Host Committee Hopes to Lure Visitors to Louisville

by Stephanie CrosbyA committee of Louisvillians is working to secure some local visitors when Lexington hosts the World Equestrian Games. The games will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park starting in late September.Attorney Andy Beshear – Governor Steve Beshear’s son – is the co-chair of the Louisville’s host committee for the World Equestrian Games. He says tens of thousands of people from all over the world will be visiting Lexington for the games, and some may plan to attend just one or two events during its 16-day run.“We can draw people to Louisville who aren’t staying here, we can have things for the people who are staying here to do and to enjoy, and also for the residents of Louisville and the surrounding community, to get a real taste and experience for the games, even if they’re not going," says Beshear.It’s estimated that 85% of the people attending the games will come from outside Kentucky and the country with the most ticket purchases for the games outside the U.S. is South Africa.Beshear says a number of people attending the games are staying in Louisville, and his group is looking at providing bus service to and from Lexington.Beshear was a guest on today’s State of Affairs.