USA: official partner country of CHIO Aachen 2024

Aachen and the USA have partnered up for the big NRW-USA Year. “It’s a perfect match: great sports, a great show, with great friends”, says a delighted Nathanael Liminski, State Minister for Federal, European and International Affairs and the Media and Head of the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). He delivered the good news at a press conference together with Pauline Kao, the US Consul General for NRW.

“So much has already been presented and launched since the start of our NRW-USA Year last summer. And yet it’s already clear that CHIO Aachen 2024 will stand out among the many different events. Our aim is to build a stage for the people and associations that bring the transatlantic partnership to life every day. And launch new initiatives. All the many players who exchange ideas, work together, conduct research and present art are the driving force behind our special relationship – in good times and bad. The USA and the state of NRW have a great history. We also want a great future to connect us. We still have a lot of plans”, states Nathanael Liminski.

Afterwards, Pauline Kao emphasized, “It’s wonderful that the USA has been chosen as the partner country for CHIO Aachen this year – this perfectly highlights the NRW-USA Year. This top-class show, which attracts worldwide attention, will once again demonstrate the scope and special nature of the friendship between NRW and the USA, which has existed for over 340 years. We need each other more than ever – and now is the time to deepen and strengthen our bond. Many thanks to CHIO Aachen for the important role you play in this.”

The slogan of the NRW-USA Year “A perfect match” is also the motto of this year’s traditional Opening Ceremony of CHIO Aachen on the evening of July 2, 2024. Together with this year’s partner country, the organizers are promising a spectacular evening for the grand show before the big sport event. Taking place in the main stadium in front of 40,000 spectators, the Opening Ceremony is conceived to be perfect entertainment – 90 minutes long, breathtaking and under floodlights. The theme is traditionally closely linked to the partner country. “The unique flair of the USA offers a huge and diversified spectrum”, adds Birgit Rosenberg, board member of ALRV, the association that organizes the festival. She is also Head of Sport at CHIO Aachen and responsible for the show program. Indeed, almost by definition, the land of unlimited opportunities gives the organisers a huge spectrum of possibilities to draw from when conceiving the decorations and supporting programme – in terms of tradition, culture, music and of course also clichés, which usually also play their part.

Surrounded by the cheerleaders of Rhein Fire Düsseldorf, whose golden pom-poms lent the press conference the appropriate flair, show director Uwe Brandt already revealed a few enticing details of how the Opening Ceremony will unfold, which will be broadcast live during prime time (8:15 pm) on public television, reaching people’s homes all over Germany and beyond: “I’m seeing of a lot of glamor, football and, of course, plenty of horses and music”, said the director, who has been supporting the CHIO Aachen team as the creative head in terms of choreography, dramaturgy and staging since 2015. Brandt added with a smile, “Of course, there’ll also be a bit of pink.” In addition to a Super Bowl atmosphere, Quarter Horses and traditional stagecoaches, the spectators can look forward to a tribute to “Barbie”. Two social media stars, Hella Gabbert and Julia Steinbrecher, will help in depicting the world’s most famous doll. Because she has – of course – American roots.

The USA will not only be present at the Opening Ceremony this summer, but throughout the entire festival. Typical US-American flair will be present everywhere on the show grounds as well as in the city itself. On Monday, July 1, the traditional reception of the partner country will take place at Aachener Markt. Only the two “Horse & Symphony” concerts will have a different thematic focus this year. “In 2024, we’re celebrating 100 years of tournament history at Aachener Soers,” explained ALRV President, Stefanie Peters. “So at these two concerts we’ll commemorate the anniversary in a corresponding style.”