Mainad

It does seem to make a mockery of the IOC's avowed aim to put the interests of the athletes above all! I wonder what the reaction of the Athletes Commission (headed by Sergei Bubka?) has been to all this and how has Rogge managed to explain this decision to them??

"Hong Kong’s Health, Food and Welfare Secretary, York Chow, told a press conference that in the event of a bird flu outbreak, equestrian events being held in Hong Kong as part of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games could be cancelled." Where could they be held? Would Stockholm be prepared to help out again,like they did for Melbourne in 1956? Seems questions about a possible outbreak are now being asked by the Chinese themselves,not just in this forum?

On the face of it,I think Seoul would be most appropriate to step in as it would be keeping the games in Asia.But as it will be 20 years since Seoul last staged them,I wonder if the venues and facilities would all be up to scratch in time for a re-run? Plus,a massive bird-flu epidemic would most likely affect closely neighbouring Korea as much as China! That being the case I would opt for Sydney to step in as they would not be QUITE so recent as Athens,would probably still have all the venues and facilities available after just eight years,and the 2000 Games left such a pleasant memory for most people,especially the IOC.And Australia is situated far enough away from everybody else so it is the most likely to be free from any infection!