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With a long history of equine sports and world-class quarantine and equine care facilities, Hong Kong has further invested more than 150 million US dollars in the development of new facilities and amenities for the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events this year.
"Our aim is to create an event that would probably be one of the best, if not the best, in Olympic equestrian history," said Mrs Jennie Chok, the Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative in Tokyo, at a reception she hosted during the 54th Tokyo Equestrian Games this evening (June 7).
The new facilities include an all-weather sand arena for jumping and dressage, a 5.7-kilometre cross-country track equipped with misting facilities, air-conditioned stables for visiting horses, the world's first ever air-conditioned equestrian indoor training centre, and an equine clinic which meets with highest international standards.
Mrs Chok said all these new facilities aimed to keep visiting horses safe, and to ensure that each of them would be provided with every comfort regardless of natural weather conditions.
Noting that Hong Kong looked forward to warmly welcoming the 300 equestrian athletes and their horses, Olympic officials and spectators from all over the world, Mrs Chok said, "We are ready, and proud to embrace the Olympic ideals of solidarity, friendship, fair play and equality - ideals that go hand-in-hand with our city's core values."
Before closing, Mrs Chok called on the Japanese community to visit Hong Kong to feel the exciting "Olympic spirit" and to enjoy the vibrancy of "Asia's World City".
The 54th Tokyo Equestrian Games, organised by the Tokyo Riding Club from June 6 to 8, is one of the most popular and prestigious events of its kind in Japan. To promote the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events to be held in Hong Kong this year to the Japanese equestrian community, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Tokyo sponsored the Hong Kong Cup contest (FEI Prix St-Georges (Edition 2000)). Seven of Japan's top equestrians participated and the Cup was won by Ms Mayumi Ino.
The reception today was attended by the leadership of the Japan Olympic Committee, the Japan Equestrian Federation, the International Equestrian Federation, government officials, as well as Ms Mieko Yagi and Ms Yoko Kitai who will represent Japan at the Olympic dressage competitions to be held in Hong Kong.
Ends/Saturday, June 7, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:23
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