A group of equestrian journalists visited the Olympic venues in Hong Kong in November to meet the organizers and see first hand how preparations for the Games were progressing. This was the second group to visit this year – the first group went in March – and the first Olympic Games to offer a preview to the media. The visits were by invitation of The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Information Services Department and The Hong Kong Jockey Club.
The Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) and Penfold Park at Sha Tin will host the principle Olympic complex, including a main competition arena and training arenas for the dressage and jumping events. The Club has also provided facilities at the Hong Kong Golf Club and the Beas River Country Club for the cross-country phase of the eventing competition. The Hong Kong Jockey Club has contributed over US$100 million to produce venues and facilities for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events of jumping, dressage and eventing. See below for more information about the competition venues.
Visitors were shown all the competition venues as well as the quarantine facilities, exercise areas and the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Racing Laboratory. The Hong Kong Sports Institute facilities, which are adjacent to the main arena at Sha Tin, are being used for the Main Press Center (MPC). A gym, measuring 658 m2 total floor area, is being divided into a combined working area of 458 m2. The gym is also being used for press conferences, ancillary offices, welcome desk, services, etc. The IOC recommendations for journalist working space is for tables of 1.8 meters long to provide 3 seats of 600mm per seat and two per table for photographers at 900mm per seat. Spaces can be booked through the Press Officer. There are large lockers two high along the corridor outside the gym and additional lockers on the lower floor where a lounge area has been designated. After discussions with The Equestrian Company and Jockey Club, the visiting delegation suggested that the photographer’s working area in the gym be re-located to the lounge area downstairs. It was generally felt that the working space would be crowded with 404 accredited media (255 print and 131 photographers plus 18 non-rights broadcasters) and that this arrangement would give both journalists and photographers better space. There is seating for 264 journalists and 50 photographers. The organizers indicated they would consider this option.
There will be WiFi throughout the building – both upstairs in the press center and downstairs in the dining room and lounge ([or photographer’s room] for which there will be a charge.
The dining room will have seating for 116 people and offer counter style service. There will be a charge for food.
The press conference room measuring 200 m2, which is separated from the working area in the gym by a temporary 2.5m high wall and drapes, will have seating for 180 plus a 10 meter wide platform at the rear for TV cameras. Lighting will be boosted to 1400 lux.
The organizers are anticipating that media will have their own mobile phone and will be invited to register upon sign-in to receive SMS text messages of games information. Rental cell phones will also be available.
The media tribune, which is accessed by going down one floor from the press center and along a corridor to the west side of the arena, will having desk spaces for 108 and 92 in the non-tabled stands. It is unknown at this time whether WiFi or wired internet access would be provided in the tribunes but the question was presented to the organizers. Since it is unclear at this time if designated seating will be allocated in the press tribune, this would be a topic for follow-up with the Press Officer.
There will be additional media seating on the north side of the arena to accommodate 110 journalists/photographers.
Photographers will be free to access all four sides of the arena on the grass area.
The Mixed Zone, which is located close to the in-gate and the north tribune press seats (closer than the west tribune), will accommodate about 100 people.
The satellite press room at Beas River Country Club for the cross country will accommodate 100 journalists in the working room and 108 in the press conference room.
Photographers will be able to move between the cross country fences inside the ropes as long as they are within reach of the rope at all times.
Press Officer
The organizers are currently reviewing a short list of applicants for this position and expect the successful candidate to be employed early in the New Year.
Photo Manager
The organizers are currently researching suitable applicants for the position and indicated an interest in a general sports photographer. It was impressed upon them the need to engage an equestrian sports photographer for this position as specialist knowledge is critical. The organizers indicated they would consider our recommendation.
Media Hotel
The Media Hotel is located 2 km from the Sha Tin venue. Shuttles will be provided.
Transportation
Cabs and private transportation will not have access to the venue. A cab ride from downtown to the airport cost HK$370. The Airport Express train operates between the airport and downtown.
Venues
The Hong Kong Jockey Club will provide:
A main competition arena for dressage and jumping with a seating capacity of over 18,000, with a supporting warm-up arena.
13 training dressage and jumping arenas, namely:
2 general training arenas
5 dressage training arenas
4 dressage/jumping training arenas
1 jumping training arena
1 indoor air-conditioned training arena
A temporary 5.7km x 10m cross-country course at the Hong Kong Golf Club and the adjacent Beas River Country Club at Fanling
An 800m cross-country training track and schooling area and a 1,200m bridle path at Penfold Park. A turf gallop track will also be made available at Sha Tin.
Office
The Club is modifying the existing facilities at the Hong Kong Sports Institute to provide office and hospitality space for the Olympic family, event and venue management officials, VIPs, sponsors and the FEI.
Stables
The Club has constructed 225 state-of-the-art air-conditioned stables at the main competition venue:
A purpose-built Main Stabling Complex comprising 200 stables in four stable blocks.
A separate block of 25 air-conditioned stables for reserve horses.
Veterinary Services – equine hospital and equine clinic:
The Club will make its Equine Hospital facilities and services available for emergency operations during the Games period. The hospital has an operating theatre and an associated anesthetic and recovery room, as well as a clinical laboratory. A well-known specialist in equine orthopedics heads the 44-strong team that includes veterinarians, nurses, laboratory technicians, administrative staff members and farriers. The Club has also built a separate equine clinic at the Olympic venue for diagnostic and treatment services.
