Hong Kong Circle
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Washington D.C. Newsletter (Text Only Version)
August 2008
Olympic Live Sites Launched in Hong Kong
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
Olympic Live Sites Launched in Hong Kong
Speaking at a Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Equestrian Events welcoming reception at Sha Tin Racecourse, Equestrian Committee President Henry Tang expressed gratitude to the International Olympic Committee for placing its trust in Hong Kong as co-host city of the events.
"In Hong Kong, the Olympic ideals of friendship, fair play and solidarity are deeply ingrained in our society," said Mr. Tang. "We have a hard-earned reputation for punching above our weight in the league of global financial and business centers. And it was with Hong Kong's famous 'can do' spirit that we took up the challenge of staging the Olympic Equestrian Events."
The start of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games officially launched the Olympic Live Site set up on the Central Lawn of Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.
The Secretary for Home Affairs, Tsang Tak-sing, together with guests and citizens, assembled at the site to watch the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games broadcast live on a giant TV screen.
Speaking at a launching ceremony in Victoria Park, Mr. said that in the coming 16 days, the Live Sites in Victoria Park and Sha Tin Park would provide the whole community with opportunities to experience the spirit of the Olympic Games.
In addition to the installation of TV screens for 12-hour broadcasting of the competitions, staged performances and a diverse array of sports and cultural activities will take place to reflect Hong Kong's status as a cosmopolitan city where Western and Eastern cultures converge.
Beijing 2008 Olympic Equestrian Events in Hong Kong: http://www.equestrian2008.org/eng/front.aspx
Many Hong Kong people and visitors associate horses with the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the venerable tradition of horseracing. However, Hong Kong equestrian rider Tara Delaney feels Hong Kong's hosting of the Olympic Equestrian Events will enhance the community's understanding of the sport and earn the city global sporting recognition.
A pregnant Delaney will not represent her hometown in this month's Games. However, she is participating by helping promote the event.
Having trained together six years, Delaney and her horse Gagnant joined the Good Luck Beijing – Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 10th Anniversary Cup last August, winning the preliminary competition for local entries. She said the contest was an amazing experience and the facilities of the two Olympic equestrian venues at Sha Tin and Beas River were the best she had experienced.
"I was impressed by the detailed planning of facilities, such as the air-conditioned stables, washing and feeding facilities as well as the indoor training arena which enables training during rainy days and helps the horses adapt to Hong Kong's hot and humid weather," she said.
Delaney said the excellent preparations for the equestrian events would ensure Hong Kong's place in the Olympic spotlight.
Beijing 2008 Olympic Equestrian Events in Hong Kong: http://www.equestrian2008.org/eng/front.aspx
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