Hong Kong has been awarded wild-card entries for the 2008 Beijing Olympic equestrian events.
The equestrian governing body, FEI, confirmed the allocation for the three disciplines which will be held in Hong Kong.
There are only a limited number of places for the Olympics, but Hong Kong has been given a wild-card entry for jumping, dressage and eventing, providing competitors meet the qualification criteria.
Ronald Arculli, chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation, said last night: 'I'm over the moon. It is amazing to get a wild card. This is an opportunity of a lifetime. Hong Kong must now do its bit to ensure we are represented.'
Sports Federation and Olympic Committee president Timothy Fok Tsun-ting added: 'We have talked a lot about the facilities, but at the end of the day the Olympics are all about participation and having a wild card will do so much to promote the sport and raise general interest in the 2008 events.'
Jumping is the most popular discipline in Hong Kong. For the Olympics, the SAR can qualify either a three- or four-strong team or up to two individuals. It is not unusual for a country to fail to qualify a team. At Athens 2004, key nations, including Britain, only managed individual entries and it is unlikely Hong Kong can field a full team, so individual places are vital.