Bromont 2018 chief executive Luc Fournier, chairman François Duffar and Board members Julie Payette, René Perreault and Linda Heathcott all resigned earlier this week due to concerns about the financing of the event in two years’ time.

Richard Mongeau, general manager of the non-profit organisation Cheval Québec, who supported Bromont’s bid for the Games and will begin fully promoting the event next year, had admitted they were “very concerned” following the five members’ decision to stand down from the Organising Committee.

Mongeau had claimed that the competition in Bromont, the first-ever Canadian city to stage the World Equestrian Games, which will see nearly 1,000 riders from 65 nations compete in eight disciplines, is in jeopardy if the current situation is not rectified soon.

“If this situation were to continue, it would be hard to imagine another result than the cancellation of the event,” he said.

“We're very concerned about this situation.”

Outgoing chief executive Fournier added in an interview with Radio Canada that “without a major change in direction and concrete and affirmed support from the group of partners, we cannot deliver the games in 2018”.

It has been reported that the event in Bromont will cost around $95 million (£66 million/€83 million), $9 million (£6 million/€8 million) of which will be provided by the Québec province.

The Federal Government was expected to pledge the same amount but such a declaration of support has not yet been made.

“That seems to be the crux of the situation which is creating this turmoil,” added Mongeau.

The issue has caused concern within the FEI, but President Ingmar de Vos stressed the organisation’s backing for the event in spite of the current turmoil.

“We need to get a complete picture of the situation and consider our options,” he told website Horses.nl.

“The FEI continues to fully support the concept of the World Equestrian Games and believes that an event of this calibre, in which eight equestrian disciplines are represented, must continue.

“The World Equestrian Games are embraced by countless fans, and there is already great interest in hosting the event in 2022.”

The city was announced as the host in June 2014 having seen off the challenge of Lexington in Kentucky, with the Games scheduled to take place from August 11 to 26 at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park, a venue at the Montreal 1976 Olympics.

Insufficient amenities and services, along with traffic problems, were noted to have caused frustration for some spectators at the 2014 edition of the Games in Normandy, with the FEI considering making alterations to ease the pressure on future hosts, including reducing the size of the competitor field and length of the competition.