The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco is one of the sponsors of the 2008 Dressage Festival of Champions Olympic Selection Trials, presented by Collecting Gaits Farm/United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). The final trials for representing the United States of America at the 2008 Olympic Games were held on June 28 and 29.

Speaking at the finals held on June 29, Acting Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco, Miss Shirley Lau, said that Hong Kong is a proud co-host city of the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events, which will be held from August 9-21, and September 7-11, 2008 respectively.

Pointing out that Hong Kong has a proven track record in staging mega international events, Miss Lau said, “Hong Kong is ready to welcome competitors, officials and spectators from all over the world this summer.”

The Olympic and Paralympic Dressage events will be held at the Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue at Sha Tin. To prepare for the events, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has invested more than US$150 million on new facilities and amenities.

“In fact, the 2008 Olympic Equestrian venues and facilities have a number of unique features and Olympic firsts including the first-ever air-conditioned indoor training arena; the first-ever mobile cooling units for horses; first-ever recycling of 100% of Olympic stable waste; first-ever use of racecourse in an Olympic equestrian venue,” Miss Lau added.

Thousands of spectators and competitors visited the “Hong Kong booth” set up at the finals on June 28 and 29 to tie in with the “on the road to Hong Kong” theme.