100-day countdown to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
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Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang (fourth from right) with the Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang (third from right) and other officiating guests participated in the countdown ceremony. |
The “Celebration of the 100-day Countdown to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games” on April 30 marked the final 100 days to the opening of the Olympic Games. The event at Hong Kong Coliseum was hosted by the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC), 2008 Beijing Olympic Equestrian Events Hong Kong Fund and the Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang officiated at the countdown ceremony and said the HKSAR Government and all relevant organizations would do everything possible to make visitors welcome and ensure the best arrangements for the events in this city.
“Preparations for the equestrian events are progressing nicely,” he said. “Feedback from visiting athletes and officials has been positive, and the Good Luck Beijing Test event in August last year went well. I am confident we can achieve our goal of staging the best ever Olympic Equestrian events.”
Mr. Tsang noted that to get this job done, the strong participation of the community and the enthusiastic support of individuals would be essential. He was delighted that so many people had participated in various activities to promote the Olympic Games. The response to the volunteer recruitment campaign for the Hong Kong events also had been most encouraging. He hoped everyone would take this opportunity to learn more about the Olympic spirit and share the joy of hosting the games.
Apart from celebrating the 100-day countdown to the Beijing Olympics, the event also raised money for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Equestrian Events Hong Kong Fund. The fund was set up to support promotional activities of the Olympiad and the equestrian events. Mr. Tsang thanked the donors for their generous contributions.
Celebrities, athletes, youths, charitable and cultural groups, singers and artists performed at the show. More than 5,000 guests and members of the public attended the event, including Executive Council members, legislators, district councilors, consular corps, representatives of sports and district organizations and donors to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Equestrian Events Hong Kong Fund.
Other officiating guests at the event included President of the SF&OC Timothy Fok; Executive Vice-President of BOCOG Yang Shu’an; Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang; Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Li Gang; Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Zhan Yongxin; Deputy Mayor of the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Village Elsie Leung; Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club John Chan; Chairman of the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee and Sports Association for the Physically Disabled Jenny Fung; Deputy Chief Executive Officer of The Equestrian Company Miranda Chiu; and Chairman of Organising Committee on the Celebration of the 100-day Countdown to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Wilfred Ng.
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