Hong Kong is set to get a piece of the 2008 Olympic Games pie, with the deal all but done to stage the equestrian events in the SAR.
A source close to the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) said yesterday: 'We see Hong Kong as the ideal place to hold the equestrian events in 2008.
'Hong Kong has the experience of hosting the International Races meetings. They have first-class quarantine facilities - something that's not available in China - and they have most of the training facilities in place.'
The secretary general of the FEI, Bo Helander, was in Beijing this week to discuss preparations for the 2008 Games. However, the federation is not yet ready to officially confirm that Hong Kong will host the equestrian events.
Ian Wilson, head of endurance racing for the FEI, said: 'We cannot confirm that a final decision has been made.' The source, who asked not to be named, was more forthcoming. 'It's almost a done deal,' he said. 'We believe that Sha Tin racecourse, in particular, would be an ideal place to stage the dressage events. The infield there is where we would stage the competition.'
The showjumping event would be held either at Bea's River or also at Sha Tin, he added. The sticking point remains facilities for the eventing programme. There is talk of reducing the eventing competition to a single contest - a cross-country race.
This, however, would require a trail at least six kilometres long, a facility not available in Hong Kong.
