Friday, March 12, 2010

Asian Games, 3-day Eventing and Jackie Chan

Firstly I must apologise for not updating the last few days but WOW what a slow news week! Usually I can find SOMETHING of interest to fill in the gaps when Jackie falls off the news map - but this week it's just been gossip, gossip and more gossip - which of course I refuse to perpetuate.

But at last something of interest has popped up! I came across this blog entry yesterday which of course piqued my interest with the connection to Jackie....(see the bit in bold)

Alex Hua Tian's blog: aiming for Badminton Horse Trials

11 March, 2010
It is really quite alarming how often I have to write these blogs! It only seems like yesterday that I wrote my first blog of the year but it's now two whole weeks and the season is right on top of me.

In the last two blogs I quickly ran over what's happened over the winter and the couple of small changes since Blenheim last year. Before Tweseldown today, I thought I'd go over the plans and aims for the season. I have already sat down with Jon Pitts, the physical and mental fitness guru, and planned to make plans!

In all seriousness, those that know me know that I can lose focus from time to time. These little sessions help me be far better prepared than I would be otherwise and so more competitive as a result. The secret is that you don't have to be a "professional" to benefit from help like this, whether it is mental or physical. It's is all about the edge.

Season's plans

So my season starts at Tweseldown. Chico, Maggie (Magenta) and Jeans will do the open intermediate and Fiddle the open novice. The first major competition of the year will be Badminton! This will be my first time I will be tackling the biggest, most prestigious and most pant-wetting competition in the world. The plan is to have a crack with both Maggie and Jeans. Each day we get closer we seem to get more and more volunteers to help on cross-country days, I think the last count was six! George Hills is officially the last!

Chico on the other hand will be saved for the World Equestrian Games in September, obviously another enormous date in the calendar! So he will compete at Saumur as his spring three-day (only a three-star in comparison to Badminton's four) then be wrapped up in cotton wool. I think it'll be interesting, as the season develops, to see whether it ends up being Chico or Jeans that I decide to take to the WEG. Jeans gave me the most incredible and awesome feeling at Blenheim (left) last year and he has really come into his own over the winter.

Finally, in November, there's yet another championships, the Asian Games. They will be held at my home city in China, Guang Zhou, and I was honoured to accept the role as Ambassador for the Games (along with the actor Jackie Chan). It is great to have a "new" sport representing the Chinese Asian Games. In fact this year will be the first time China will put forward an eventing team for a championship, a very significant moment indeed. It shows that China is ready for new things. We have always been so strong at table tennis and badminton for so long; people are looking for new sports to support.

New horse needed

There is, however, a small issue to overcome for me to compete. All of my horses are over qualified. Unfortunately, the Asian federation brought out a rule that not only are four- star horses ineligible to compete in a one-star (standard FEI rule) but three-star horses will also be over qualified. So the rush is on to find a suitable one- or two-star horse!

Loving the cardboard

Back at home, we have absolutely loved the recent spell of stunning weather. It is still very chilly in the morning, but it just so nice to have the sun on your face after such a disgusting winter. The horses have also been enjoying going out having stood in for almost three months (the picture at the top shows me bringing Chico in from the field). My groom Mark and I are both paranoid about putting the horses out in the snow and ice and if it wasn't icy it was so wet the fields trashed themselves by just looking at them!

I have to say, we have both been completely converted to a brand new type of bedding we haven't had the opportunity to use before. While moving, we experimented with different types and so my horses have been on everything in a short period. In the end, we've decided cardboard seems to cover all the bases. It's truly dust-free (rather than dust-extracted), incredibly absorbent, odourless and makes a damn comfortable and thick bed. In fact all the horses were lying down sleeping last week, something I have never seen in the past couple of years.

Ecobale is a small and friendly company based near Newmarket and I went up to the factory a couple of months ago and had a quick look around. Michael, who runs the company, explained to me that all the cardboard is recycled and stuff that would have been thrown out due to small defects that stop it being used for packaging. Everything about the bedding is on My Favourite Things on my website.

