Okay, so I felt pretty dumb for constantly being corrected about where the Olympics were being held. It has been in my mind the 2008 Olympics were being held in Hong Kong. Much to my surprise, they are in fact officially being held in Beijing.
I received a link to the new controversy surrounding the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, coined “Olympic Haze”. On June 23rd, 2008, ESPN published a story about the Olympic Haze of Beijing and the horrible air quality of the city. Interestingly, I found that although the games are being held August 8th, suddenly a little over a month BEFORE the Olympics there is concern about the air quality and its effects on the athletes.
Hmmmm. Isn’t that something that would have been considered, well, before they chose a city? American human athletes are going to be given special masks to help with the detrimental effects the pollution in Beijing has on their lungs. I’m unsure if these masks are to be worn during competition or just prior to the athletes’ event, but suddenly athletes are voicing their concerns and previous experience competing in the icky Beijing air.
After being corrected on numerous occasions that the 2008 Olympics were in Beijing and NOT Hong Kong, my first thought was “I wouldn’t send my horse into that smog, and I can’t imagine any other rider would either.”
And here we have it; the equestrian events ARE being held in Hong Kong where there is less pollution. The FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale), the BOCOG (Beijing Committee for the Olympic Games), and the IOC (International Olympic Committee) worked together to come to the decision to hold the equestrian events in Hong Kong rather than Beijing.
Why?
Well, concerns of infectious disease contraction from the China horse population initiated the planning. But in 2005, the Hong Kong location was already in the works with disease being a concern, Beijing pollution woes up for consideration, and the proximity to the Hong Kong airport suggested easier equine transportation. Funny how the FEI was on top of the horses’ abilities to withstand the climate (including the air quality) for the 2008 Olympics, but apparently no one considered the human athletes ability to withstand smog.
Well, at least I realized WHY I would think the Olympics were in Hong Kong; the equestrian events are the only part of the Olympics that I have any interest in. Not really knowing why the Olympics were being held in two different cities, I just assumed the equestrian events were the lowest interest so who cared if they are in the same city.
Too wrong!
It’s almost hard to feel bad for the human athletes only because if the equestrian venues had taken air pollution into consideration AND made arrangements, why then didn’t the IOC take human athletes health into consideration? Is it because human athletes aren’t worth money? I’m sure each of the Olympic horses has a big price tag of liability attached!
I’m happy to hear these provisions were made, with a first ever Olympic air-conditioned training arena. I bet that would have been nice for the 1996 Hotlanta Olympic Games.
While I’m sure it will be sad to see, as American athletes have experienced in Beijing in the past, vomiting during competition, and dropping out due to exhaustion, I am happy to hear the equestrian athletes (both horse and human) will be in a better environment to compete healthily and comfortably.
Thank you FEI for your forethought. Sorry humans!
Whew! I was worried about that. I know that, if it were me, I wouldn’t risk my horse’s life by riding them in poor air quality. I like the idea of an air conditioned arena! What a good idea! I’ve always wondered what it would be like to ride in one on hot summer days. I wonder if the Show Jumping portion of the olympics will be held in the air conditioned arena?
It is interesting that the equestrian events are being held in a better enviroment (not great), but better.
I really wanted to go and watch the cross country. I hear the course is asian themed. I bet it’s going to be a very cool looking course. I wonder how safe it will be?!?
Does anybody know where I can get info on this year’s USET for Beijing?
Kay,
The following is the list from the USEF on all the final selections as of July 14th:
EVENTING:
Rider/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner:
Phillip Dutton/44/West Grove, Pa./Connaught/15/Irish Sport Horse/G/Bruce Duchossois
Becky Holder/39/Mendota Heights, Minn./Courageous Comet/12/Thoroughbred/G/Becky and Thomas Holder, Jr.
