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Eighteen life-sized horse statutes will be featured in the 18 districts in Hong Kong to further enhance the community¡¯s engagement in the equestrian sports and the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Initiated by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) in collaboration with various district parties and government departments, the "Horses Across Hong Kong" programme is aimed to promote the Olympic spirit among the community while featuring district's uniqueness and artistic creativity.
The horse statues which were designed by eighteen local artists from the Hong Kong Visual Arts Society integrating the district's uniqueness, artistic creativity and the Olympic spirit, will be put to display at prominent sites in the districts such as the Victoria Park, the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and near Sai Kung market.
Speaking at the launch ceremony of the programme in Sha Tin Racecouse today (March 2), Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs Carrie Yau, said that the programme was a fabulous initiative by the HKJC to get the community engaged in promoting the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian sport and the Olympic spirit while promoting art appreciation.
She said that since Hong Kong has been an Olympic co-host city, a series of activities were staged by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the District Councils and other district organisaitons to promote public's understanding and appreciation of the equestrian sport and the Olympic spirit in general. These included the setting up of the Equestrian Pavilion in Penfold Park and initiatives to promote greening in the community echoing the theme of "Green Olympics" and the Zingaro show, which are all well-received by the public.
Mrs Yau said that with 160 more days to go before the Olympic equestrian events to be held, the Government together with various organisations and parties would be in full swing to engage Hong Kong people in the Olympic atmosphere through a series of community-wide activities in the coming months.
Highlights will include the 100-day countdown celebration activities, Olympic Torch Relay in May and Olympic Live Sites activities in Hong Kong.
Also officiating at the ceremony were HKJC Chairman Mr John Chan, HKJC Chief Executive Officer, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges; President of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, Mr Timothy Fok; Hong Kong Paralympic Committee and Sports Association for the Physically Disabled, Mrs Jenny Fung; President, Hong Kong Equestrian Federation, Dr Simon Ip and the Chief Executive Officer of the Equestrian Company, Mr Lam Woon-kwong.
District Council chairmen or their representatives of the 18 districts also participated at the unveiling ceremony for the horse statues for their respective districts.
Ends/Sunday, March 2, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:48
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