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The following is issued on behalf of The Equestrian Company:
International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge and HRH Princess Haya, the President of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), will attend the Good Luck Beijing ¡V HKSAR 10th Anniversary Cup this weekend.
At a press briefing today (August 7) the Chief Executive Officer of The Equestrian Company, Mr Lam Woon-kwong said Mr Rogge would be at Beas River on Sunday for the cross country trials while Princess Haya would arrive on Friday and attend the three days of eventing.
Mr Lam said competition was an important test of Hong Kong¡¦s readiness to stage next year¡¦s Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events.
¡§This will be as close as possible to an Olympic event. There is some outstanding work to be done at the venues and we can¡¦t have 200 horses for the test event,¡¨ Mr Lam said. ¡§But it will be on a meaningful scale.¡¨
The Good Luck Beijing ¡V HKSAR 10th Anniversary Cup will be divided into two classes ¡V one for international competitors with 17 horses from eight nations taking part, and the other for Hong Kong riders comprising 20 competitors. They will all compete in dressage, cross-country and jumping.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club¡¦s Executive Director of Corporate Development, Mr Kim Mak, said there had been positive feedback from overseas teams who had arrived for the competition.
¡§The teams and experts are happy with the situation. Some said that it is better than in their own countries, in Europe or the US,¡¨ he said. ¡§Tests show the cooling systems are working well. It will help to attract the best horses for the Olympic event (next year).¡¨
Mr Lam stressed everything was being done to ensure the hot and humid Hong Kong summer would not have an adverse effect on the horses during the competition.
¡§This has been factored in. The competitions will be held in the early morning or late evening when the weather is a little cooler,¡¨ Mr Lam said.
The organisers said the welfare of the horses was of paramount concern, adding that a very experienced team of vets would be on hand to ensure the best possible care during the competition.
Some 40 tonnes of ice will be used daily in special ¡§misting¡¨ tents to reduce the body temperatures of the horses, and help them relax during the three days of competition.
All aspects of the test event will come under close scrutiny during the three-day competition, to see what improvements need to be made before the Olympics next year.
¡§Not only are the horses and athletes being tested. So to are the accreditation and security systems, accommodation for the horses, officials and spectators, and the communications systems, including the scoreboards,¡¨ Mr Lam said.
Event organisers have used various methods to familiarise people about equestrian competition in the build-up to the Good Luck Beijing - HKSAR 10th Anniversary Cup, and a special FM radio channel has been designated to broadcast commentaries of the performances at each venue.
The broadcast will be available to the guests and spectators during the events. The FM channel ¡V on 101.5 Megahertz and 103.2 Megahertz ¡V can be picked up on small hand-held radios.
People are being urged to use public transport to get to the venues at Sha Tin and Beas River. Shuttle busses will run at 5 to 10 minute intervals between KCR stations and the venues before and after the competition.
But organisers do not expect much disruption to the transport network.
¡§About 30,000 to 40,000 people go to race meetings in Hong Kong. There will only be 3,000 people going to Sha Tin for this competition so I am confident the KCR can easily handle the extra passengers.¡¨
Spectators are advised to take the KCR to University station for the events in Sha Tin on Saturday morning and Monday evening, and to Fanling station on Sunday morning when the cross-country competition will be held at Beas River. Services will start a little earlier than normal to cope with the expected rush. Services to University station will start at 5am.
Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs Mrs Agnes Allcock said the Equestrian Organising Committee had the full support of the Government.
¡§There are 40 government departments involved. The HKSAR Government gives its full support to the test event and the 2008 Beijing Games,¡¨ she said.
Ends/Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Issued at HKT 20:05
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