As well as the announcement of the Asian Games ambassador, a lot of exciting things are happening in China. Riding is becoming more and more popular — taking over from the ubiquitous golf as a topic of conversation. I am amazed every time I go back at the interest and the hype! As well as my H&H blog, I am writing a weekly blog in Chinese for QQ.com, the fifth largest website in the world! The documentary that we all worked very hard on for Chinese Central Television in 2009 has finally come out and a cover page for CCTV-5 magazine with TV star Sun Li (right). Let's just say it's a rare occasion when I have my eyebrows brushed for me!

Hopefully next week I will have some proper competition news!

Alex


SOURCE: HORSE AND HOUND.CO.UK

To read more about this remarkable young man his website is HERE

For more information on the sport of 3-day eventing: WIKIPEDIA

For more information on the Asian Games which will be held in November 2010: OFFICIAL SITE

And some related reports about Jackie as Asian Games Ambassador:

Jackie Chan named Asian Games Promotion Ambassador

Posted on05 June 2009. Tags: Asian Games

Famous international film star Jackie Chan has been named as a Promotion Ambassador for the 16 the Asian Games.

The announcement came at a press conference held by the Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (GAGOC) in Beijing and Mr Chan will help GAGOC promote the of the Games’ brand.

GAGOC Deputy Secretary General Gu Shiyang thanked Jackie Chan for his enthusiastic involvement in the Asian Games and said that Mr Chan’s appointment would help promote the Games’ Vision, passing on the friendship between people in Guangzhou and other parts of Asia and popularising the Games and China in Asia and around the world.

Mr Chan promised to spare no effort in promoting the Games, saying that the title of Asian Games Promotion Ambassador meant not only an honour but also a mission.

Last week Mr Chan was named the first Guangzhou Asian Games Singer.

Source: GAGOC


SOURCE: SPORTSBIZASIA.COM

Jackie Chan joins Asian Games countdown festivities
Updated:2009-11-16 15:47:42 Source: ocasia.org

Guangzhou, China, November 12 - The one-year countdown ceremony to the 16th Asian Games had a touch of showbiz glamour along with the sparkle and glitter of a lavish cultural performance at Guangzhou Gymnasium on Thursday evening.

World-famous pianist Richard Clayderman charmed the audience with "365 Blessings" as part of a performance that included folk song and dance numbers from Hong Kong, Syria, a Bollywood-style "Jai Ho" from India, plus Thailand, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Japan and Korea as well as the host city of the 2010 Asian Games.

When the performers gathered on stage for the grand finale, there was one last treat with the appearance of Jackie Chan, the king of kung fu cinema, to bring the evening to a spectacular and colourful conclusion.

At the start of the ceremony, OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said everyone visiting Guangzhou had witnessed the "excellent preparations" for the 2010 Asiad and added: "I am sure come November 2010 we will all witness an historical Asian Games, and I would like to thank the organisers for preparing the best environment for the success of our Games.

"I look forward to seeing you all in one year's time for the opening ceremony."

Liu Peng, Minister of the General Administration of Sport of China and President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, described it as a "grand ceremony" and said the Asian Games provided the youth of Asia with a stage to display their passion for sport and their determination.

"The Asian Games builds an important bridge between nations, and we hope by organising a brilliant Asian Games we will make a contribution to the Olympic Movement in Asia," said Mr Liu.

The one-year countdown clock to the opening ceremony on November 12, 2010, began at 8pm.

After the cultural performances, representatives of the 45 National Olympic Committees belonging to the Olympic Council of Asia went on stage to receive their official invitations to the Games from Sheikh Ahmad and from Mr Liu.

There was also a special video presentation on the "Road of Asia" promotional tour by land and sea through 37 countries and regions in the OCA, drawing attention to the 16th Asian Games.


SOURCE: ASIAN GAMES SITE

Jackie Attends Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games Songs and Music Ceremony: JACKIE CHAN.COM

One-Year Countdown Ceremony for Guangzhou Asian Games: OFFICIAL ASIAN GAMES SITE (has photos and video)

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