Laboratory Ã?¢ââ??‰â?¬Å? The FEIÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s sole Reference Laboratory in Asia
The internationally accredited on-site Racing Laboratory at the Club’s world-class Sha Tin Racecourse will provide its services to test equine samples for the presence of prohibited substances.
The laboratory has 42 staff and is equipped with about US$8 million worth of facilities, including 22 mass spectrometers. The laboratory conducts tests on over 18,000 samples a year.
The laboratory has been testing FEI samples for many years. It was appointed as the FEI’s sole Reference Laboratory in Asia in 2001. “A” samples from the 2002 and 2006 Asian Games and high-profile equestrian events within Asia (e.g., in Japan, Malaysia and the Middle East), as well as “B” samples from the 2004 Olympic Games have all been analyzed by the laboratory.
Dr Terence Wan, head of the racing laboratory, has pledged to turn around equine samples in record time during the 2008 Olympics and Paralympic equestrian events.
Local Horse Transportation
The Club will make available its modern fleet of 10 horse transportation floats that together can carry 99 horses at any one period. Hong Kong has recognized equine importation and exportation health protocols, which enable horses to be temporarily imported from and exported to about 17 countries.
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Day 1 |
August 9 (Saturday) |
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Session EQ01 |
Start: 06:30 |
End: 10:30 |
Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) |
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06:30-10:30 |
Team & Individual Eventing Dressage – Day 1 |
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Session EQ02 |
Start: 19:15 |
End: 23:15 |
Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) |
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19:15-23:15 |
Team & Individual Eventing Dressage – Day 1 |
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Day 2 |
August 10 (Sunday) |
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Session EQ03 |
Start: 06:30 |
End: 10:30 |
Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) |
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06:30-10:30 |
Team & Individual Eventing Dressage – Day 2 |
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Day 3 |
August 11 (Monday) |
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Session EQ04 |
Start: 08:00 |
End: 11:30 |
Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Beas River) |
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08:00-11:30 |
Team & Individual Eventing Ã?¢ââ??‰â?¬Å? Cross-Country |
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Day 4 |
August 12 (Tuesday) |
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Session EQ05 |
Start: 19:15 |
End: 24:30 |
Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) |
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19:15-22:15 |
Team Eventing Jumping – Final |
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22:30-23:30 |
Individual Eventing Jumping – Final |
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23:45-24:15 |
Team Eventing Medal Ceremony |
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24:15-24:30 |
Individual Eventing Medal Ceremony |
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Day 5 |
August 13 (Wednesday) |
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Session EQ06 |
Start: 19:15 |
End: 24:15 |
Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) |
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19:15-24:15 |
Team Dressage Grand Prix & Individual Dressage Qualifier Grand Prix – Day 1 |
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Day 6 |
August 14 (Thursday) |
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Session EQ07 |
Start: 19:15 |
End: 24:30 |
Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) |
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19:15-23:45 |
Team Dressage Grand Prix & Individual Dressage Qualifier Grand Prix – Day 2 |
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24:00-24:30 |
Team Dressage Medal Ceremony |
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Day 7 |
August 15 (Friday) |
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Session EQ08 |
Start: 19:15 |
End: 23:15 |
Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) |
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19:15-23:15 |
Individual Jumping Qualification – 1st Qualifier |
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Day 8 |
August 16 (Saturday) |
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Session EQ09 |
Start: 19:15 |
End: 24:00 |
Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) |
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19:15-24:00 |
Individual Dressage Grand Prix Special |
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Day 9 |
August 17 (Sunday) |
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Session EQ10 |
Start: 19:15 |
End: 23:15 |
Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) |
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19:15-23:15 |
Team Jumping Final – Round 01 & Individual Jumping Qualification – 2nd Qualifier |
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Day 10 |
August 18 (Monday) |
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Session EQ11 |
Start: 19:15 |
End: 23:00 |
Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) |
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19:15-22:15 |
Team Jumping Final – Round 02 & Individual Jumping Qualification – 3rd Qualifier |
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22:30-23:00 |
Team Jumping Medal Ceremony |
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Day 11 |
August 19 (Tuesday) |
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Session EQ12 |
Start: 19:15 |
End: 23:00 |
Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) |
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19:15-22:15 |
Individual Dressage Final Grand Prix Freestyle |
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22:30-23:00 |
Individual Dressage Medal Ceremony |
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Day 12 |
August 20 (Wednesday) |
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Rest Day |
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Day 13 |
August 21 (Thursday) |
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Session EQ13 |
Start: 19:15 |
End: 23:45 |
Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) |
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19:15-21:00 |
Individual Jumping Final Ã?¢ââ??‰â?¬Å? Round A |
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22:00-23:00 |
Individual Jumping Final Ã?¢ââ??‰â?¬Å? Round B |
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23:15-23:45 |
Individual Jumping Medal Ceremony |
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Day 14 |
August 22 (Friday) |
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Reserve Day |
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Day 15 |
August 23 (Saturday) |
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Reserve Day |
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