Hong Kong aims at unique Olympic equestrian events: official By Xinhua writers Xue Yongxing, Wang Jingzhong
24/7/2008 17:30
As the Beijing Olympic Games approach, Hong Kong is making last-minute
preparations for the Olympic equestrian events it will co-host in August, said
Hong Kong's top official.
"We aim at co-hosting high-level and unique Olympic
equestrian events," said Donald Tsang, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (HKSAR), in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.
"And I
warmly welcome all friends home and abroad to enjoy the events in Hong Kong," he
said.
Tsang said he was confident that the equestrian events will be a
success as Hong Kong has experience of successfully hosting major international
events. The city has professional and highly- efficient work teams.
And the
equestrian events will be handled in a prudent and careful manner, he
said.
"I am confident that the Equestrian Events in Hong Kong will help to
ensure a truly memorable Summer Olympic Games," he said.
Over the past years,
much had been done in preparing for the equestrian events with the strong
support of the central government, he said.
To ensure the success of the
events, the HKSAR government established the Equestrian Committee to coordinate
intergovernmental work in such areas as security, transport, medical and
quarantine services.
The committee set up its executive arm in the form of a
company, the Equestrian Company, to organize the equestrian events.
The Hong
Kong Jockey Club has spent more than 1.2 billion HK dollars on the design,
construction and maintenance of two competition venues in Hong Kong.
All work
in the Sha Tin main venue, which has a capacity of 18, 000 spectators, had been
completed, while preparation work for the Beas River cross-country venue, which
can also house 18,000 spectators, is entering the final stage, he said.
The
Olympic and Paralympic Village of Hong Kong will be opened on July 26, and on
the same day, the first batch of equestrian horses and athletes are scheduled to
arrive in Hong Kong, said the chief executive.
On the issue of security,
Tsang said that Hong Kong will, in accordance with the Olympic Charter, ensure
the equestrian events be free from the influence of political, religious and
racial propaganda.
He said that the police will be responsible for the
overall security in Hong Kong while directing and supervising the Equestrian
Company in their security work inside the equestrian venues.
Meanwhile, Hong
Kong police will keep close communication and exchanges of information with the
Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee and overseas law enforcement agencies, he
said.
Hong Kong has a set of internationally-recognized quarantine procedures
for the import and export of horses, and it also has leading medical service and
professional personnel support for horses, he said.
On food security, Tsang
said that Hong Kong has mapped out a food security strategy and will strictly
supervise food suppliers in line with the target of "zero food poisoning
accidents" set by the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee.
Hong Kong is
sending out 35 athletes to the Beijing Olympic Games to participate in 11 sports
including horsemanship, cycling, table-tennis, windsurfing, swimming, track and
field, fencing, badminton, shooting, rowing and triathlon.
The Olympic and
Paralympic equestrian events are scheduled to kick off from August 9, and
expected to bring together athletes and horses from 42 countries.
"I
encourage everyone to join us in celebrating the spirit of the Olympics and to
help make the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games the best ever," said Tsang.
Xinhua
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