With exactly two years to go before the 2008 Olympic Games open in Beijing, construction of the facilities for staging the equestrian events in Hong Kong is making good progress. Two training arenas at the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) have already been completed and building of the Main Stables and supporting training facilities at Penfold Park commenced late last month.
A spokesman for The Hong Kong Jockey Club said that all key contracts had now been awarded. Following completion of the two training arenas at the HKSI - one sand and one grass - construction of the air-conditioned Main Stabling Complex, which will accommodate more than 200 horses, is under way and expected to be finished by next May.
Meanwhile, works in Penfold Park have moved on to the next stage with construction now in progress of a cross-country training track, a bridle trail and four sand training arenas, as well as associated drainage and irrigation works. On advice from the Environmental Protection Department, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, construction in this area will be completed by the end of February 2007 to reduce the impact on the egret habitat inside the Park during the breeding season between March and August.
The cross-country section of the Three-Day Event will be held at Hong Kong Golf Club and the adjoining Beas River Country Club at Fanling. Work on laying out the cross-country course began late in April this year, with drainage improvement works planned to follow in September.
Construction of the Main Arena at the HKSI, comprising an all-weather, sand footing competition area will start later in January 2007, with spectator seating for 19,000 installed in early 2008 in time for the Olympics.
All major facilities need to be ready by August 2007, a year ahead of the actual Olympic competitions, so that trial events can be staged in comparable weather conditions. The Club spokesman said that all works are on schedule and progress has so far been very encouraging.
