![Miguel Ralão Duarte "en route" to the Olympic Games 2008](https://www.equisport.pt/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/Duarte31.jpg)
The deadline for nations to confirm their participation at the 2008 Olympic Games was 31 May 2008. In light of the confirmations from the National Olympic Committees, the latest list of qualified nations per discipline (team and individual) attending the 2008 Olympic Games is presented below.
Cancellations in both Dressage and Eventing have meant that new quota spaces have been reallocated. Two of these spaces will go to countries that were not originally part of the qualified nations, namely to the Czech Republic with one Eventing rider and Portugal with one Dressage Rider (their participation is still subject to confirmation from the NOC and NF). Furthermore, France and Russia are now represented by Dressage teams following the reallocation of quota spaces, while Poland, in addition to their two Eventing riders, is now represented by a Dressage rider.
The tally for nations qualified to participate has thus risen to 43, a record for equestrian sports at the Olympic Games.
The details of who has cancelled and how their spaces have been reallocated can be found in the list below.
DRESSAGE
The following nations have decided not to participate:
• Antigua – individual rider
• Austria – individual rider (as they had two individual Dressage riders qualified, one individual rider still remains)
• Belgium – individual rider
• Switzerland – team (3 riders)
According to qualification procedures, the quota spaces have been reallocated according to the Dressage Olympic world ranking list:
• France – 1 place thus allowing France to have a team of 3 riders
• Russia – 2 places thus allowing Russia to have a team of 3 riders
• Poland – 1 place
• Portugal – 1 place (Portugal now join the list of qualified nations)
(Their participation is still subject to confirmation from the NOC and NF)
Qualified TEAMS
Australia (AUS)
Brazil (BRA)
Canada (CAN)
Germany (GER)
Great Britain (GBR)
Japan (JPN)
Sweden (SWE)
The Netherlands (NED)
United States of America (USA)
TOTAL: 9 Nations (27 riders)
in addition: Qualified COMPOSITE TEAMS (3 individuals qualified from the same nation from the Olympic rankings to make up a team)
Denmark (DEN) – 3 riders
France (FRA) – 3 riders
Russia (RUS) – 3 riders
Spain (ESP) – 3 riders
TOTAL: 4 teams (12 riders)
Qualified INDIVIDUALS:
Austria (AUT) – 1
Belarus (BLR) – 1
China (CHN) – 1
Finland (FIN) – 1
Italy (ITA) – 1
Korea (KOR) – 1
Mexico (MEX) – 1
Poland (POL) – 1
Portugal (POR) – 1
South Africa (RSA) – 1
TOTAL: 10 riders