The Hong Kong Jockey Club was honoured the Outstanding Corporate Strategy Awards 2007 today (30 October) for its outstanding and innovative strategy in supporting the organisation of the 2008 Olympic equestrian events and building the venues. Among the 22 recipients at today's awards ceremony, organised by Eastweek magazine, the Club was the only not-for-profit organisation to receive an award.
The Club has committed more than HK$800 million to building world-class venues and facilities for the Olympic equestrian events as well as providing services and support. The whole project was completed within a record time of less than two years. At the recent Good Luck Beijing - HKSAR 10th Anniversary Cup eventing competition, which served as an Olympic test event, the venues and facilities provided by the Club were well received on all sides, with riders from several countries describing the venues as the best in the history of the Olympics.
The Club's strategy was to blend its own experience and knowledge of organising top international racing events with that of leading international experts in equestrian sports, to ensure that the venues were "designed by horsemen, for horsemen" and surpassed international standards. The Club is also playing its part in helping to raise public awareness of equestrian sports in Hong Kong and build Olympic spirit in the city. This will help promote Hong Kong's professionalism and liveliness to the world and strengthen its reputation as a leading tourist destination.
Chief Executive Officer of the Club Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said at today's ceremony that he was honoured to receive the award and delighted the Club's effort was appreciated. "To become an Olympic city is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Hong Kong and its citizens," he emphasised. "The Club would like to take this opportunity to promote the development of equestrian sport and other sports at local level, and make Hong Kong the focus of worldwide media attention."
