Hong Kong Jockey Club to build Olympic museum

Hong Kong Jockey Club will help develop an Olympic museum at one of the equestrian venues after the Beijing Games is over.

The non-profit charity signed a co-operation agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on April 10 at the opening ceremony of its Beijing clubhouse. Under the agreement, the club will make a donation to the Hong Kong Olympic Museum in order to support the Olympic Movement.

"We are determined to see that the Olympic legacy and Olympic spirit will live on in Hong Kong, long after Games time. We are therefore delighted to work with the IOC and the sports federations and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, on continuing promotion of the Olympic ideals and sports in general throughout the region," said Club Chairman John C C Chan.

The largest private donor of charity funds in the city, founded in 1884, has invested HK$800 million ($100 million) into the Hong Kong equestrian venues and became the Outstanding Contributor of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Equestrian Events.

"The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a distinguished organization in supporting social programs throughout the region. The club has become a good partner to the Olympic Movement since they stepped in to support BOCOG and the HKSAR government with the offer to host the equestrian events of the 2008 Olympic Games. I have personally seen the facilities and they are the best ever. I am very pleased to see the club expand its support by becoming a contributor and developing the Hong Kong Olympic Museum," IOC President Jacques Rogge said.

The 2008 Olympic equestrian events will be held in Sha Tin (jumping and dressage) and Beas River (cross country).

2008-04-20