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The following is issued on behalf of the Equestrian Events (Hong Kong) of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad Company (The Equestrian Company):
The Equestrian Company has announced today (September 6) that people in Hong Kong were very supportive of the Equestrian Events of the Beijing 2008 13th Paralympic Games and tickets for the nine events to be held from September 7 to 11 in the Sha Tin venue have been sold out.
Para-Equestrian Dressage (or Para-Dressage) is currently the only Equestrian discipline included within the 2008 Paralympic Games. Competing in the events will be 73 athletes. Athletes are classified into five grades (Grades Ia, Ib, II, III and IV). Grade Ia athletes have the most serious impairment while Grade IV athletes are the least impaired. Riders with similar levels of impairment can compete together. The competition within each grade is then judged on the skill of that rider on the horse regardless of the rider's impairment. Riders of each grade can compete in the Individual Championship Test, the Freestyle Test, and the Team Test. There will be 11 gold medals for the events.
Free shuttle bus services will ferry spectators from University Station to the Sha Tin venue.
Live commentary of the events at Sha Tin will be available in both Cantonese and English on specially-designated (FM) channels. Spectators can take a small, pocket-size FM radio (without a loud speaker) and earpiece to listen to the commentaries.
For more information about the events, please call the 24-hour Spectator Hotline 2107 9955; or visit the Equestrian Company website at www.equestrian2008.org.
Ends/Saturday, September 6, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:15
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