Gina Miles/34/Creston, Calif./McKinlaigh/14/Irish Sport Horse/Gina Miles, Laura Coats and Thomas Schulz
Amy Tryon/38/Duvall, Wash./Poggio II/16/Thoroughbred/G/Amy and Greg Tryon and Mark Hart
Heidi White/42/Aiken, S.C./Northern Spy/15/English Thoroughbred/G/Heidi White
Replacements in alphabetical order:
Bruce Davidson, Jr./32/ Ocala, Fla./BallyNoe Castle RM/8/Irish Thoroughbred/G/Carl and Cassandra Segal
Phillip Dutton/44/West Grove, Pa./Woodburn/13/Thoroughbred/G/Acorn Hill Farm
Bonnie Mosser/45/Unionville, Pa./Merloch/11/New Zealand Thoroughbred Cross/G/Bonnie Mosser and Margaret Egan
Karen O’Connor/50/The Plains, Va./Mandiba/9/Irish Thoroughbred/G/Joan Goswell
SHOW JUMPING:
The USEF named the show jumping team July 7.
Name/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner
Beezie Madden/45/Cazenovia, N.Y./Authentic/13/KWPN/Gelding/Abigail Wexner
McLain Ward/33/Brewster, N.Y./Sapphire/13/Belgian Warmblood/Mare/McLain Ward, Tom Grossman, and Blue Chip Bloodstock
Will Simpson/49/Thousand Oaks, Calif./El Campeon’s Carlsson vom Dach/12/Holsteiner/Gelding/El Campeon Farm
Laura Kraut/43/Wellington, Fla./Cedric /10/KWPN/Gelding/Happy Hill Farm and Peter Wetherill
First Replacement (will travel with the team to Hong Kong):
Anne Kursinski/49/Frenchtown, N.J./Champ 163/ 9/Holsteiner/S/ Legacy Stables
DRESSAGE:
The following riders are ranked based on their performance after the USEF selection trials for dressage:
Name/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner
Steffen Peters/44/San Diego, Calif./Ravel/10/Dutch Warmblood/G/Akiko Yamazaki
Debbie McDonald/54/Hailey, Idaho/Brentina/17/Hanoverian/M/Peggy and Parry Thomas
Courtney King-Dye/31/New Milford, Conn./Harmony’s Mythilus/14/Dutch Warmblood/G/Harmony Amateur Sports Foundation
Alternate rider (will travel to Hong Kong):
Leslie Morse/46/Beverly Hills, Calif./Kingston/16/Dutch Warmblood/S/Leslie Morse and Laura Petroff
There doesn’t seem to be one centralized place for all the Olympic Team information. But, I will include some links that can help:
USEF Show Jumping Team Selection Press Release
USEF Eventing Team Selection Press Release
USEF Dressage Team Selection Press Release
The show jumping team sounds like most of the crowd from Sydney. What the hell kinda fancy pants name is El Campeons Carlsson Vom dach? Good lord. Is this gonna be Sapphire’s THIRD olympics? Damn. I would like to see a horse with a cool name on our Olympic team. Authentic is kinda cool I guess. Why not a horse named American Badass? Beezie has a horse named Judgement–she should show him just because his name is cool. lol. Thanks.
how many irish bred horses competed in the 2008 beijing olympics
Hi Pat-
I only know stats for Irish Bred horses competing in Eventing at the 2008 Olympics. 24 in total, listed as:
21 Irish Sport Horses
1 Irish Bred Thoroughbred
1 Irish Draught Cross
1 listed as “Irish Bred”
I am not sure of the details for Irish Bred horses competing in Dressage and Show Jumping. However, I doubt there were any at all competing in Dressage. There could have been a few in Show Jumping; not anything significant though. I remember that Show Jumping had the usual warmbloods with an interestingly strong presence from the Belgian Warmblood (if I remember correctly).
Below are the specific details for the Irish Bred Eventing Competitors:
USA–
1. CONNAUGHT: b. g., 15, Irish Sport Horse by Ballysimon—Broomhill Rogue, Royal Rogue, owned by Bruce Duchossois.
PHILLIP DUTTON: age 44, West Grove, Pa.
2. MCKINLAIGH: ch. g., 14, Irish Sport Horse by Highland King—Kilcumney Hostess, Stretchworth Lad, owned by Laura Coats, Thomas Schulz and rider.
GINA MILES: age 34, Creston, Calif.
3. MANDIBA: b. g., 9, Irish Thoroughbred gelding by Master Imp—High Dolly, owned by Joan Goswell.
KAREN O’CONNOR: age 50, The Plains, Va.
