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The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) took part in a major equestrian event in Melbourne today (April 12, Melbourne time) to promote Hong Kong as a co-host city for the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events.
HKETO is one of the principal sponsors to the ˇ°Dressage and Jumping with the Starsˇ± event held at the National Equestrian Centre in Melbourne. The prestigious three-day equestrian event is one of the largest and most popular events of its kind in Australia.
At the prize presentation ceremony of the ˇ°Grand Prix Freestyleˇ±, Director of the HKETO, Ms Lorna Wong, congratulated the Equestrian Federation of Australia (Victoria Branch) on its success in holding the event, which celebrates its 10th year anniversary this year.
Ms Wong said Hong Kong has a long history of equine sports. The city was very honoured to be chosen to co-host the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian event because of its world-class quarantine and equine care facilities.
Ms Wong added that meticulous planning and preparation have been undertaken in Hong Kong for this historic event. A total of US$150 million (about HK$1.2 billion) has been invested on the development of new facilities and amenities, including purpose-built competition venues, training facilities, stables and an equine clinic.
The dressage and eventing venue has a 100m x 80m all-weather sand arena as Main Competition Area. It will also have air-conditioned stables to accommodate 200 horses. As regards cross-country test for eventing, the venue has a 5.7-km cross-country track, as well as a warm-up area, a cool down area with misting fans and a stable block for 80 horses.
Ms Wong said, ˇ°The horses will find Hong Kong comfortable even in hot and humid weather.ˇ±
Ms Wong extended invitation to guests to come to Hong Kong as competitors or spectators and share the Olympic spirit of solidarity, friendship and fair play. ˇ°Hong Kong is often known to the world as a financial city. By hosting the Olympic and Paralymic Equestrian events, we wish the world to know Hong Kong for its sportsmanship and vibrancy, a great place to host world class sports events,ˇ± she added.
In three consecutive weekends in April, HKETO participated in major equestrian events across Australia to promote the Olympic Equestrian events. Apart from the event in Melbourne today, the office sponsored an event in Adelaide on 6 April, and will sponsor another major equestrian event in Sydney from 17-20 April.
Ends/Saturday, April 12, 2008
Issued at HKT 21:49
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