ENG-2008 — Page 471

Recreation, Sport and the Arts 395

provinces in February 2008 and the Sichuan earthquake in May, it made immediate donations to relief agencies and launched public fund-raising drives through its racecourses, clubhouses and off-course betting branch network. The club has since pledged a further $1 billion to support reconstruction projects in Sichuan and has put four initial school and hospital rebuilding projects in hand. In December, it was honoured with a 2008 China Charity Award from the Mainland's Ministry of Civil Affairs in recognition of its outstanding charity work.

The club played a major role in Hong Kong's successful staging of the equestrian events of the Beijing 2008 Olympics and Paralympics, constructing world- class equestrian venues at its own cost and providing a range of supporting professional services including veterinary care, horse transportation and on-site equine drug testing. The club's expertise in these areas helped Hong Kong win many international accolades for the quality of its Olympic equestrian facilities. In total, the club's contribution to the Olympics and Paralympics exceeded $1.2 billion.

The club has also entered into a long-term agreement with the International Olympic Committee which paves the way for the establishment of an Olympic. Museum in Hong Kong to preserve the city's Olympic legacy for future generations. In addition, it has pledged $50 million to extend its sponsorship of the Hong Kong Equestrian Team for a further four years and establish a new Junior Equestrian Team.

Hong Kong continues to strengthen its reputation in the horse racing world, with three locally-trained horses ranked in the world's top ten at the end of the 2007-08 season, a remarkable achievement for a jurisdiction with such a small horse. population.

The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races held at Sha Tin Racecourse each December have become widely recognised as the Turf World Championship, with four International Group One events being staged on a single day for a total purse of $62 million, a spectacular day of sport broadcast to millions of racing fans. around the world. The 2008 International Races attracted a record 35 top thoroughbreds from 10 other countries and regions, with Hong Kong-trained horses. taking the honours in two of the four races — Inspiration winning the Hong Kong Sprint and Good Ba Ba successfully defending his Mile title.

Recreational and Sports Programmes

In 2008, the LCSD organised some 34 600 recreational and sports programmes for about 2.29 million participants of all ages and abilities at a total cost of $154 million.

District Sports Teams Training Scheme

In order to generate greater community interest in sports and to foster a stronger sense of belonging among residents, the LCSD, in collaboration with the respective NSAs, formed basketball, football, handball and volleyball teams in 18 districts. About 12 000 young people took part in 270 events organised in 2008.