From the Commissioner
Dear Friends, today, the 29th Olympic Games commenced in Beijing, China.
This is a historic moment for Hong Kong as the city co-hosts the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events.
Hong Kong has a respected tradition of equine excellence, nurtured and promoted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation and the Riding for the Disabled Association Limited.
The city's first-rate quarantine and vaccination regimes, coupled with the Hong Kong Jockey Club's extensive experience with the import of thoroughbred racehorses, enables us to provide an atmosphere for championship horses to be stabled and compete in safety and comfort.
The utmost care has been given to ensure the welfare of these magnificent animals throughout their stay.
"It's like Disneyland for horses," said Jim Wolf, Chef de Mission for the U.S. Equestrian team. "It's got wonderful veterinary facilities, beautiful stabling, and the trucks that they're going to use to transport the horses are the best I've seen anywhere."
Hong Kong's preparatory work has been extensive. Community-wide efforts, including a $150 million investment in state-of-the-art equestrian facilities by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, have helped create a world-class environment that is "second to none", as described by American rider Bruce Davidson, Jr. during a pre-Olympic trial run last August.
The 2008 Olympic Games include a number of firsts for the equestrian events, including 24-hour air-conditioned stables and indoor training area, on-site equine drug testing facilities, mobile cooling stations for horses, 100 percent recycling of Olympic stable waste and on-site weather station.
Stateside, Hong Kong has been active in promoting the Olympic Equestrian Events among American audiences.
In April, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York co-sponsored the prestigious Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The event was also a selection trial of the U.S. Equestrian Federation for the 2008 Olympic Eventing Team.
In June, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco co-sponsored the 2008 Collecting Gaits Farm/U.S. Equestrian Federation Festival of Champions in San Juan Capistrano which included the U.S. Olympic Dressage Team Selection Trials.
It is my hope that Hong Kong's co-hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events will enhance public appreciation of, and respect for, both riders and horses in the Olympic disciplines in which they compete.
Hong Kong people are honored to welcome human and equine athletes, as well as spectators, in the spirit of the Games' fabled tradition.
Upon their arrival, visitors will see that Hong Kong is a free, open and pluralistic society. It is a city that cherishes its role in contributing to, and embracing, the ideals of the Olympic Movement to promote peace and solidarity through competitive sport.
I wish all Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian participants the best of luck.
Margaret Fong
Hong Kong Commissioner, USA
HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE OFFICE IN WASHINGTON D.C.
1520 18th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202)331-8947 Fax: (202)331-8958
To subscribe or unsubscribe, please send an e-mail to hketo@hketowashington.gov.hk
Copyright @ 2003, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Washington D.C.
Hot Topics:
Useful Links:
Hong Kong Government Information Center
Hong Kong Trade Development Council