Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of the HK Jockey Club (Front L) and Lam Woon-kwong, CEO of the HK Equestrian Company, at the delivery ceremony (Photo credit: Xinhua)
(HONG KONG, May 26) -- The Hong Kong Jockey Club delivered the Olympic equestrian venue in Shatin to the organizing committee for the equestrian events of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad -- the Hong Kong Equestrian Company Co., Ltd -- on Monday, Xinhua reports.
At the delivery ceremony, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges,CEO of the HK Jockey Club presented a key to Lam Woon-kwong, CEO of the HK Equestrian Company, symbolizing the official delivery of the project.
In his remarks, Henry Tang, Chief Secretary for Administration of HKSAR, said that the completion and delivery of the Shatin venue is a milestone in the preparations for the equestrian events of the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Many world records have been set here, he said, due to the careful "horse-oriented" design of the stables and horse training, transportation and dung recycling facilities and because of the venue's ability to respond well to unfavorable weather. The venue has been commended by the International Olympic Committee, the International Equestrian Federation, BOCOG and equestrian specialists, he added.
With a capacity of 18,000 seats, the venue is famous for its air-conditioned horse stables, horse hospital and 13 training arenas, including the world's first indoor air-conditioned horse training arena. Construction on the project began in November 2006 with an investment of 1.2 billion HK dollars from the Jockey Club.
The Shatin venue is the main venue for the equestrian events of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, scheduled for August 9-21 and September 7-1, respectively.
Tang said the successful Olympic Torch Relay in Hong Kong on May 2 showed the Hong Kong people's recognition of the Olympic spirit and their support for the Olympic Movement, as well as Hong Kong's readiness to stage quality Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events.
