It's the first time ever that the horse show is changing its name. The new name is Al Shira'aa Falsterbo Horse Show, and the reason for the name change is a new agreement with a new main and title sponsor. The agreement extends over six years.
The sponsor is Al Shira'aa Stables, which H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is behind. She is a member of the royal family of Abu Dhabi.
"Makes no difference"
That they are our new sponsor, it makes no difference whatsoever. They cannot interfere with anything, it's me and the others on the organizing committee who decide here what concerns the sports, says Jana Wannius to Sydsvenskan.
Previously, Longines was the main sponsor of the horse show, but when the format for the Nations Cup in show jumping was changed, and it became clear that Falsterbo would no longer host the league, the sponsor also disappeared.
This meant that they had to look for another sponsor.
There were different interested parties and companies that wanted to participate and support, and one of them was Al Shira'aa Stables. And it's a young woman from Abu Dhabi who has a great interest in equestrian sports. She has her own stables and is very engaged in equestrian sports, says Wannius.
Has sparked strong reactions
According to Sydsvenskan, the name change and the new sponsor have sparked strong reactions in social media. But that Falsterbo Horse Show would have sold its soul, Wannius does not agree with.
The answer is no, a flat no. I would never do that, says Wannius.
