Hong Kong's legacy plan upon the Olympic equestrian in 2008 deeply impressed the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said an IOC senior official on Tuesday.

Hong Kong had defined a impressive legacy plan in which those temporary venues could be well reused after the Games, said IOC coordination commission chairman Hein Verbruggen after an IOC delegation paid their first visit to Hong Kong on Tuesday with a brief inspection at the territory's preparation since the equestrian event was officially announced last July to be held here.

"Hong Kong had a very good plan of post-Olympic legacy value, "said Verbruggen.

"And also I believe Hong Kong's training center for elite athletes will got an upgrade after the Games."

Verbruggen said he was pleased to see that preparations for the Olympic equestrian had got off a good start.

"It's my first time here to see the equestrian venues for the 2008 Olympics. I'm very happy with what I saw. I think it's a good start, " said Verbruggen.

The delegation toured the Hong Kong Jockey Club's equine hospital and racing laboratory, as well as the Beas River Country club and Hong Kong golf club, where the competition will be staged.

After viewing the progress of the venue preparation the IOC group will hand a inspection report to IOC and the Federation of Equestrian International.

(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2005)