Members of the International Olympic Committees (IOC) Co-ordination Commission for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad - Beijing 2008 and of the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) toured the Olympic Village and equestrian venues in Sha Tin and Sheung Sui on the last day of their visit to the Olympic Co-host city of Hong Kong in October.

The IOC delegation, headed by Commission Chairman, Mr. Hein Verbruggen, saw for themselves how Hong Kong is preparing to stage the equestrian events of the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The delegation had the opportunity to look at the accommodation arrangements that have been made for the Olympic Village at the Royal Park Hotel in Sha Tin.

They then toured the Cross-Country event venue at the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Beas River Country Club and the adjacent Hong Kong Golf Club in Sheung Shui.

There they were briefed on the 5.7-kilometer Cross-Country course, the warm-up and finish arenas, as well as the facilities for the Olympic Family and the media by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Miranda Chiu; and the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Head of Racing Operations and Equestrian, Mr. John Ridley.

The delegation then proceeded to the core equestrian venue in Sha Tin, which was converted from the Hong Kong Sports Institute and Penfold Park. There they had a look at the main stable complex and the main arena, as well as the practice arenas for jumping and dressage.

Before leaving Hong Kong, the IOC group had a chance to tour the Hong Kong International Airport and to look at the Olympic promotions on show.