Equestrian Quarantine Announced for 16th Asian Games; All-New Equestrian Facility Rising From The Dust
GUANGZHOU, China – April 15, 2009 – The 16th Asian Games, part of the worldwide Olympic movement and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia will be hosting some 200 horses from nearly 20 countries and regions in China’s very first major international equestrian event during next year’s Asian Games.
No equestrian events during the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing were held in mainland China – rather they were hosted in Hong Kong. Equine stars from across the world traveled to Hong Kong to contest for Olympic medals. All horses taking part in the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games were quarantined for 17 days as well as undergoing blood tests and vaccinations.
According to Mr. Zeng Qingchun, Deputy Director of GAGOC’s External Relations & Protocol Department and a leading member for the Asian Games Equestrian Preparation Team, said that like last summer’s Olympic Games, all horses will be quarantined for in advance of the Games and that “the goal of the equines’ quarantine is to prevent possible equine diseases from abroad into China; to guarantee the safety of home stock-raising and to guarantee the participant equines’ health and safety during quarantine, training and competition in China and to avoid possible epidemic disease contagion and cross infection of the equines.
About 200 horses from about 20 Asian countries and regions will be on show in the riding venues, now under construction in the northern Conghua County. All plans are designed to prohibit equine disease from entering the mainland and protect interests of the stockbreeding industry,” said Zeng.
General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China and the organizing committee started a questionnaire survey in countries and regions providing the horses for the Games last month, to develop quarantine analysis, he said.
“We will work out a draft horse quarantine plan by July, and ask relevant international organizations such as International Equestrian Federation for suggestions,” said Zeng, adding that a Disease Free Zone would be developed ahead of the event.
“All horses will be under strict inspection as soon as they land on the mainland,” said Zhou Zhongfang, an official from the Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, who added all horses will be kept within designated areas.”
Facilities to ensure there is no contact between horses and spectators would be developed in the equestrian venues, to prevent potential equine diseases from transmitting to humans.
В
В
В
The following disciplines are (or are likely) to be conducted at the 16th Asian Games:
l Dressage
l Eventing
l Jumping
At the moment Endurance (120 km), although included as additional event in Asian Games Doha 2006, thus far has not been confirmed that it will be included at the 16th Asian Games in 2010.
Located more than 40 kilometers northeast of downtown Guangzhou, the new equestrian facility for the 16th Asian Games is literally rising from the dust. Engineers have leveled off a mountain and are constructing the facility from scratch. The grandstand is completed as well as staff offices.
The treatment of animals at the 16th Asian Games will follow all regulatory provisions, the quarantine will guarantee the smooth operations of the Games and will, according to Mr. Zeng, “allow the safe return all horses to their home countries and regions in light of immigration quarantine policies.”
He added that, “an Asian Games Equines’ Quarantine Workgroup will complete 10 major projects before November 2009, including the requirements for the participant equines’ quarantine & sanitation, the Certificate of the Equines’ Quarantine and compiling the guidelines for the participant equines’ quarantine procedures.”
About The 16th Asian Games
The 16th Asian Games (www.gz2010.cn/en) is approved and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia and will be held in “Flower City” of Guangzhou from November 12 – 27, 2010. More than 14,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions will compete in 42 sports. More than 10,000 accredited and non-accredited worldwide media are anticipated to cover the Games with more than three million spectators expected to attend.
www.gz2010.cn/en
April 15, 2009
Posted in: China
Leave a Reply