Equestrian events moved from Beijing to Hong Kong for 2008 Olympics
SINGAPORE (AP) – Equestrian events for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing will be held in Hong Kong for the “best interests of the competition and the well-being of the horses,” the International Olympic Committee announced Friday. The agreement finalized Beijing’s push to have the equestrian competition moved from the Chinese capital.
IOC Coordination Commission chairman Hein Verbruggen announced the switch during IOC meetings in Singapore.
“We are confident there will be a wonderful Olympic equestrian competition in Hong Kong. The agreement on the location for the equestrian event means the locations for all Beijing 2008 competitions have now been finalized, allowing progress in all areas of Games preparation,” Verbruggen said.
The international equestrian federation had originally objected to the move, but accepted the decision after the Beijing organizing committee, BOCOG, made guarantees regarding the venue.
FEI president Infanta Dona Pilar said BOCOG had assured the federation of the best conditions for riders and horses in Hong Kong.
“This has always been our main objective. We are confident that BOCOG and Hong Kong will ensure the stage is set for excellent equestrian competition in Hong Kong,” Pilar said.
The Chinese organizers lobbied hard for the switch, saying 17 equine diseases are prevalent in Beijing and other mainland Chinese cities.
This won’t be the first time the equestrian events are held at a different site than the rest of the Summer Games.
In 1956, the Games were held at Melbourne from Nov. 22-Dec. 8, but the equestrian events were staged in Stockholm in June. Australian quarantine laws were too severe to allow the entry of the horses.