but also for the spectacular supporting program.

And that too is Aachen: A festival of the public, a folk festival, famous for its extraordinary atmosphere. This finds a very special expression on Sunday evening: When the last decision has been made, visitors and athletes alike pull out their white handkerchiefs to give each other a wave and promise to meet again next year. Here at the Aachen Soers, the Wimbledon, the Wembley of equestrianism.