Rio 2016: 43 nations competing
43 nations will be taking part in the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio and of those 43, six nations will be competing for the first time ever. They are China, Taipei, Qatar in Showjumping, the Dominican Republic and Palestine in Dressage, Zimbabwe in the Eventing and Uruguay in the para-Dressage.
These are the firsdt Olympics to take place in South America and another nation that will make its debut at the Games is Peru who will be competing for the first time in Showjumping although on their own.
These are the nations competing in Showjumping: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Taipei, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Marocco, Holland, Portugal, Qatar, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.
In the Dressage there will be 25 nations at the start gate: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Dominican Rep, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Holland, New Zealand, Palestine, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Ukraine, and Unites States.
Eventing will have 24 nations: Australia, Belarus, Belgium. Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Holland, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Unites States and Zimbabwe.
As for the paradressage 30 nations will be competing from the start. Some will present the teams while others will be in Rio individually: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium. Brazil, Canada, Czech Rep, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, Holland, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay and United States.
The Olympic Games will start the day after the opening ceremony, on August 6th, at Deodoro where the horses and their riders will start with the team events and the individual in the three disciplines, Eventing, Showjumping and Dressage. The Paralympics will start on September 11th.
