When competitors of Olympic equestrian events ride their horses to clear obstacles one after another, Hong Kong spectators were also on the move, delightfully.
Without fixed stands, the spectators took Monday's cross-country event as a chance to hike Beas River, an equestrian arena that was rebuilt from a golf course.
The competition attracted more than 10,000 people to the arena, according to the Olympic Equestrian Company of Hong Kong.
A drizzle fell during morning's competition, keeping away the iconic summer heat in Hong Kong and offering extra fun for the spectators.
"It's not hard at all. (Trekking in the arena) is just like hiking a hill or paying an expedition in the countryside," said a woman surnamed Ching when she was having a light lunch with her big family.
The seven of them burst into laughter from time to time as they watched the game and spent some leisure time under the big red tents, which were set up as resting places for the viewers.
Local spectator Chow Kai Ching went to Beas River along with her husband and two little sons. The family all put on red T-shirts with the same design to show support for China. Her five-year-old son Cheng Wing Yan said it was interesting to see horses galloping by so closely.
Other more keen spectators chose to flock to what they consider challenging obstacles and wait for competitors to come and perform the eye-delightful riding. Whenever the competitors overcome the obstacles successfully, the spectators would applause and cheer for them lavishly.
Etherington-Smith, the British course designer for the Beas River, built the obstacles of the course in fashion of symbolic Chinese signs, such as dragons, chopsticks and the Great Wall, to which most spectators gave the thumbs up.
"I think the Chinese style decorations and fences are wonderful," said Joane Peet from Australia who is also fond of riding and came to Hong Kong to support her country's team in the Olympic Games.
Most of the spectators showed regrets for Hua Tian, the famed Chinese rider who fell from the horse and got eliminated on Monday morning when he was trying to clear an obstacle.
He needs to be more experienced to get better results next time,said one of the spectators.
(Xinhua News Agency August 11, 2008)