The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president showed his
support for the decision to move equestrian events in the 2008
Games from Beijing to Hong Kong while on a three-day visit to
the special administrative region yesterday.
Jacques Rogge tried to allay concerns about the events becoming
isolated from the others and receiving less attention, and about
potentially high temperatures.
"Don't worry about a lack of attention from the media and
audience. Hong Kong is such a beautiful and attractive city and we
will adopt special measures to help. I will come to Hong Kong
during the Games," he said.
He added: "Air-conditioned stables will be used and the
competition will be held during a part of the day when the
temperature is appropriate."
The move of the events was announced by Beijing Organizing
Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG)
President Liu Qi at the 117th IOC Session in Singapore on July 8
after lengthy negotiations with the International Federation for
Equestrian Sports (FEI).
The FEI had opposed the organizing committee's plan to relocate,
saying it would alienate the equestrian events from the rest of the
Games, but BOCOG insisted it was necessary because of "major
difficulties in establishing a disease-free zone" in Beijing.
"Quarantine facilities in Beijing are from the 1950s or 60s,"
Hao Gaozan, director of Beijing International Equestrian Training
Base, had said when the decision to move cities was postponed by
the IOC in April.
After last Friday's announcement, FEI President Infanta Dona
Pilar said BOCOG had assured the federation they would provide the
best conditions for horses and riders in Hong Kong, and that "this
has always been our main objective."
BOCOG said it believed Hong Kong would enhance the competition
and the excitement of the 2008 Games, adding that athletes,
officials, media and spectators in Hong Kong will be an integral
part of the Games.
(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily July 12, 2005)