In advance already one had promised that this year’s Opening Ceremony at the CHIO Aachen, the World Equestrian Festival, would overshadow everything that had come before. And they certainly hadn’t promised too much either. Every year a partner county back up the CHIO. In 2016 it is Sweden. And the country of the Dalecarlian horses had sent its Queen to Aachen. Accompanied by her husband, His Majesty Carl Gustaf, and her Royal Mounted Guards and the Royal Fire Brigade, Her Majesty, Queen Silvia of Sweden, was driven into the Soers in a carriage amid the thunderous applause of the crowd and took her place in the VIP box, where she was awaited by among others Princess Benedikte of Denmark. Whereby first she actually walked over to the podium to welcome the Aachen crowd and officially open the CHIO 2016. The performance by Måns Zelmerlöw, the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2015, was the crowning finale and built the bridge to the present and it also brought the crowd to its feet.

The Swedish royal couple didn’t miss out on the opportunity of this very special CHIO Aachen appearance: When the Swedish superstar of the Eurovision Song Contest, Måns Zelmerlöw, performed at the “Media Night” in the late evening, their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden were still present.

The Swedish royal couple, his Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf and her Majesty Queen Silvia, have been guests in Aachen on the invitation of the organisers of the CHIO Aachen. Sweden is this year’s partner country of the World Equestrian estival. In the evening, the royal couple visited the “Media Night” gala evening, before the Queen officially opened the show. We talked to Queen Silvia of Sweden shortly before the Opening Ceremony.

Spain’s Sergio Alvarez Moya and the 8-year-old French-bred mare, Unicstar de l’Aumone, were unbeatable and the pair took the victory with a lead of a good two seconds.

When Emanuele Gaudiano rides against the clock, his fellow competitors have to watch out. The Italian rider is well-known for his fast rounds. And the STAWAG Opening Jumping Competition at the CHIO Aachen 2016 was no exception.