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HK to host Olympic equestrian events
Dennis Chong, Gavin Bowring and Zach Coleman, Hong Kong Standard
July 9, 2005

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Hong Kong officials celebrated the long-awaited announcement Friday that equestrian events for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will be held in the SAR, a move that will save the mainland an estimated 1.1 billion yuan (HK$1.03 billion) in expenses.

"Today is a milestone for Hong Kong sports history," said Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho. "As a venue, Hong Kong is in complete accord with Olympic equestrian standards," he said, adding that the events will boost the "Olympic spirit" in the city.

"We are delighted," said Beijing Olympics organizing committee vice-president Wang Wei, adding that this is the "best possible solution."

"Let me be very clear in that everyone would have wished that the competition could have been in Beijing," International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said in Singapore, where the decision was announced.

"Sanitary problems make this very difficult and by mutual agreement [the groups] have decided to move [the events] to Hong Kong," he said.

Beijing organizers have said there are "uncertainties" with equine diseases and "major difficulties in establishing a disease-free zone."

The move to Hong Kong will also save Beijing an estimated 1.1 billion yuan, the amount Games organizers had estimated it would cost to upgrade equestrian facilities in Beijing, according to previous tendering documents posted online by Beijing Global Strategy Consulting that summarized "pre-qualification" tender documents issued by the municipal government in 2002.

Beijing has been working to scale back its original 24 billion yuan construction program for the Games as part of an effort to cool capital investment.

The city was to build 18 sports facilities, but plans for five have been scrapped. Existing facilities will be upgraded or temporary structures built instead.

The equestrian competition was originally scheduled for the Beijing Country Equestrian Park in an area 34 kilometers from the Olympic Village. Instead riders and their mounts will travel to Hong Kong to compete for six medals over three days.

It all looks like a win-win solution for local sports mavens wanting to share Olympic glory and Beijing officials with an eye on the bottom line.

Jockey Club chairman Ronald Arculli said he is delighted by the news.

He said the club would spend HK$700 million to HK$800 million to build the needed facilities.

A 20,000-seat competition arena for the dressage and showjumping events will be built near Sha Tin Racecourse, and part of the adjacent Hong Kong Sports Institute and Penfold Park will also be used.

A second arena will involve a 6.5-kilometer cross-country course along Beas River and the Hong Kong Golf Club at Fan Ling.

It has been estimated that about 300 horses and 1,150 athletes will come to Hong Kong for the three-day events.

The events should bring in up to 30,000 people - spectators, staff, and the media.

Ho predicts the events will generate HK$100 million to HK$300 million for the economy, mainly from tourists.

He said there is as yet no need to use public money and that the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad has promised to defray part of the operational costs for the events.

The IOC decision was not welcomeed by the equestrian community in Beijing.

"[I am] disappointed," Darren Deng, a worker at the capital's Equuleus Equestrian International Riding Club, told The Standard, adding that he believes the result shows that there is a long way to go before horse-related sports blossom in the mainland.

Cheng Yu, an officer with the Beijing Turf and Equestrian Association, said he now shares the feelings of disappointed Parisians who lost out to London in their bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

"My feelings now are the same as Paris [people]," he said. "If they fail, they [Hong Kong organizers] will have great responsibility."

Five other cities - Qingdao, Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Shenyang and Shanghai - will co-host sailing and soccer events.

The International Equestrian Federation has long opposed the plan but wished Hong Kong "all the best."

Cool. It's nice they're spreading events around! I hope HK someday hosts an Olympic Games too.

July 9, 2005
Equestrian events to raise HK's int'l status
Government Press Release

Secretary for Home Affairs Dr Patrick Ho says the 2008 Olympic equestrian events held in Hong Kong will raise the city's international status and arouse public awareness of sports development.

Speaking on a radio talk show this morning, Dr Ho said the events will also take Hong Kong's sports policy to a higher level, allowing the Government to seek more resources to promote sports and cater for athletes' long-term development.

Noting the Sports Institute will have to be vacated and converted into an Olympic-standard arena for the events, the secretary ensured that during the short reprovisioning period, athletes will be provided with a stable training environment that meets their needs.

The Wu Kai Sha Youth Village to be equipped with new sports facilities will become the athletes' main training venue. Other Leisure & Cultural Services Department venues will also provide the athletes all necessary facilities.

Dr Ho said the Beijing Organising Committee for the 29th Olympiad Games will be responsible for the institute's reprovisioning expenses while the Hong Kong Jockey Club will reinstate and upgrade the institute's facilities before handing them back to the institute.

