Around 1 800 Volunteers will be recruited by the Equestrian Company to help make the Olympic Equestrian and Paralympic Events in August and September 2008 respectively in Hong Kong a smooth operation.

At a Press Conference to kick off recruitment of the Volunteers today (November 23), Chief Executive Officer of the Equestrian Company, Mr Lam Woon-kwong, said the objective of the Volunteers Programme was to encourage and provide opportunity for the community to participate in and contribute to the Equestrian Events.

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The role of the Volunteers is to complement the work of the full- and part-time staff. Their prime duties are to assist athletes, working staff, spectators, guests and other visitors in 2008 and in August next year, when the Test Event will be staged.

Mr Lam said the Volunteers would undergo various types of training which included residential, weekend and evening training as well as on-site practice.

Applicants can be persons of all nationalities who have the right to enter and stay in Hong Kong during the training and service periods.

Residential training would be done over long holidays so as not to disrupt the Volunteers' normal work.

While recruitment would be done in stages, Mr Lam said, the first 90 to 100 Volunteers would be trained as leaders to help train the others.

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