The Hong Kong Jockey Club Adds Equestrian Fun to HK Olympic Piazza as Countdown Begins
26 July 2008
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is marking the final days before the Olympics with a multimedia exhibit on horses, equestrian sports and Hong Kong's competition venues, which will be the stage for the world's best horses and riders in just over two weeks.
As the ''Outstanding Contributor of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Equestrian Events,'' the Jockey Club organized its display as part of its ongoing effort to promote the Games' equestrian events and Olympism. The exhibit, at the Hong Kong Olympic Piazza in front of Tsimshatsui's Hong Kong Cultural Centre, opened yesterday (25 July) and will remain open daily until 24 August. Last night's launch ceremony, attended by Club Chairman John C.C. Chan and other officiating guests, was punctuated with a dazzling light show.
At the Piazza entrance are three vibrant, life-size horses, the winning entries from the Horse Statue Design Competition of the Club's ''Horses Across Hong Kong'' programme. More than 13,000 students entered, and three winners, one each from among the primary, secondary and college-level entrants, were selected. The statues designed by secondary school student Chow Tse Kwan and vocational education student Ng Ka Him reflect Hong Kong's multiculturalism, while primary school pupil Chan Cheuk Hei's horse is adorned with Hong Kong icons such as egg tarts, milk tea and the Peak Tower.
At the Club's exhibition, paging through a novel electronic ''book,'' visitors can trace the milestones of Hong Kong's co-hosting of the Games. These include the International Olympic Committee's decision to move the Beijing Olympic Equestrian Events to Hong Kong, the Olympic qualification of the four Club-sponsored riders who form Hong Kong's first-ever equestrian team and the historic Olympic Torch Relay's stop at the Olympic equestrian venue and racecourse in Sha Tin.
Visitors can also groom a life-size horse model and check out displays of riding gear and horse feed. Three large screens show videos of the construction of Hong Kong's Olympic equestrian venues and Olympic stadiums and landmarks in Beijing.
The Club's Equestrian Youth Ambassadors are on hand to guide tourists and visitors around the exhibit, give information about the upcoming Olympic equestrian competitions and explain how the Olympic Spirit has enthralled Hong Kong.
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Photo 1:
The Hong Kong Olympic Piazza officially opened last night in front of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsimshatsui. Club Chairman John C C Chan (fifth from right) is among the officiating party along with Chief Executive Officer of Equestrian Company Lam Woon-kwong (sixth from right), Chairman of Hong Kong Tourism Board James Tien (seventh from right), The Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang (sixth from left), Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Carrie Yau (fifth from left), President of the SF&OC Timothy Fok (fourth from left) and Commissioner for Tourism Au King-chi (third from left) .
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Photo 2:
At the entrance arch of the Hong Kong Olympic Piazza are three vibrant, life-size horses. They are the winning entries from the Horse Statue Design Competition of the Hong Kong Jockey Club's ''Horses Across Hong Kong'' programme. More than 13,000 students entered, and three winners, one each from among the primary, secondary and college-level entrants, were selected.
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Photo 3:
Beijing 2008 Olympic Equestrian Events begins the final countdown; the Club's exhibitions add some equestrian fun for visitors.
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Photo 4:
Photo 4 & 5 : Equestrian Youth Ambassadors introduce the equestrian exhibits to visitors.
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Photo 5
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