Horse crowd celebrates, but athletes thrown by decision
Hong Kong Standard Staff reporters
July 9, 2005

Territory celebrates Olympics success, but training facilities will be lost Reaction to Hong Kong hosting the Olympic equestrian events was mostly positive.

But objections came from a handful of athletes who will lose their training ground at the Jubilee Sports Centre at Sha Tin, which will become the site of some of the equestrian events.

Hung Chung-yam, chairman of the Hong Kong Elite Athletes Association, said the change in training venues could affect those athletes who are training for the 2008 games.

"The government should use this opportunity to promote sports,'' Hung said. "I also hope the government will make good on its promise to upgrade sporting facilities when the equestrian events are over.''

Association vice-chairwoman Malina Ngai said Beijing's decision to allow Hong Kong to host the equestrian events was very exciting news for Hong Kong, and that such an event would be an honor for any city.

She said the association had already agreed with the government to visit the proposed replacement venues in order to help in their reconstruction. The association had also discussed the potential impact the relocation would have on athletes.

Ngai said the athletes would remain at their current Sha Tin venue until early 2007, when they would be required to relocate.

Deputy director of the Central Government's Liaison Office, Zhou Junming, said the decision will raise Hong Kong's international status and boost economic activity.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang said it will be Hong Kong's honor to host the events and that it will be a milestone for the city's sports industry.

Major political parties also welcomed the decision. But Legco's social welfare sector legislator Fernando Cheung said the money spent on the events would have been better spent on helping the poor.

Liberal party legislator Tommy Cheung brushed off such concerns, saying taxpayers' money would not be used for the renovation of the Sports Institute.

Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong legislator Tam Yiu-chung said hosting the event will bring about huge economic returns to the territory.

But Democrat Andrew Cheng expressed concern over the plight of local athletes who will have to move elsewhere for training.

Chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Institute Eric Li believed this will give an unprecedented boost to the local sports community.

He appealed to those who will be affected by the temporary relocation of the institute to cooperate to make the Olympic event a success.

International Equestrian Federation president Dona Pilar de Borbon changed from opposing it to believing in the city's ability to make it an exciting event. The Hong Kong Tourism Board believes the events will draw an extra 10,000 to 30,000 tourists and up to HK$300 million in income.

But some critics are less enthusiastic, saying that most Hong Kong people have a very limited knowledge about equestrian events and will not be among the spectators.

Beijing 2008: Hong Kong to host Equestrian Events

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©BOCOG

08 July 2005
IOC Release

Through constructive negotiations held during the 117th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Singapore, the IOC, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) and the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) have agreed on the relocation of the equestrian events from Beijing to Hong Kong for the 2008 Olympic Games. The move is based on the best interests of the competition and the wellbeing of the horses.

Wonderful Olympic Equestrian Competition
“The IOC is pleased to announce the venue for the equestrian event during the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games has now been finalised. We are confident there will be a wonderful Olympic equestrian competition in Hong Kong,” said IOC Coordination Commission Chairman Hein Verbruggen. “The agreement on the location for the equestrian event means the locations for all Beijing 2008 competitions have now been finalised, allowing for progress in all areas of Games preparation,” said Verbruggen.

Working Group
The relevant stakeholders will jointly establish a working group that will determine the long-term and positive legacy for equestrian sport in China. This group will develop an equestrian training and competition facility, which will be located within a newly created disease-free zone and will be able to host international events.

Melbourne/Stockholm 1956
This will not be the first time that equestrian events will be held on the territory of another NOC. In 1956, the equestrian events of the Melbourne Games were held in Stockholm, Sweden, due to the quarantine problems affecting horses entering Australia at that time. The Games were also played at two different time of the year with the events in Melbourne taking place in November and December and those in Stockholm in June.

Equestrian sport at the Olympic Games
Equestrian events were included in the Olympic programme for the first time in 1900 in Paris. Since 1912, in Stockholm, the format of the events has remained very similar to the one used in the 2004 Athens Games. The three Olympic equestrian disciplines are jumping, dressage and eventing (three-day event).

