With the first batch of equestrian horses to arrive on July 26, Hong Kong is in full swing for the upcoming Olympic Equestrian events.
Lam Woon-kwong, CEO of the Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Company(OEC) which organizes the equestrian events, told reporters here Friday that six mainland riders and three Hong Kong riders will compete in the forthcoming equestrian events, marking the first time in China’s Olympic history.
As one of the six co-host cities of the Beijing Olympics, Hong Kong will hold the equestrian event at Sha Tin District from Aug. 9-21. Up to 204 riders and horses from 42 countries and regions are expected to compete there.
Hong Kong injected 1 billion yuan (147 million U.S. dollars) in the past two years to turn a dilapidated stadium in Sha Tin District into a top-class equestrian venue, which could house 18,000 spectators and provide brand-new stables for 228 horses.
Lam considered Hong Kong’s equestrian facilities “one of the best” in the Olympic history, including fully air-conditioned stables, first-class competition venues as well as a well-tested drainage system under the cross-country competition track at Beas River.
He regarded it the top priority to take after the horses arriving next week. “They will be accommodated in Sha Tin’s stables right away, with a set temperature of 23 degrees centigrade,” Lam added.
Hong Kong also sets up special cooling tents and mobile coolers at competition venues to cool down horses after training and competition.
As for the medical service, Lam said three hospitals are designated to offer medical care to Olympic participants, involving more than 300 doctors and over 1,000 nurses.
About 600 saloon cars and free shuttle buses are provided for participants and spectators among the two competition venues, Sha Tin and Beas River, as well as hotels and airport.
The upcoming equestrian events draw some 564 accredited journalists, photographers and broadcasters from home and abroad. More than 2,400 bi-lingual volunteers are chosen out of some 16,000 applicants to offer help during the games.
(Source: en.beijing2008.cn)
