An air freighter carrying the first batch of 26 racehorses for the Equestrian events at the 16 Asian Games took off at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport on Nov. 22, setting out for their home Brussels.
As the venue for the Equestrian events of the 16th Asian Games, Guangzhou Equestrian Venue of Conghua in northeast of Guangzhou, has already been accredited by Office International des Epizooties (OIE) and European Union (EU) as an "equine disease free zone" before the Games. Boasting as the first equine disease free zone within Chinese Mainland, Conghua now serves as a base for the globalisation of China's equestrian and horse industry.
Covering an equivalent area of 200 football fields, Guangzhou Equestrian Venue can seat 6,000 spectators. Besides, there is also a 7.2km permanent protective guard stretching around the venue. It is believed to be the biggest as well as the most spectacular venue in China that can host international equestrian races and events.
To achieve the "zero accident" target during the Games, teams have been formed in Conghua for the safe running of the Asiad Equestrian events, over 400 contingency plans have been worked out and numerous drills have been conducted in advance as regard to the design of routes, obstacles and stabling facilities for equestrian riders as well as Games-time emergency schemes.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club will renovate the venue to be racehorse training base as the post-Games utilisation.
Source: GAGOC