CE speaks at "HK Hosts Equestrian Event for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games" gala show
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Government Press Release

Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at the gala show "Hong Kong Hosts Equestrian Event for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games" at the Sha Tin Racecourse today (July 10):

The Honourable Count Rogge, distinguished guests, athletes, ladies and gentlemen,

Tonight, we celebrate an historic moment for Hong Kong sport – indeed, an historic moment for all of Hong Kong. Back in 2001, we joined the men and women of our country to celebrate Beijing's successful bid for the 2008 Games. Tonight, four years later, we not only re-live that success, we are now an integral part of it.

With the trust and confidence placed in us by the International Olympic Committee, the Federation Equestre Internationale, and Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the 29th Olympiad, we are honoured to have been chosen to stage the 2008 Olympic Equestrian Events. This is the first time Hong Kong will have staged an Olympic event, and we are excited about it. We pledge to do all that we can to make the Equestrian Events a resounding success and to bring pride and credit to our home, and our nation.

We in Hong Kong have a shared vision and strong desire to ensure the success of the Equestrian Events. By doing so we can showcase to the world all that Hong Kong has to offer and provide a resounding echo to the 2008 Olympic slogan of "One World, One Dream".

I wish you all an enjoyable evening! Thank you very much.

News Clip : http://webcast.info.gov.hk/2005/ce/ce1007.ram

Monday July 11, 5:34 PM
Olympics head says Hong Kong's heat can be managed during equestrian event in 2008

AP - International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said Monday Hong Kong's heat should not pose an insurmountable problem when the territory hosts the equestrian event during the 2008 Games.

Rogge said the International Federation for Equestrian Sports will advise riders on how to cope with the heat and that air-conditioned stables will be used. He also said the competition would be held during a time of the day when the temperature is acceptable.

"The fine schedule of the event, the time of the day at which the competitions will be held, will be adapted to the temperature," he said at a news conference in Hong Kong.

Riders have expressed concerns about the potentially high temperatures in Hong Kong. One former equestrian official in Hong Kong was quoted in local media as saying that some of the horses could die.

The equestrian event was moved from Beijing to Hong Kong because of concerns about equine diseases in the mainland.

Rogge is on a three-day visit to Hong Kong.

The president of Hong Kong's Olympic committee, Timothy Fok, left, and International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge gesture under the Olympic symbol at the opening ceremony for Olympic House in Hong Kong Monday, July 11, 2005. Rogge said the 2012 Olympic Games will definitely remain in London despite the recent bombings there. (AP Photo/Lo Sai-hung)
AP - Jul 11 3:42 AM

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International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge (3rd R), Hong Kong Sports Federation & Olympic Committee president Timothy Fok (2nd R) and Yu Zaiqing (3rd L), executive vice president of the Beijing Organisation Committee for Games of the XXIX Olympiad, chat under the Olympic rings during an unveiling ceremony of the Olympic House in Hong Kong July 11, 2005. The switch of the equestrian events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics to Hong Kong -- the most radical since 1956 when Stockholm filled in for Melbourne, also for equestrian -- was announced last Friday after lengthy negotiations between Games organisers and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). REUTERS/Bobby Yip

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International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge (L) and Hong Kong Sports Federation & Olympic Committee president Timothy Fok chat in front of the official logo of the Hong Kong Olympic Committee during an unveiling ceremony of the Olympic House in Hong Kong July 11, 2005. The switch of the equestrian events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics to Hong Kong -- the most radical since 1956 when Stockholm filled in for Melbourne, also for equestrian -- was announced last Friday after lengthy negotiations between Games organisers and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). REUTERS/Bobby Yip

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International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge (C) speaks, as Hong Kong Sports Federation & Olympic Committee president Timothy Fok (L) and Yu Zaiqing (R), executive vice president of Beijing Organization Committee for Games of the XXIX Olympiad, look on during a news conference held upon Rogge's arrival in Hong Kong July 10, 2005. The switch of the equestrian events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics to be staged in Hong Kong, the most radical since 1956 when Stockholm filled in for Melbourne, also for equestrian -- was announced on July 8 after lengthy negotiations between Games organisers and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). REUTERS/Bobby Yip
Reuters - Jul 10 2:57 AM

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An illustration shows a golf course at Hong Kong's Fanling district to be turned into a venue for the cross-country event of the Olympics equestrian events to be held in Hong Kong. Hong Kong announced on July 8, 2005 the equestrian events of 2008 Beijing Olympics will be staged in the territory. The switch of Olympic venue -- the most radical since 1956 when Stockholm filled in for Melbourne, also for equestrian -- was announced on Friday after lengthy negotiations between Games organisers and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). NO ARCHIVE NO SALES REUTERS/Government Information Services/Handout

