Learning About Hong Kong and The 2008 Olympic Games

Second in a Series by Diana DeRosa

It’s been interesting seeing and experiencing Hong Kong. Learning about the plan for the Olympic Games and understanding its people go hand-in-hand.

Our second day in Hong Kong was spent in Sha Tin which is where most of the sport will take place. The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has one of its two racecourses in Sha Tin and located next to this is the Sports Institute, a place that houses and trains its elite athletes. The Sports Institute is where most of the Olympic Games will take place. Right now it’s only a vision of what is to come as it is undergoing massive renovations, thanks to HKJC which is financing the construction for both the Sha Tin site and Beas River, where the cross country will take place.

The Sha Tin and Beas River venues are only 20 minutes apart from each other. For those of us who have covered the Olympics before this news is very welcome. In addition, housing is equally as close, so there won’t be the necessity of traveling hours to get to where we need to be, which for us media just might mean a bit more sleep.

While both venues are in the construction stages its clear that the facilities will be first rate. The HKJC already has a Veterinary Clinic but they will be building a second one within the stabling compound where all the horses will be housed (except for when the Eventing horses compete at Beas River).

At the Sports Institute they are also constructing schooling rings, a main arena, housing for the grooms, dining facilities and so much more on this site.

A Test Event is planned for August of this year to give everyone a chance to check out the facilities, including the flow of people traffic, security, the weather (which will be hot and humid), the stabling schooling rings and the main arena. In addition there will be a reduced cross country phase which will allow them to test the footing of this golf course converted into a cross country course.

While there’s still plenty to be done, a lot has already been achieved and a working plan is in place for which they are right on target. The men are working at least six days a week, ten hours a day to ensure everything meets the timeframe planned for.

A huge Volunteer force is being organized so that by the time the Olympic Games are here there will be 1800 knowledgeable people to fill the necessary volunteer positions. For the Test Event 800 of those will be in place along with many of the Officials who have been hired for next year’s Olympic Games.