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The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Canada joined with Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Canada, in the media launch of its 2008 international season to promote Hong Kong as a co-host city for the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events on June 3 (Canada time).
Spruce Meadows is an internationally-recognised equestrian facility, and the world-class show-jumping complex in the foothills of Albertaˇ¦s Rocky Mountains hosts Canadaˇ¦s most important national tournaments every year starting from June.
Speaking to about 70 media members from across Canada at Spruce Meadowsˇ¦ special Olympic-themed Media Day reception, president of Spruce Meadows Ms Linda Southern-Heathcott said that this year a strong international field of athletes had chosen Spruce Meadows for final preparations leading into the 2008 Olympic Games. ˇ§For some, itˇ¦s not just about preparations, itˇ¦s about competing to be selected to a team to carry oneˇ¦s national colours onto the Olympic stage.ˇ¨
Ms Southern-Heathcott, who has visited Hong Kongˇ¦s equestrian facilities, said she was delighted to find the ˇ§clean and greenˇ¨ concept working well in the Olympic facilities there and predicted that the equestrian events in Hong Kong this summer ˇ§will be a great success.ˇ¨
ˇ§The spirit of the Hong Kong people is terrific,ˇ¨ she said.
Director of the HKETO in Canada, Ms Maureen Siu, said Hong Kong has saddled up for the Olympic events. ˇ§We are proud to join the ranks of Olympics city,ˇ¨ she said. ˇ§With our century-old experience in the import and handling of thoroughbred racehorses, you can find all the necessary facilities there.
ˇ§We have established world-class quarantine and vaccination regimes, and we have developed facilities that ensure a disease-free environment for our horses. We know how to cope with different weather conditions,ˇ¨ Ms Siu said.
Hong Kong has invested CAD$150 million and completed the construction of world-class facilities for holding contests on jumping, dressage and eventing. These facilities will handle the required horse-training, transport, laboratory tests and waste recycling.
Ms Siu highlighted some of unique features of Hong Kong equestrian facilities, many of which were Olympic firsts, including the first six-star accommodation for horses, which means the stables for the Olympic horses would be air-conditioned and humidity controlled.
She extended an invitation to guests to come to Hong Kong as competitors or spectators and share the Olympic spirit of solidarity, friendship and fair play. ˇ§Apart from enjoying the grace and action of the equestrian athletes in their quests for the Olympic medals, you can also enjoy a huge range of cultural, shopping, dining and entertainment experiences in Hong Kong,ˇ¨ she said.
The Hong Kong Family - the HKETO and the Hong Kong Tourism Board - will be organising a Hong Kong Pavilion at Spruce Meadows this weekend, and Hong Kong will also be taking part in the tournamentsˇ¦ international parade. The Spruce Meadows season, starting this weekend, will include an array of cultural, entertainment, community, and high performance sport initiatives with an overriding theme of ˇ§Show Your Colours.ˇ¨
Ends/Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:45
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