The United States will have a well prepared team of 12 athletes competing in the Equestrian Events of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

“Our equestrian experts have made several visits to look over all aspects of the competition venues and facilities in Hong Kong, and our riders will be ready to do their best,” said Mr William Irving, a US Olympic Committee official.

The responsibilities of Mr Irving, Associate Director for International Games, will include the Equestrian Events here and the Sailing events in Qingdao.

He and a fellow USOC official, Ms Rebecca Crawford, were  visiting Hong Kong after spending several days in Beijing and Qingdao to inspect the Games venues there.

The USA has already qualified in all three Equestrian disciplines for the Olympics, and will be selecting a strong team which is likely to include some riders who competed in the Athens 2004 Games. There the USA team won five medals: one gold, two silvers and two bronzes.

“We always strive to do better and there obviously is going to be tough competition at the Games, as there always is, but we hope to at least repeat what we did in Athens,” Mr Irving said.

Of the increasingly keen competition, he said: “I think that moving through the Games, every four years, you are talking about a different type of athlete. Once some athletes could cross different disciplines but now athletes are discipline-specific.”

Ms Crawford, who will be with the Para-Equestrian team, commented: “The other thing that I think is happening, and it’s not just in Equestrian sport, is that every country is getting more competitive. The standard at almost each Games gets tougher so you have to train better, harder and smarter.

“I agree we are certainly hoping to have a repeat performance from Athens, but I think if you talked to our equestrian team they would say there would be very happy with the number of medals but would like to change the colour!”

Ms Crawford, Director of International Games, said the USA expects to send a team of six riders to the Paralympic events, which she noted have also become much more competitive.

“It is becoming more acceptable for a para-equestrian athlete to be riding and training just like an Olympic athlete would,” Mr Irving said of the rising levels of ability.

Both officials described the Olympic venues and facilities here and on the Mainland as very impressive.

Ms Crawford said: “We are very excited and pleased with the quality of the facilities. We had all of our Olympic team leaders and some of our Olympic coaches in Beijing with us and BOCOG was generous in arranging venue tours. Many of our coaches and team leaders were able to view the venue where they would be competing and we had lots of really good feedback. In general, I would say Beijing has done a fantastic job putting together great venues.”