Although this figure is two less than was announced in June it is still a record for equestrian sport's showpiece tournament and represents a 25 per cent increase from the previous record established at the 2006 Games in Aachen, where athletes from 59 nations took part.

The total number of athletes and horses for the Games, which start tomorrow, now stands at 969 and 1,080 respectively for the eight disciplines of jumping, dressage, eventing, driving, reining, vaulting, endurance and Para-dressage.

With 54 nations, jumping is the discipline that has attracted the highest participation overall - an absolute record since the creation of the Games in 1990.

There was, however, a last minute spate of withdrawals due to injury.

Among those now out is German Michael Jung's horse Sam FBW, who took him to individual and team eventing gold at the London 2012 Olympics and individual eventing gold at the Lexington 2010 World Equestrian Games.

Michael Jung's Sam FBW has been ruled out of competing at Normandy 2014 ©Getty Images


Jung will instead ride the nine-year-old mare FischerRocana FST.

Two Dutch dressage horses have also been withdrawn.

Edward Gal's Glock's Undercover is out leaving the rider to now compete on 12-year-old black stallion Glock's Voice, while Danielle Heijkoop and Kingsley Siro NOP have been replaced with Diederik van Silfhout on Arlando NH NOP after her horse incurred an injury.

The Games are expected to attract some 500,000 spectators over the two weeks of action, while the 40 broadcasting deals for the event, including with national broadcasters across Europe, Dubai, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and China, sports cable channels and FEI TV, will make sure it reaches much beyond the shores of France.

International Equestrian Federation secretary general Ingmar De Vos is hopeful that the €80 million (£64 million/€106 million) event will leave a legacy for the sport's future.

"This is our flagship event, and extremely important for promoting and growing our sport," he said.

The World Equestrian Games are due to continue until September 7.

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