Hong Kong equestrian event gets thumbs-up

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Hong Kong, Aug 14: Hong Kong cleared a major obstacle before next year's Olympic Games, hosting a largely trouble-free three-day equestrian competition despite fierce heat and a tropical storm.

While air pollution has been a concern for host city Beijing, jockeys, horses and vets had a chance to get a feel for Hong Kong's feared heat and humidity, which had been a worry ever since the former British colony was named to host the equestrian events at the Games next August.

After three days of dressage, eventing and show jumping events participants were enthusiastic about the event.

''I have attended some more of these test events before Olympic games and I must say this test event was the best I have ever attended,'' chief judge Martin Plewa told reporters.

''This year's test event already looked almost Olympic ...

The feeling is that the facilities are perfect.''

DISEASE-FREE ZONE

Olympic equestrian events were switched from host city Beijing to Hong Kong because of difficulties in establishing a disease-free zone on the mainland, and vets closely monitoring horses health said they were satisfied with the conditions.

''All the horses coped extremely well,'' Plewa said.

Security at the venue came under the spotlight after one journalist managed to get two knives and a bottle of water past security stations, and another walked in on a closed briefing session without authorisation, the South China Morning Post said.

W K Lam, head of the Equestrian Company in charge of the event, said the event achieved its goal of exposing areas that need improvement.

''The competition might have ended, but there's no rest for us,'' he told a news conference.

Hong Kong police said 1,000 officers had been deployed for each day of the test event.

In March, worries about Olympic security were heightened when a turf checker at Hong Kong's Happy Valley race track discovered an elaborate device embedded in the grass designed to fire poison darts at horses in a plot to influence the outcome of races.

At the end of the three-day test, Frank Ostholt of Germany took first place riding After the Battle, scoring 53.40 points.

Compatriot Dirk Schrade won second place on Grand Amour with 54.60 points, and Australian rider Shane Rose came third on Statford Novalis with 66.60 points.

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge visited the equestrian facilities on Sunday and said he was pleased with the preparations.

''Everything is progressing well and we will have an absolutely fabulous Games here next year,'' Rogge said.

Reuters>