TOKYO will see a totally new format for show jumping at the Games. Among the biggest change is that there are just three members and no discard score. With no room for error, it is all to play for in the team competition.

The discard score was done away with in a bid to make the competition easier to understand for people that are not involved in the sport, as well as allowing more countries the chance to compete at the Olympic Games.

This year, the individual medals will be decided before the team. A total of 74 athletes start in next Tuesday’s individual qualifier and the top 30 will qualify for the individual final the following day. All combinations then start the final on a score of zero.

The team competition begins on Friday, August 6th, with 19 teams lining out (20 teams qualified but Australia have not been able to field a team). The top 10 teams after day one make it through to the team final on Saturday, August 7th, where all teams start on a score of zero. That means a team that scrapes through in 10th place will still have a chance of a medal in the final round.

To make the medal decider even more interesting, after the first two riders for each team have gone, a classification of teams will be established and the third rider will go in reserve order of merit.

Substitutions

One substitution per team is permitted. Such substitution may only occur during the period between the end of the team qualifier and up to two hours before the start of the team final. Substitutions are not permitted for a jump-off.

A rider who retired, withdraws or is eliminate from the team competition will not be given a score. The team will be classified according to the remaining score, beneath the teams who fielded three scores. If a horse/rider is disqualified, the whole team is disqualified.

The show jumping courses in Toyko will be designed by Spain’s Santiago Varela.

TIMETABLE

Tuesday, August 3rd 7pm Japanese time (11am Irish time)

Individual qualifier

Wednesday, August 4th 7pm Japanese time (11am Irish time)

Individual final

Friday, August 6th 7pm Japanese time (11am Irish time)

Team qualifier

Saturday, August 7th 7pm Japanese time (11am Irish time)

Team final