The International Olympic Committee has announced that Hong Kong will stage the 2008 Equestrian events. The agreement finalizes Beijing's push to have the equestrian competition moved the 2,000km to Hong Kong, which is free of equine diseases common on the Chinese mainland.

Now we just have to figure out how to offset the August heat and humidity on the horses ... ideas anyone?!

(and because I can't resist - despite the fact that the quote I am about to use is quite obviously a victim of the nuances of cultural differences - an article in last week's South China Morning Post quoted Hong Kong Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho Chiping who, when commenting on the planned relocation stated: "This is for the interest of all Hong Kong people as their spirit in sports would increase, which would then realize the spirit of the Olympics. This is to put gold on Hong Kong's face.")