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An illustration shows the current Shatin race track to be turned into a venue for the Olympics equestrian events to be held in Hong Kong. Hong Kong announced on July 8, 2005 the equestrian events of 2008 Beijing Olympics will be staged in the territory. The switch of Olympic venue -- the most radical since 1956 when Stockholm filled in for Melbourne, also for equestrian -- was announced on Friday after lengthy negotiations between Games organisers and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). NO ARCHIVE NO SALES REUTERS/Government Information Services/Handout
Reuters - Jul 08 3:52 AM

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Part of the venues, including Shatin race track (top right), for the Olympics equestrian events to be held in Hong Kong is seen in this undated illustration. Hong Kong announced on July 8, 2005 the equestrian events of 2008 Beijing Olympics will be staged in the territory. The switch of Olympic venue -- the most radical since 1956 when Stockholm filled in for Melbourne, also for equestrian -- was announced on Friday after lengthy negotiations between Games organisers and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). NO ARCHIVE NO SALES REUTERS/Government Information Services Handout
Reuters - Jul 08 3:24 AM

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Hong Kong's Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho (R) and Hong Kong Jockey Club chairman Ronald Arculli attend a news conference, announcing the equestrian events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics will be staged in Hong Kong, July 8, 2005. The switch of Olympic venue -- the most radical since 1956 when Stockholm filled in for Melbourne, also for equestrian -- was announced on Friday after lengthy negotiations between Games organisers and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). REUTERS/Bobby Yip
Reuters - Jul 08 3:18 AM

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Cool.

if beijing cannot solve the quarantine problem,why beijing can apply olympia sucessfully?
hkskyine,could you post some objective comment about this news pls??

in fact,its the political decision more than pure sports decision...
how much do you use in only one week games?? how many hker know this kind of game??will they concern of this game in 2008
so far i know that its hker only care in jockey gambling only

congratulation hongkong and good luck

The Beijing bid would not be compromised because of a problem in one particular sport. The bid authorities originally thought they can handle the quarantine problem, but now realize that it was a much larger issue than originally predicted. Equestrian events did move in one past Olympics away from the rest of the Games.

Horse-racing is a major sport in Hong Kong thanks to the British colonial influence. However, this is not true in China. Hence the Beijing authorities wanted to move the event to Hong Kong since there were better facilities there and people have some awareness of this sport.

I don't see much difference between taking care of horses for racing and gambling and taking care of horses for equestrian. You still need similar facilities and disease prevention procedures.

Progress on Olympics wins praise
Teddy Ng, Hong Kong Standard
August 17, 2005

The International Olympic Committee Tuesday praised Hong Kong's preparations for the equestrian events of the 2008 Beijing Games.

An official said after an inspection of the facilities that the organizing committee was confident of Hong Kong's ability to stage the events.

The chairman of the Coordination Commission, Hein Verbruggen, as well as the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad visited the Sha Tin and the Beas River Country Club venues in Fan Ling.

The group included a representative from the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, Cartin Norinder.

Jockey Club chief executive Lawrence Wong and racing director Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges briefed the group on the progress of the preparations.

Timothy Court, lead architect of the project, explained details of the facilities. Verbruggen said: "They are very impressive. Not only the facilities that were already built, but the work that has already been done on those being built. The work already done is more than we had expected.''

Beijing's committee executive vice president Yang Shuan said Hong Kong is qualified to host the events.

"They [The Jockey Club and the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong] are very professional,'' he said.

"Their coordinating ability is excellent. I believe the equestrian events in 2008 will be a great success if we work hard together.''

Hong Kong plans to use the Sports Institute at Sha Tin for the dressage and show-jumping events.

The Beas River Country Club and part of the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fan Ling will be used for the cross-country events.

The Sports Institute, the main training ground for eight of the 15 elite sports in Hong Kong, will be vacated from early 2007 to the end of 2008.

During this period, athletes will train at the Wu Kai Sha Youth Village and venues managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

At first, the plan sparked fears that training for athletes, who had complained that the facilities at Wu Kai Sha were not up to standard, would be affected.

Legislators had also criticized the government for seeking international glory while ignoring the needs of local athletes.

However, the president of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, Timothy Fok, insisted Tuesday the interests of local athletes would be protected. He said all facilities would be returned to the institute after the equestrian events.

Fok said both the IOC and the Beijing committee hoped that all sectors of the Hong Kong community would be involved in making the events a success.