HONG KONG, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong is ready to
stage the Paralympic horse riding events, Hong Kong Equestrian Company Chief of
Paralympic services Amanda Bond said here Friday.
The Paralympic equestrian events, which will feature
only dressage competitions, will be held at the Sha Tin equestrian venue from
Sept. 7 to 11.
Seventy-three riders from 28 countries and regions
will compete in team and individual competitions, with morning and evening
sessions on most days.
Bond said individual riders are required to complete
two tests including the individual championship test followed by the freestyle
test.
"The freestyle test includes set movements
individually choreographed by the rider and set to music. This is often
described as 'ballet for horses' and is very entertaining for the spectators,"
she said.
Teams of three or four riders from any nation also
compete in a team test.
The world-class equestrian facilities at Sha Tin won
broad acclaim from competitors during the Olympic equestrian events held from
Aug. 9 to 21.
Bond believed that the event will also be a unique
and uplifting experience for competitors and spectators. She said the focus is
the athletes and their inspirational stories of achievement.
"The guiding principles laid down by the
International Paralympic Committee is to focus on the excellence and
accomplishment of athletes who triumph despite their own personal challenges,"
she said.
"There is also a strong emphasis on fair play, and
providing an environment free of prejudice and discrimination.
"In addition, all those who take part, whether
competitor or spectator, help promote the Paralympic values of transcendence,
integration and equality," said she.
|
6 Equestrian Medalists at Beijing Games
|
|
Germany wins Olympic team dressage gold
HONG KONG, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Germany won the Olympic team dressage gold medal, their 7th successive Olympic title, holding off a strong challenge from the Netherlands at the Shatin Equestrian Venue Thursday night. Full story |
|
|
 
|
U.S. wins Olympic Equestrian Jumping Team gold
HONG KONG, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Defending gold medallist the United States won the Olympic Equestrian Jumping Team gold medal, holding off a strong challenge from Canada in the Team Final competition at the Shatin Equestrian Venue Monday night. Full story |
|
Dutch van Grunsven wins Olympic dressage gold
HONG KONG, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Anky van Grunsven of the Netherlands scored 78.68 points to win the Olympic dressage gold medal here on Tuesday.
Germany's Isabell Werth scored 76.65 points for the silver and Heike Kemmer, also of Germany, took the bronze in 74.455. Full story |
 |
|
|
Canadian Lamaze wins jumping individual gold
HONG KONG, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Eric Lamaze won the jumping individual gold medal at the Olympic equestrian competitionhere on Thursday.
Rolf Goran Bengtsson of Sweden took the silver and American Beezie Madden of the United States got the bronze. Full story |
Backgrounder:
Format and rules of Olympic equestrian jumping
Movements required for Olympic dressage tests
Eventing, Olympic equestrian discipline
Roundup: Germans dominate Olympic equestrian competitions
HONG KONG, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Germans have finished top of medal table with three gold medals, one silver and one bronze in the 11-day Beijing Olympic Games Equestrian competitions which closed Thursday night at the Shatin Equestrian Venue. Full story
|
