The Hong Kong Sports Institute and Penfold Park have been converted into the core competition venue for the Equestrian Events. Besides the main competition arena, the venue includes stable blocks, training and warm-up arenas, spectator stands and support facilities.

Click here for overall venue information.

Venue Media Centre
The Venue Media Centre (VMC) is located in the building next to the Main Competition Arena. It extends over two levels:

		Level 1 (near Field of Play area): Photo Workroom, Kodak Image Centre (providing Canon and Nikon repair and lending services), Media Dining Area
		Level 2: Press Workroom, Media Centre Management Office, Press Conference Room, Media Lounge, licensed merchandise outlet

Press Workroom
This main press room covers 458m² and has seating for about 255 journalists. It is fully equipped with facilities such as Internet access including ADSL and Wi-Fi, phone lines and fax machines. Over 200 lockers are provided (on a first-come-first-served basis). Games news for all sports of Beijing 2008 Games is carried on INFO2008 terminals and there is CATV coverage of the equestrian competition. During non-competition times, the CATV service will show action at other Beijing 2008 venues.

		July 26, Saturday – August 7, Thursday (09:00 to 23:00)
		August 8, Friday – August 22, Friday (24-hour operation)

Press Tribunes
Tabled seating is provided for 105 media in the Press Tribunes on a first-come-first-served basis. Phone services including ADSL are available as well as Wi-Fi. Another 100 media can be seated in the Media Stand nearby.

Photo Workroom The Photo Workroom is equipped with power outlets, INFO2008 terminals, printers, CATV, LAN ports and Wi-Fi. Photo lockers are placed outside the air-conditioned environment of the Workroom to avoid condensation on lenses.

Photo Positions
The grass Field of Play positions which can accommodate 30 photographers will automatically be offered to Pool photographers with the balance offered to other photographers. Armbands will be issued to these 30 photographers, consisting of experienced equestrian/sports photographers representing approved news agencies and equestrian publications, they can make use of benches placed in the grass area to sit and take photographs.

Photographers’ vests will be issued to other photographers, who will be free to work from Photo Positions set aside in the spectator stands and around the competition fences, with guidance of venue personnel. Photographers may make use of vacant spectator seats.

The Photographers’ Pool consists of experienced equestrian/sports photographers representing approved news agencies and equestrian publications.

Olympic News Service
The Olympic News Service (ONS) provides the media with comprehensive information, including Pre-Games information such as athlete biographies and historical results, Games-time news service, “flash quotes” and press conference highlights. The INFO2008 Intranet system is the primary outlet for all ONS information and reports. Accredited media can find Games information such as results, news, biographies, background, schedules, medals, records and weather on these terminals. The ONS starts operation on July 25, Friday.

ONS is also responsible for prompt distribution of hardcopy print-outs of the above information to pigeonholes in the Press Workroom and the Photo Workroom. Print-outs of competition-related lists such as Order to Go, Intermediate Results and Results will be delivered to the Press Tribunes.

Media Catering Facilities

The Media Dining Area is located on Level 1 next to the Photo Workroom. Light meals and beverages can be purchased at the Food Service Counter. The dining area is open daily, from 3 hours before each competition to 3 hours after.

Alternatively, media may buy hot meals in the adjacent general Dining Area. Snacks, beverages and alcoholic drinks are also available. The general Dining Area is open from 09:00 to 21:00 daily (from July 26, Saturday to August 26, Tuesday), with operating hours extended during competition sessions.

Free refreshments are provided in the Media Lounge, Press Workroom and the Press Tribunes.

Cash (HK dollars only) and Visa credit cards are accepted as payment in catering areas at competition venues.

You can also find an ATM and a currency exchange counter in the Sha Tin venue:

		Auto-teller machine (ATM)
		- Location: Spectator forecourt (near the spectator entrance) - Operating hours: 24 hours - Card acceptance: Visa/Visa Electron
		Foreign exchange counter
		- Location: Room 1.1.096d at Level 1 (near the Groom Dining Area) - Operating hours: Competition days from 08:00 to 22:00 Non-competition days from 09:00 to 21:00

Mixed Zone
The Mixed Zone at Sha Tin is adjacent to the entry/exit to the Field of Play.

It is divided into two parts: one for about 35 broadcasters and the other for up to 100 general media (journalists and photographers). A large CATV screen within the Mixed Zone will show the action in the arena.

Press Conference Room
The Press Conference Room is separated from the Press Workroom on Level 2. It can accommodate approximately 180 print media as well as 50 photographers and camera crews.

Simultaneous interpretation services are provided for English, Putonghua, Cantonese and French.

Press conferences will be arranged after each Victory Ceremony, or be held at short notice should any briefings be necessary.

Press enquiries/interviews
Media Services (MS) is the link between the accredited media and all the other users of the venue. With an enquiry desk inside the Press Workroom, MS will handle general press enquiries and seek answers from the appropriate authority, for example Venue Management. If media request interviews with teams or athletes, they may seek permission from the interviewee through the team’s press attaché or the Chef de Mission/Chef d’Equipe, and make the necessary arrangements to use the media broadcast/interview rooms in the Olympic Village. Media are required to exchange their OIACs for Guest Passes at the Village’s Help Desk, and to change them back afterwards.

The Cross-Country test of Eventing will be held here on August 11. The course extends over the grounds of the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling, while many operational facilities and the temporary stables are located in the vicinity at the Beas River Country Club.

Click here for overall venue information.

Venue Media Centre
The VMC at HKB comprises a large tent divided into a Press Workroom and a Press Conference Room. It is open to accredited media 3 hours before competition until 3 hours after it ends.

Shuttle service is provided between the Media Hotel and HKB. The first buses leave the hotel at 05:00 on 11 August and depart at regular intervals thereafter. Media will go through security checks before boarding the buses.

Reporters and photographers may move freely along the course, outside of the ropes. Pool photographers can position themselves inside the ropes along the approximately 5.7km course. Pockets are reserved for photographers at water jumps. Wi-Fi service is available in the VMC.

Mixed Zone
Same arrangements as in HKS.

Catering Facilities
Food and beverages can be bought at concession outlets located at the Spectator Facilities. A variety of simple hot and cold foods is available. Free refreshments are provided in the Press Workroom.