***************************************************
The Home Affairs Bureau and the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) jointly organised the ¡§200-day Countdown to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games¡¨ at Ocean Park today (January 20) to mark the 200 days to the opening of the Olympic Games and to promote the messages of environmental protection and healthy living under the concept of ¡§Green Olympics¡¨.
Speaking at the countdown ceremony, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, said that Green Olympics was one of the three main concepts of the Beijing Olympic Games. The goal of Green Olympics is to organise the Olympic Games with the concept of sustainable development of protecting the environment, resources and ecological balance.
¡§This is also in line with the SAR Government¡¦s vision and goal of promoting environmental protection and sustainable development. In preparing the Equestrian Events, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Equestrian Company and all related organisations have tried their best to apply the concept of Green Olympics to various aspects of the games,¡¨ he said.
Mr Tang believed that with the full support of Hong Kong people and the efforts of all parties concerned, Hong Kong would be able to organise the best ever Equestrian Events.
Today¡¦s celebrations carried the themes of Green Olympics, environmental protection and conservation. A carnival was held with game stalls on conservation, exhibitions on green Olympics and green life style, photo opportunities with Fuwa and ponies, and a variety show.
Apart from local elite athletes and representatives from the sports sector, around 200 people from the disadvantaged groups were invited to participate in the event to share the joy of Olympic celebrations.
Other officiating guests at the countdown ceremony included the President of the SF&OC, Mr Timothy Fok; the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing; the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Equestrian Events Hong Kong Fund, Ms Elsie Leung; the Chairman of Ocean Park Corporation, Dr Allan Zeman; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr John Chan; the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs Carrie Yau; the Chief Executive Officer of the Equestrian Company, Mr Lam Woon-kwong; the Chair of the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong, Ms Judy Chen; the Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee and Sports Association for the Physically Disabled, Dr James Joseph Lam.
Ends/Sunday, January 20, 2008
Issued at HKT 13:36
NNNN
