About 1,800 volunteers will be recruited to assist the Olympic equestrian games to be held in 2008 in Hong Kong, says Equestrian Events (HK) of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad Company Chief Executive Officer Lam Woon-kwong.

Speaking on a radio talk show this morning, Mr Lam said volunteers will be expected to help out with reception, driving, and managing order at the game venues.

The recruitment exercise will be divided into three phases, with the first to start at the end of November. The second and the third intakes will be conducted in the first quarter and year end of 2007. The first batch of 100 will form the core team which will manage the volunteers.

On the volunteers' requirements, Mr Lam noted they need to be conversant in Cantonese, Mandarin and English, and preferably be able to speak European languages such as German, French or Spanish.

He said the volunteers, above all, must have commitment and enthusiasm to serve Hong Kong, and the spare time to do the job.

Pilot event to give athletes chance to test venue

A four-day pilot event will be held next August, giving Olympic teams from all over the world a chance to try out Hong Kong's racecourse, weather and environment before the formal 12-day games are held in 2008. 

The Sha Tin venue is undergoing expansion works, and will be able to accomodate 19,000 people once it is completed.