The International Olympic Committee Executive Board members announced a proposal yesterday, Aug. 13, that recommends that all of the current 26 core sports including equestrian be included in the Olympic Games until at least 2016.

The proposal, however, will not be under full review until September, when the IOC meets in Copenhagen for its annual session. While there has been no counterproposal to remove equestrian sports from the Games, increasing concerns regarding the expenses and logistics of building new facilities and the negative publicity of doping scandals have made the sport a more difficult undertaking than in the past.

According to IOC President Jacques Rogge, a sport’s suitability for the Games is based on its youth appeal, universality, popularity, good governance, respect for athletes and respect for the Olympic values.

The Olympic equestrian sports of dressage, eventing and show jumping are the only ones in which animals compete as athletes and one of very few others in which men and women compete head-to-head.