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BEIJING: Beijing Olympic organizers said Tuesday they had received
no notification of withdrawals from the Olympic equestrian events
scheduled to take place in Hong Kong in August.
The Swiss dressage team announced this month
that it intended to stay away from the 2008 Games citing fears for
the health of horses competing in the heat and humidity of Hong
Kong.
But the Beijing Olympic organizing committee
said that no teams had officially withdrawn and that it had full
confidence in the former British colony to stage a safe and well-run
event.
Beijing is staging most of the 28 Olympic
sports. But the yachting will be held in the port city of Qingdao
southeast of the capital and officials agreed to switch the
equestrian event to Hong Kong over concerns of equine disease and
quarantine complications on the mainland.
However, several competing nations have
expressed concern that the sweltering heat and humidity of Hong Kong
could hurt their horses. Recently some Canadian and German riders
reportedly said they were considering staying away.
-- AFP
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