The newly-appointed Australian High Performance Manager Brett Mace and Franz Venhaus of the Australian Equestrian Federation have just returned from Hong Kong and a series of meeting and site inspections there.
The duo was following the trail of many other Federations who had visitied the city since the announcement that the Equestrian competitions of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games would be held there. The visit is the first base for more detailed planning that will follow, especially after the World Equestrian Games.
Venhaus reports on her trip to Hong Kong. "Having seen the sites and facilities makes planning so much easier as one can picture in one's mind how things are going to work. The other major advantage is putting faces to names and establishing a good relationship with the the people involved.
Two Australians from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, John Ridley (Manager of Racing Operations and Equestrian) and Stuart Mitchell (Equestrian Operations Manager at Beas River, and hailing from Lochinvar) are key people in the provision of the Olympic venues. Both were extremely generous with their time and filled us in on what is planned. Sha Tin Racecourse will be the main venue while the cross-country competition will take place at Beas River on Jockey Club grounds and the adjoining picturesque golf course of the Country Club.
We also met with the recently-appointed head of the newly-established Equestrian Company, Mr. W.K.Lam, and the Secretary of the Hong Kong Equestrian Committee, Mr. Thomas Tso. The Equestrian Company will be the executive agency planning and running the Equestrian competitions and all that goes with it. They are obviously facing a steep learning curve, with a number of key appointments still to come. It also appears that the relationship with the great number of 'functional areas' within BOCOG in Beijing has not been thoroughly defined as yet.
We are hoping, of course, that because of the enormous distance between Beijing and Hong Kong, the Equestrian Company will have greater freedom of action than would be the case if the competitions were held in Beijing. For example, teams in Hong Kong will not have the back-up of their National Olympic Committees, which usually set up headquarters with secretarial, legal and other support for their whole delegation. To provide the same service in Hong Kong clearly requires additional people and additional accreditation that would not fit into the normal allocations.
Previous visitors from large National Federations have also raised concerns about the planned accommodation arrangements. In Beijing, there will, of course, be a 'village' with all kinds of team facilities. The question is whether the proposed hotel accommodation in Hong Kong will include such facilities. It is clear that the 'Olympic atmosphere' that will exist in Beijing, will be hard to re-create in Hong Kong, not only for the athletes (riders) but also for the supporters and spectators who will not be able to visit Beijing as well."
Source: Franz Venhaus
Photo copyrighted: Dirk Caremans
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