BEIJING AND HONG KONG EQUESTRIAN YOUTH AMBASSADORS READY TO SPREAD THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT
18 July 2008
Fifty Beijing students spent three days in Hong Kong this week on a whirlwind of learning, sightseeing, feasting and up-close equine exposure, as part of the Club's Equestrian Youth Ambassador Programme.
The young ambassadors from the Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, joined by their Hong Kong counterparts and some teacher-chaperones, started on Monday with an insider's tour of the Olympic venue in Sha Tin. The tour included the equestrian competition arena, the Olympic stables and the special indoor training arena, which will be buzzing with activity in about three weeks. At a VIP-studded dinner, Club Chairman John Chan set the tone for the following days, saying, "The Club started the Equestrian Youth Ambassador programme to allow young people to actively participate in the promotion of the Olympic Equestrian Events, Olympism and national education." The Hong Kong ambassadors had visited Beijing in April, and that excursion had "helped all the youth ambassadors know more about how our motherland is staging its first-ever Olympic Games. Now they also have an opportunity to see how Hong Kong is preparing for the Olympic Equestrian Events," Chan said.
Dignitaries at the welcome dinner included Secretary of Home Affairs Tsang Tak-shing; Li Gang, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR; Chan Ah-king, also of the Liaison Office; Timothy Fok, President of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China; and Hong Kong Equestrian Federation President Simon Ip.
At the Club's Beas River school on Tuesday, the ambassadors watched apprentice jockeys do practice runs with horses, to better understand what it takes to become a professional jockey. They called on retired racehorses at the stables. Then it was off to Golden Bauhinia Square, with its view of the Olympic mega rings across the harbour. The ambassadors also hit Ocean Park, the Racing Museum's Olympic exhibit and then another dinner banquet, where they shared photos and videos they'd taken around Hong Kong showing the Olympic co-host city's preparedness for the Equestrian Events.
Higher education was the focus of the last morning. The students toured the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and administrators introduced them to the admissions process, curriculum and dorm life. The itinerary finished with a conversation with fencing star and Chinese University of Hong Kong student Yu Chui-yee, 24, who won four gold medals at the 2004 Athens Paralympics.
The Equestrian Youth Ambassador Programme is one of the Club's efforts to promote equestrian sports, the Olympic Spirit and national education. During the Games, the Hong Kong ambassadors, from ten of Hong Kong's renowned secondary schools, will be manning the Hong Kong Olympic Piazza and Beijing 2008 Olympic Live Sites in Hong Kong.
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Performance by the Equestrian Youth Ambassadors at the welcome dinner.
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Officiating guest Mr Tsang Tak-shing, Secretary for Home Affairs, gives a speech at the welcome dinner.
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Guests, including, (from left to right) Hong Kong Equestrian Federation President Simon Ip; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Li Gang; Club Chairman John C C Chan; Secretary of Home Affairs Tsang Tak-shing and President of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China Timothy Fok take a group photo with Beijing and Hong Kong Equestrian Youth Ambassadors.
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One of the Beijing Equestrian Youth Ambassador presents a souvenir to the Club's Chairman, John Chan.
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Equestrian Youth Ambassadors enjoy a trip at the Olympic Equestrian venue (Sha Tin), including Main Competition Arena and Stabling Complex.
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Equestrian Youth Ambassadors are interested in the Olympic exhibits.
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Equestrian Youth Ambassadors appreciate the history of Olympics, equestrian events and The Club's contribution to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Equestrian Events.
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Equestrian Youth Ambassadors show picture taking at the Main Competition Arena and exchange contacts with each others.
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Equestrian Youth Ambassadors share photos and videos they took around Hong Kong showing the Olympic co-host city's preparedness for the Equestrian Events.
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Equestrian Youth Ambassadors make a trip to the Apprentice Jockeys' School.
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Equestrian Youth Ambassadors at Golden Bauhinia Square & Ocean Park.
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Equestrian Youth Ambassadors tour Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
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Conversation with fencing star Yu Chui-yee, who won four gold medals at the 2004 Athens Paralympics.
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Executive Director, Corporate Development Kim Mak presents a giant "certificate of appointment" to the Hong Kong Equestrian Youth Ambassador representatives from ten Hong Kong renowned secondary schools for promotion of Olympic Equestrian Event at Hong Kong Olympic Piazza and Beijing 2008 Olympic Live Sites in Hong Kong.
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Farwell to the Beijing Equestrian Youth Ambassadors.
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