Paralympians Support Olympic Museum With Personalized Memorabilia
12 September 2008
Still elated from last-night's final dressage competitions, Paralympian riders today(12 September) donated memorabilia to Hong Kong's future Olympic Museum and praised the city for its thorough preparation and hospitality.
Grade III double-gold medalist Hannelore Brenner, Britta Naepel, who scored a gold in Grade II Championship and bronze in Freestyle, and Bettina Eistel, bronze medalist in Grade III Championship, and the rest of the German Paralympic team presented William Yiu, Jockey Club Executive Director of Charities, with a German flag and umbrella they'd autographed. Having toured the Racing Museum, the Germans return home tomorrow with three individual gold, two individual bronze and the team silver medals. Hong Kong rider Nelson Yip announced he will donate the complete outfit he wore during the Paralympic events-from cap to boots.
"These will be shown in the [Olympic] Museum for sure," Yiu said.
Jonquil Solt, chairman of the Para-Equestrian Committee of the International Equestrian Federation, had previously given several photos that she saw enlarged and incorporated into the Racing Museum's Paralympic equestrian display. "I think it's a wonderful exhibit," said Solt. "It's like everything Hong Kong's done for us-done so well and so beautifully."
Solt said that the Paralympic equestrian venue and facilities at Sha Tin, particularly the footing, were excellent, and the horses were housed in "the best stables we've ever seen." She was even more impressed to see "so many ordinary people coming out and supporting" the Paralympic riders. The Paralympics, Solt added, have a "unique atmosphere" in which "everyone's so friendly and all of the teams mix."
The Olympic Museum, which the Jockey Club hopes to open in a couple of years, is to be a treasure trove of Games-related information and keepsakes. More importantly, however, it will aim to encourage the spirit and sportsmanship demonstrated by the Paralympians and commemorate the first-ever Olympic Games hosted by China.
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Photo 1:
From left to right: Club Executive Director, Charities William Yiu shows German Paralympic medallists Bettina Eistel, Angelika Trabert, Hannelore Brenner and (far-right back) Britta Naepel medals from previous Games.
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Photo 2:
Jonquil Solt, Chairwoman of FEI's Para-Equestrian Committee, admires a display of a "lucky" $1 that has been passed down among three Olympic-gold show jumpers.
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Photo 3:
The Racing Musuem's Olympic Equestrian Exhibition, which includes Olympic torches from the past, continues until 28 September.
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Photo 4:
The German Paralympic equestrian team contributed an autographed flag and umbrella to the future Hong Kong Olympic Museum. From left to right, back row: Club Executive Director, Charities William Yiu; German team doctor Sabine Staemmler-Kienzle; Hong Kong rider Nelson Yip; Jonquil Solt of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) ; rider Bettina Eistel; Chef d'Equippe Britta Bando; rider Steffen Zeibig; team trainer Franz-Martin Stankus. Front row: German riders Hannelore Brenner; Britta Naepel; Angelika Trabert.
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Photo 5:
Nelson Yip is donating to the future Hong Kong Olympic Museum his dressage jacket and other garb worn during the Hong Kong Paralympic competitions.
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