The 200 trainer-volunteers serving for the 2008 Olympic Equestrian Events will undergo an intensive 80 hours of training, including residential training which will be held in Po Leung Kuk Holiday Camp in Sai Kung for two consecutive weekends in March.

The leadership training programmes are tailored for volunteers by expert trainers with Olympic experience from the Government of New South Wales Department of Education & Training.

The volunteers will then be deployed to different services, ranging from competition venues to translation and media support.

Equestrian Company Chief Executive Officer Lam Woon-kwong said today the trainer-volunteers are chosen from a pool of 8,000 applicants. Together with other volunteers, they will help make the Olympic Equestrian Events in August next year and the test event this summer a success.

He reminded volunteers that they will be the very front-line helpers, the ambassadors of the nation, adding they will be making part of the Olympic history.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer Miranda Chiu said the Hong Kong people's overwhelming response to the volunteer recruitment execise has demonstrated the city is not short of volunteers.

She urged the volunteers to uphold the principles of making the Olympics the "people's games", "green games" and "high-tech games".

People who are interested in becoming 2008 Olympic Equestrian Events can apply here.