Following Canada's Equestrian Team

Eventing Hitting the Mainstream!

Can’t tell you how nice it is to see something other than showjumping getting some mainstream media attention. Don’t get me wrong, any equestrian is better than no equestrian, but it’s sometimes hard for other disciplines to get out from Showjumping’s very large shadow.

The Ottawa Citizen newspaper has now run 2 articles on Eventing Olympic Team members Selena O’Hanlon and her horse Columbo. You can read the article here. It’s quite an interesting and ‘feel good underdog’ story about how the 14-year-old horse, after going through two leg surgeries, was meant to be sold as a low-level Event horse. Instead, Selena with help from her mom Morag (herself and accomplished rider), nursed the Swedish warmblood back to health and is now ready to tackle the biggest event in the sport: The Olympics.

Does tons of press = flagbearer?

Ian Millar

Canada’s showjumping legend Ian Millar is certainly getting tons of press this past week. With the Canadian Olympic Committee making the announcement on who is Canada’s flagbearer at these Games, let’s hope it’s an omen! (read people’s comments about who the flagbearer should be by clicking here)

CBC’s Olympic tv program, Countdown to Beijing, this week featured quite a touching profile on Ian Millar. Ian talks about his participation in 8 previous Olymic Games (9 if you count the boycotted Games in 1980) as well as the loss of his biggest fan & supporter, his wife Lynn Millar.

You can see the video clip on CBC’s website at: www.cbc.ca/olympics/countdown

The Globe & Mail features an article profiling Captain Canada. Ian talks about his experience at past Olympic Games, and why he is still hungry for success after all these year.

FEI Launches New Olympic Website

The FEI has recently launched a new all-Olympic website: www.fei.org/olympics

It boasts information on current competitors in Hong Kong, Photo Gallery, historical stats of past Olympics and schedules for this edition of the Games

And it promises LIVE online results for every competitor while the action is taking place. That will be a huge bonus for those eagerly tracking the outcome of the various events.

Don’t Forget the Small Stuff

Today I called Visa to let them know that I’d be in Hong Kong for the month of August. I also played it safe and called the Bank as well so that there wouldn’t be a hold put on my banking card when all of a sudden they see purchases/withdrawals being made from halfway across the world. For anyone who will be travelling to watch the Games, I highly recommend doing this. The last thing you want is to be far away from home and having your credit card declined at the hotel or at a restaurant! Plus I’ve heard there are fabulous shopping opportunities. My friend Sheila is doing her best to educate me on Gucci, Dolce & Cabana, etc. so that I know a good knock-off when I see it.  Anyone who knows me knows that I hate shopping….unless it’s for a big screen tv or the latest & greatest electronic gadget on the market. Speaking of which, I’m looking forward to seeing the electronic gadgets they do have in Hong Kong! Maybe I can get some funky new accessories for my iPhone 🙂

$26 for a sandwich??

It struck me that I should get some kind of an idea on what things cost in Hong Kong: a bottle of water, a taxi ride, or picking up something to eat. With $1 Canadian dollar = $7.75 Hong Kong dollars, it makes it hard to understand if paying $26 HK for a sandwich at Starbucks is a good deal, or something you’d pay in Bladerunner! Good news is that $26 HK is about $4 Canadian, so my heart attack can be avoided. Here’s a great site Al found for me which gives you an idea on what pricing is like in Hong Kong. http://www.geoexpat.com/features/9.html

Can you spot Rutger Hauer?

Speaking of Bladerunner, check out this picture!
You can see the super size version at http://www.wikiupload.com/images/travel.php

Now if someone could guarantee for me that Harrison Ford will be there, I’ll be a very happy person! What’s interesting is that most of the signs include English, including the words on the road that say “Bus Lane”.