The Jockey Club has spent HK$800 million building the venues for dressage and showjumping at the Sports Institute; a practice arena inside Penfold Park at the Sha Tin Racecourse; and the eventing course at Beas River, which snakes through the Old, New and Eden courses at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

'It shows the respect the club has earned and reflects well on our world-class reputation as a brand name, and it also shows the faith the Olympic Organising Committee has in us to be able to make this happen in such a short planning period.

'If you asked anyone to build a venue capable of staging something like the Olympics, with a lead time of just 21/2 years and starting from scratch, most people would feel nervous. But the Jockey Club has been able to do this and it once again demonstrates that renowned Hong Kong can-do attitude.

The facilities have already been lauded as 'one of the best built for equestrian sport', Engelbrecht-Bresges says.

'We have received tremendous accolades from Princess Haya, the president of FEI [Federation Equestre Internationale]. The princess told us she has every confidence this will be one of the best venues ever built for equestrian sport,' he said.

Engelbrecht Bresges said the Olympics represented 'a unique chance' to give the sport high-level exposure throughout the Asian region, but particularly in China. 'It will give equestrian sport a huge lift in terms of profile, and will see it become very much accepted as a major leisure and sporting activity,' he said.

'It may well be the catalyst for a major boost for the sport in Hong Kong and China, as a lot of people will become captivated by what they see and will want to know more, learn more about it and eventually start to participate. They will begin to understand elite horses as what they truly are, world-class athletes.'