Storm delays flights carrying horses to Hong Kong before Olympic equestrian competition

By MIN LEE, Associated Press

Last update: August 6, 2008 - 5:06 PM

HONG KONG - Two dozen horses due to arrive in Hong Kong by plane Wednesday for the Olympic equestrian competition have been delayed by a severe tropical storm.

Equestrian event spokesman Mark Pinkstone said he didn't expect the bad weather to affect the Olympic competition, which starts Saturday, as wet conditions are common at equestrian contests.

Organizers said in a statement that 14 of the 24 show jumping horses never left Amsterdam, where all horses must be shipped for a nine-day pre-competition quarantine, and the remaining 10 were on a flight that stopped in Dubai.

The horses stranded in Amsterdam are from China, the United States and the United Arab Emirates. The horses in Dubai are from Australia and Saudi Arabia.

"They'll come in as soon as the weather clears," Pinkstone said, adding a final batch of horses were scheduled to arrive Thursday.

The wet weather also closed outdoor training facilities for the competition.

Severe tropical storm Kammuri was about 81 miles (130 kilometers) south-southwest of Hong Kong late Wednesday morning, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds to the territory, shutting offices, courts and financial markets.

Kammuri is expect to move west-northwest and be well west of Hong Kong by Thursday morning, according to a Hong Kong Observatory forecast.

Pinkstone said Olympic organizers expect rainfall to continue for the next few days, but that it was no cause for concern.

"Under normal circumstances, if it's raining, anywhere, the equestrian sport continues," he said, adding that the drainage systems at the competition venues were tested by worse weather conditions during an exhibition competition last year.