Canada–
4. KINGPIN: ch. g., 12, Irish Sport Horse by Furiosto, owned by Kingpin Syndicate, Newnan, Ga.
MIKE WINTER: age 33, Newnan, Ga.
Australia–
5. BEN ALONG TIME: b. g., 13, Irish Sport Horse by Cavalier Royale—Campaigner’s Dream, Campaigner, owned by Edwin and Peta McAuley.
CLAYTON FREDERICKS: age 40, Wiltshire, England.
3rd—2008 Fontainebleau (France) CIC***; 1st—2007 Rolex Kentucky CCI****; individual silver and team bronze—2006 World Equestrian Games (Germany); 1st—2006 FEI World Cup Final (Sweden).
6. HEADLEY BRITANNIA: ch. m., 15, Thoroughbred-Irish Draught by Jumbo—Alan’s Bambi, owned by Clayton, Pauline and Robert Fredericks.
LUCINDA FREDERICKS: age 42, Wiltshire, England.
1st—2008 Barbury (England) CIC***; 4th—2008 Chatsworth (England) CIC***; 1st—2007 Badminton (England) CCI****; 2nd—2007 Fontainebleau (France) CIC***; 1st—2006 Burghley (England) CCI****.
7. KIRBY PARK IRISH JESTER: gr. g., 15, Irish Sport Horse by Irish Enough—Kirby Park Yellow Empress, owned by Margaret Jones.
MEGAN JONES: age 31, Hahndorf, Australia.
2nd—2008 Sydney (Australia) CCI***; 1st—2008 Tonimbuk (Australia) CIC***; 3rd—2006 Melbourne (Australia) CCI***; 16th individually and team bronze—2006 World Equestrian Games (Germany).
Germany–
8. MR. MEDICOTT: ch. g., 9, Irish Sport Horse by Cruising—Slieveluachra, Edmund Burke.
FRANK OSTHOLT: age 32, Warendorf, Westfalen.
3rd—2008 Aachen (Germany) CICO***; 6th—2008 Luhmühlen (Germany) CIC***; 4th—2008 Marbach (Germany) CIC***; 2nd—2007 Boekelo (the Netherlands) CCI***.
Great Britain–
9. PARKMORE ED: b. g., 15, Irish Sport Horse by Parkmore Night—Bodalmore Lass, owned by Philip Adkin.
WILLIAM FOX-PITT: age 39, Sturminster Newton, Devon.
3rd—2008 Tattersals (England) CIC-W***; 3rd—2008 Chatsworth (England) CIC-W***; 1st —2007 Burghley CCI**** (England), 3rd—2006 Blenheim CCI*** (England).
10. TANKERS TOWN: ch. g., 14, Irish Sport Horse by Diamond Clover—Money Gone West, Bulldozer, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Terry Hunt.
SHARON HUNT: age 30, Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk.
5th—2008 Badminton CCI**** (England); 6th—2008 Belton (England) CIC***; 9th—2006 World Equestrian Games (Germany), 6th—2006 Badminton CCI**** (England).
11. CALL AGAIN CAVALIER: b. g., 16, Irish Sport Horse by Cavalier Royale—My Woodland’s Lady VII, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Davies and Janette Chinn.
MARY KING: age 46, Sidmouth, Devon.
3rd—2008 Burnham Market (England) CIC-W***; individual silver and team gold—2007 European Championships (Italy); 4th—2006 Burghley (England) CCI****.
12. SPRING ALONG: b. g., 15, Irish Sport Horse by Pallas Digion—Miss Buck, Master Buck, owned by Caroline Dick and rider.
DAISY DICK: age 36, Reading, Berkshire.
7th individually and team gold—2007 European Championships (Italy); 8th—2007 Barbury Castle (England) CIC***; 8th—2006 Badminton (England) CCI****.
Ireland–
13. KILKISHEN: b. g., 12, Irish Sport Horse by Cavalier Royale, owned by the Minister for Defence.
1st—2008 Tattersalls (Ireland) CIC***-W; 10th—2008 Burnham Market (England) CIC***-W; 13th—2007 Barbury Castle (England) CIC***; 15th—2006 FEI World Cup Final (Sweden).
