THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD TO THE 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES BEGINS AND ENDS IN HONG KONG
In 2008 when the 29th Olympic Games kick off in Beijing the horse community will descend upon Hong Kong, because that’s where the three disciplines of Dressage, Show Jumping and Eventing will be showcased. With initial skepticism at this separation from the main venue, in reality this will be the perfect venue to host this world class event on August 9-20th.
Since Hong Kong is a place I’ve never been to before, when I was invited to go there to learn about what is planned for this summer event I was glad to join a few other journalists from around the world. For five days we would meet the key people behind the scenes, get a firsthand view of the two sites which will host the Games and have some time to tour Hong Kong.
WHERE THE GAMES WILL TAKE PLACE
While it’s too early to see what the final layout will look like because of all the construction we could at least get a sense of the plans. An area known as the Sports Institute is where most of the events, save for the cross country phase of the Eventing, will take place. The Institute is located adjacent to the Sha Tin Racecourse, which is run by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC). It is because of the strength, knowledge and strong base of the Jockey Club that it was decided that this would be the ideal location for the Equestrian disciplines.
The Jockey Club is a huge enterprise in Hong Kong and has a wealth of money, a large sum of which is being earmarked to underwrite the construction of rings, stables, an additional veterinary clinic, and so much more. The Jockey Club will also foot the bill for the drainage and construction of the cross country course which will take place on the Hong Kong Golf Club and adjoining Beas River Country Club in Fanling, in the northern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
While there are still “I’s” to be dotted and “t’s” to be crossed the task forces put in place to complete the various venues are in full swing handling the construction of not only the above-mentioned locations but of Penfold Park. This Park is located in the center of the Sha Tin Racecourse. A cross country schooling track is being incorporated into the park as well as a few schooling rings.
HONG KONG IS THE PERFECT CHOICE
While the focus of our trip was to learn about the Olympic Games, we were also encouraged to take time to tour the City and learn some of the culture of the Hong Kong people. This is a City that is growing in leaps and bounds. The Chinese are a hard working people. Students take their education seriously and both men and women thrive on being part of the workforce.
Walking around Hong Kong gives you a double perspective of this city. On the one side you are presented with modern buildings housing multi-million dollar enterprises but wandering around the streets you feel as though you are a part of an underground culture. There are wet markets where fresh vegetables are sold along with fish, meat and chicken.
Walk around the corner and you are greeted by yet a different type of market filled with antique jewelry, art and sculpture set up in front of a row of stores filled with antiques. Take a meander down a hill of steps and you might meet upon parents holding the hands of school children they have just picked up from school. There are also lots of temples in and around the town where people can worship.
The writing on the stores is a mixture of Chinese and English as these are the two official languages. While the Hong Kong people speak Cantonese, because the relationship between Hong Kong and the Mainland continues to improve, they are also getting more and more fluent in Mandarin.
Strolling down the street you see a variety of stores, some are open and allow you to watch as young and old alike prepare food for their customers. Others are small shops manned by mostly Asians. We visited one of the Tea Shops where we learned all about the art of making tea. In China drinking tea can be compared (in a distant sort of way) to drinking a cup of espresso coffee. You only take a very small cup to savor in your palate. The thought of drinking a huge mug and adding milk and sugar is not what tea drinking is all about in Hong Kong . We watched as tea leaves were carefully put in tea cups and hot water was poured on and off these leaves before the final cup of tea was ready for our lips. It was an interesting way of looking at drinking and appreciating a taste of tea.
While drinking tiny cups of tea is an art, eating plentiful food was the focus of our trip. Main meals can often have as many as eight courses because eight is a lucky number in Hong Kong. Keep in mind that the Olympics are being held in the eighth month of the year (even though this is probably the hottest and most humid time of year). One meal can consist of various meats, fishes and vegetables prepared to a connoisseur’s delight. Each course will be just a couple of bites but by the time you take the last one you are more than satisfied.
HORSE RACING – VETERINARY FACILITIES – QUARANTINE
In between touring the town and the venues we were educated about the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the amenities it has to offer. Because of the constant importing and exporting of racehorses, they are well versed in handling quarantine situations. For the Olympics the plan will be 7+10, or seven days quarantine before you leave and ten days when you arrive in Hong Kong.
Since racing is big business, the safety and well-being of the racehorses is a high priority as is the fact that they be free of drugs. In order to ensure that both are well taken care of the Jockey Club offers both a well stocked Veterinary Clinic and its own laboratory. All of the best equipment is already in place which means that they can simply expand what they are doing now to incorporate what is required when running an Olympic Games.
There will also be a separation of the horses. Even though racing does not happen in August the racehorses have to be trained but it will be done in such a way that the competition horses and the racehorses will never meet or train at the same time.
In addition there is the added bonus of everything being close together, from the stables to the schooling rings to the accommodations and so much more, access will not be a problem. Although there is still plenty to be done as they travel that long and winding road to the Olympic Games, the staff working behind the scenes has a plan in place that slowly and surely is being completed. Pride in what they do is the Chinese way and so you can rest assured when the journey takes the world to the Equestrian events at the 29th Olympic Games, Hong Kong will be ready to welcome the world with open arms.
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