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The following is issued on behalf of The Equestrian Company:
Volunteering is at the very heart of every Olympic Games, and that is no exception for the equestrian events to be held in Hong Kong next summer, the Chief Executive Officer of The Equestrian Company (EqCo), Mr Lam Woon-kwong, said this evening (November 26).
A total of 1,800 volunteers are required to help the Beijing 2008 Olympic equestrian events run smoothly in August, and another 600 volunteers are needed for the Paralympic equestrian events in September.
So far, 13,000 people have applied to become volunteers for the August event, Mr Lam said.
Speaking at the opening of an exhibition and recruitment drive for volunteers at Hong Kong City Hall, Mr Lam said, "Volunteers would be engaged in a myriad of duties.
"Whether you help by marshalling the spectators, or delivering a bouquet to the top riders, you are all small but important cogs that keep the large wheel moving."
Mr Lam praised volunteers who had served in the 2007 events as well as those who had helped on non-competition occasions such as the days marking the various "count-downs".
"You put in your efforts and it was an admirable performance," he added.
Mr Lam also thanked the 2008 Beijing Olympic Equestrian Events Hong Kong Fund for making the exhibition possible.
"The fund has donated generously in support of the Olympic volunteer movement in Hong Kong. We look forward to a fruitful partnership with the fund," Mr Lam said.
Also officiating at today's opening were the President of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee, Hong Kong, China, Mr Timothy Fok; Chairman of the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee and Sports Association for the Physically Disabled, Ms Jenny Fung; the Head of Racing Operations and Equestrian of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr John Ridley; a member of the 2008 Beijing Equestrian Event Hong Kong Fund, Mr Chau How-chen; Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs Agnes Allcock, and the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of EqCo, Ms Miranda Chiu.
The exhibition, which will be held at the Exhibition Hall, City Hall, opens from noon until 9pm and will close on Friday (November 30).
Those interested in enrolling as volunteers for the equestrian events are invited to log on to the EqCo's website at www.equstrian2008.org.
The deadline for recruitment of the third and last batch of volunteers is December 31 this year.
Ends/Monday, November 26, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:31
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