“Hong Kong Reins”, a special 30-minute TV program on Hong Kong as an Olympic co-host city and Asia’s world city, was broadcast on NBC Bay Area in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose on August 8, 2008, right before airing of the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremonies.

It was also carried live on a big screen at the Beijing Olympic Viewing Celebration at St. James Park, San Jose on August 8, 2008.

Organized by NBC Bay Area in association with San Jose Park & Recreation, San Jose Sports Authority, San Jose State University, The Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee; and sponsored by Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco (SFETO), the Beijing Olympic Viewing Celebration is the largest outdoor Olympic viewing celebration in the Bay Area attracting thousands of participants.

“It is with great pleasure to share the Olympic Spirit with the Bay Area audience here at the Beijing Olympics Viewing Celebration. Hong Kong is also riding high with Olympic Spirit. This is an exciting and proud moment for us all, witnessing the historical occasion of Beijing hosting the Olympic Games and Hong Kong co-hosting the Olympic Equestrian Events,” said Ms Doris Cheung, Director of SFETO at the Celebration event ceremony.

“In the past three years, all the participating organizations including the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, the Equestrian Company, Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation and more than 40 Hong Kong government bureaux and departments have done tremendous work to prepare for the Equestrian Events. They include the state-of-the-art competition venues, the Olympic Village and related services, traffic and transport arrangements, security, medical services and quarantine and many more.

“With all the preparations completed, it is now the moment for the competitions, for the athletes from various countries and regions to take part in the Games. There will be record breaking of 218 horses from 42 countries/regions participating in the Equestrian events. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we are ready!” Ms Cheung said.

Also speaking at the event ceremony was San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed. The city of San Jose welcomed the United States athletes and staff before they left for the Olympics. Other VIPs attended the ceremony include United States Olympians, San Jose city council members and media representatives.

The Viewing Celebration included a community festival with cultural performances and the Hong Kong booth set up by SFETO was visited by thousands of visitors.