**************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Equestrian Company:
International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said Hong Kong is on course to stage an "absolutely fabulous" Olympic equestrian event next year. He made the comments while attending the cross-country phase of the Good Luck Beijing – HKSAR 10th Anniversary Cup, an Olympic test event at the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Beas River venue.
"I am very happy with the preparations. I have spoken with the riders and they are very happy," Mr Rogge said. "Everything is progressing well and we will have an absolutely fabulous Games here next year."
Mr Rogge said Hong Kong would work to promote the Olympic equestrian event both locally and internationally to ensure a good atmosphere at next year's Games.
Mr Rogge toured the course and facilities at Beas River with HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, the President of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).
Princess Haya said: "We have many suggestions to go through later in our briefings in the next few days."
The test event is split into an international competition with 15 riders from seven nations competing over 4,000 metres (two laps of a 2,000 metre course) and a local competition with riders completing just one lap.
Riders at the 2008 Olympics will compete over an extended course.
Frank Ostholt, a member of Germany's winning World Championship team in 2006, came up after dressage and is now leading after the cross-country phase. He said the event was a good preparation for the riders, as well as the organisers ahead of the Olympics.
"It was very useful for us to come here. I hope it will help us next year. The course is very twisty."
Frank Ostholt has 53.4 penalty points and is just ahead of compatriot Dirk Schrade who dropped from first to second place in the cross-country section. He has 53.6 penalty points, which is less than one rail down in the final phase of the jumping that concludes the competition on Monday back at Sha Tin.
Australia's Shane Rose is close behind in third place with 57.6 penalty points.
Germany was the only country bringing four riders to Hong Kong and they are all in the top seven.
Young Anna Junkmann of Germany was excited to be first to go in the cross-country event: "It was amazing to be the first rider on the course for the Olympics. It was a bit curvy. The going was very good even though there was heavy rain this morning."
American Bruce Davidson Jnr. praised the equestrian venue. He said: "The facilities here are second to none. They (the organisers) are doing an unbelievably good job."
Mr Davidson Jnr. said the course was a good test for the horses. He said: "It is so twisty and turny, you are always pulling on the reins."
Tara Delaney is leading the local competition with 52.9 penalty points. She said the competition was a great opportunity for Hong Kong riders to get a taste of international equestrian competition.
"It is a fantastic opportunity to take part in an Olympic test event. We all had a lot of fun," she said.
Annie Ho, leading after dressage dropped to second place with 58.2 penalty points.
Commissioner of Hong Kong Police, Mr Tang King-shing, said 1,000 officers had been deployed for each day of the three-day test event. "We need to balance the security needs and the needs of the large number of spectators at the event," Mr Tang said.
Ends/Sunday, August 12, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:32
NNNN
