At an agreement signing ceremony on Sunday, September 30, Kowloon Shangri-La has been appointed as the Olympic and Paralympic families Hotel for the equestrian events to be held in Hong Kong next August and September.

Deputy Director of Games Services of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), Xiang Ping, presided over and witnessed the signing.

CEO of the Equestrian Company, Lam Woon-Kwong, and General Manager of Kowloon Shangri-La, Mark Heywood signed the document.

Xiang said the signing of the agreement marked the achievement of an important milestone task in Hong Kong Equestrian Company’s preparation of the equestrian events. By identifying the Olympic/Paralympic Family Hotel for the equestrian events, Hong Kong Equestrian Company will be ready to move forward to develop detailed operational plans for its Olympic and Paralympic Family hospitality programs with an aim to showcase Hong Kong’s unique charm as the merging place of oriental and Western cultures and the dynamic city of diversified lifestyles while presenting them with the excitement of the Olympic/Paralympic equestrian sport itself.

Lam said members of the Olympic and Paralympic families would not be here for sightseeing, and they could expect more than what the average tourists required due to the nature of their required presence in Hong Kong, both before and during Games.

Heywood said the hotel was working closely with the Equestrian Committee in ensuring everything would go smoothly as planned as it wanted all guests during the Games to take home the fondest memories of the 2008 Equestrian Events in Hong Kong and the legendary Shangri-La hospitality.