It was in 2019 that the FEI, the International Equestrian Federation, made the decision on the World Cup final.
Since then, the debate around sports washing has gained intense momentum, among other things in connection with the football World Cup in Qatar and the Saudi-financed LIV tour in golf.
Jumping's Global Champions Tour has for several years now had one of the partial competitions in Doha, Qatar, but it is the first time that it is now coming to Saudi Arabia and that also makes the World Cup issue relevant again.
- It is a very difficult question, very difficult.
This is my job.
I would never go to Saudi Arabia on holiday.
This is a competition in series I ride and now this week one of the sub-competitions, the final, is in Riyadh.
Then I have a responsibility towards my team that I work with, for example, says world number one Henrik von Eckermann to SVT Sport.
World Cup Final in the USA 2023
Next year, the World Cup final will be decided in Omaha, USA - then there will be qualifying for the places to Riyadh the following year.
But he has decided to go to Riyadh for the season finale at the GCT which is waiting around the corner.
- Somewhere at the end there is always a wave.
I have employees for whom I am responsible, my family I am responsible for and I have a business where the monthly cost is very high.
Those factors weigh more heavily for me, more heavily than I think the difference makes if I don't go there, says von Eckermann.
He also sees that there are circumstances in equestrian sports that can make a difference.
- In our sport, both women and men compete, it's a good thing that we can show equal conditions in that way.
And also when it comes to welfare for the horses, there is a value, because we are way ahead in terms of horse culture.
FEI: No worries about sportswashing
The International Equestrian Federation, FEI, responds in an email to SVT Sport that Saudi Arabia was the only candidate for the 2024 final as an organizer.
There should not have been any concern about sportswashing when the final decision was made in 2019 because, according to the FEI, Saudi Arabia is a well-established equestrian nation.
The FEI supports diversity, inclusion and equality and writes in its response that it will work closely with the organizer to deliver a final that meets the FEI's values.