14. BALLADEER ALFRED: gr. g., 12, Irish Sport Horse by Edmund Burke—Teadies Girl, Bassompierre, owned by the Minister for Defence and Maurice Cassidy.
CAPT. GEOFF CURRAN: age 28, Waterford.
15. LORGAINE: ch. g., 13, Irish Sport Horse by Ballinvella, owned by the Griffin Hotel Group and rider.
NIALL GRIFFIN: age 31, Wexford.
13th—2008 Fontainebleau (France) CIC***-W; 4th—2007 Pau (France) CCI****; 31st—2006 Barbury Castle (England) CIC***; competed—2004 Athens Olympic Games.
16. WATERSHIP DOWN: b. g., 11, Irish Sport Horse by Andretti—Blonde, Santa’s Sleigh, owned by Pip and Laurie March and rider.
LOUISE LYONS: age 32, Suffolk.
10th—2008 Chatsworth (England) CIC***-W; 20th—2007 European Championships (Italy); 12th —2007 Gatcombe (England) CIC***.
17. FERNHILL CLOVER MIST: b. g., 12, Irish Sport Horse by Kiltealy Spring—Clover Mist, Clover Hill, owned by Tom and Carol Henry and Sheila Foley.
PATRICIA RYAN: age 34, Bandon, County Cork.
5th—2008 Tattersalls (Ireland) CIC***-W; 10th—2008 Barroca d’Alva (Portugal) CIC***; 8th—2007 Blair Castle (England) CCI***.
New Zealand–
18. LENAMORE: gr. g., 15, Irish Sport Horse by Sea Crest—Karinella, Valiyar, owned by Lexi and Jane MacKinnon and rider.
CAROLINE POWELL: age 35, Kelso, England.
4th—2008 Badminton (England) CCI****; 2nd—2007 Gatcombe (England) CIC***; 26th—2006 World Champion-ships (Germany); 5th—2005 Burghley (England) CCI****.
19. SNIP: gr. g., 16, Irish Sport Horse by Silent Hunter—Ciranoush, owned by Mamku Stud, Deborah Meyer and rider.
JOE MEYER: age 37, Surrey, England.
7th—2007 Badminton (England) CCI****; 2nd—2007 Barroca d’Alva (Portugal) CIC***; 51st—2006 World Championships (Germany).
20. LORD KILLINGHURST: dk. br. g., 17, Irish Sport Horse by Sulaafah—Killinghurst Girl VII, Maple Duellist, owned by Nickola and Robin Salmon.
ANDREW NICHOLSON: age 47, Herefordshire, England.
2nd—2008 Tattersalls (Ireland) CIC-W***; 4th—2007 Burghley (England) CCI****; 5th—2007 Badminton (England) CCI****; 3rd—2005 Burghley (England) CCI****.
Sweden–
21. WHO’S BLITZ: b. g., 14, Irish Sport Horse by Silver Wonder—Winetown Dozer, Bulldozer, owned by Sally and Carl Hanson and rider.
17th—2007 Badminton (England) CCI****; 19th—2006 Bad-minton (England) CCI****; 13th—2006 Burnham Market (England) CIC***-W; 14th—2006 World Equestrian Games (Germany).
22. TUBBER REBEL: gr. g., 8, Irish Sport Horse by Rich Rebel—Killea Lady, owned by Sally and Carl Hanson and rider.
12th—2008 Saumur (France) CCI***; 24th—2008 Belton (England) CIC***; 23rd—2006 World Championships for Young Event Horses (France).
DAG ALBERT: age 48, Lichfield, England.
Austria–
23. MISS FERRARI: dk. b. m., 13, Irish-bred by Katies Pride—Delta, owned by Gerhard Ambros.
10th—2008 Aachen (Germany) CICO***; 18th—2007 Badminton (England) CCI****; 2nd—2007 Ravenna (Italy) CIC***; competed—2004 Athens Olympic Games.
China–
24. MAGENTA: gr. m., 9, Irish Sport Horse by Supreme Edge—Amber Dawn, owned by Jiang Fengcan.
ALEX HUA TIAN: age 18, West Sussex, England.