Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher recently unveiled a prototype of highway signs that will be placed in prominent locations throughout Kentucky promoting the state as the home of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The project is a joint effort between the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Kentucky Commerce Cabinet’s Department of Tourism and 2010 World Equestrian Games officials.

“Kentucky is synonymous with the horse, and the World Equestrian Games are the world championships of the equestrian world,” said Randy Fiveash, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Tourism. “This will be the first time the Games have been outside Europe, and we want people to know that the best horses and riders in the world will be coming to Kentucky in 2010.”

“When we welcome visitors to and through Kentucky, we want them to know of the international events that have been scheduled for the Commonwealth,” said Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bill Nighbert. “These new signs will call attention to the importance of this upcoming event.”

The six new signs will be large (11 by 19 feet) and visible and will be installed, in succession, on the following interstates at these approximate locations:

· I-65 Northbound in Simpson County
· I-65 Southbound in Bullitt County
· I-75 Southbound in Boone County
· I-75 Northbound in Whitley County
· I-64 Eastbound in Shelby County
· I-64 Westbound in Carter County

“When the FEI awarded the 2010 Games to Kentucky, they expected new and innovative things,” said Jack Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of the World Games 2010 Foundation Inc., the entity in charge of putting on the games. “These signs are just one part of the groundwork being laid to make the Games in Kentucky both a promotional and competitive success. With the signs being placed so early, literally hundreds of millions of people will pass by and become more aware of the Games”

"The international, and specifically, the European audience knows of the importance of these games because they've hosted them every time since their inception," said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder of Alltech, one of the leading animal health companies in the world with global offices in Kentucky and title sponsor of the 2010 Games. "Kentucky is the first non-European site to be awarded the Games and we need to let America know that the Games are coming and that we'll be ready when they do."

The 2010 Games will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, September 25–October 10. They are the world championships of the eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), and are held every four years. The Games have never before been held outside of Europe; nor have all eight disciplines ever previously been held together at a single site—both firsts that will be achieved at the Kentucky Horse Park. The 2010 Games are expected to have an economic impact of $150 million, and it is anticipated that 400,000-500,000 tickets will be sold over the 16-day competition.


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