Hong Kong Olympic Piazza opens

HONG KONG, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong Olympic Piazza at Tsim Sha Tsui, one of Hong Kong's most famous scenic spots, opened here Friday night.

The Olympic Piazza, located outside the Hong Kong Cultural Center on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, will be open until August 24 to get the city into the spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

People will be able to watch live broadcasts of Olympic sports events on giant screens there during the Games. A 103-inch plasma television, which is the world's largest, and a number of 50-inch television screens will broadcast Olympic events live, and the facade of Hong Kong Cultural Center has been turned into a 22-meterprojection screen for competitions broadcasting.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Olympic Piazza, Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang said that Hong Kong is honored and proud to co-host the Olympic Equestrian Events and be part of the Olympic history.

"After three years of vigorous preparation, we are ready," he said, "As we enter the final count-down, we are feeling the heat of the Olympic atmosphere."

"The activities and setting up of this Piazza create a wonderful Olympic ambiance for the enjoyment of tourists and local residents," he added.

There are various Olympic-themed decorations, providing tourists with backdrops for photos, which include the Olympic Torch, medal-winning Fuwa lantern display, medal presentation podium, and lighting trail.

The piazza features a mock-up of Beijing's iconic "Water Cube" aquatics center, which is 18 meters long, 8 meters wide and 5 meters high. It will feature a spectacular light show every night.

On every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, there will be parades featuring local student performances that showcase Hong Kong's vibrancy and traditional Chinese culture.

The piazza is equipped with a range of facilities and displays, including Olympic information kiosks, exhibition and e-books about the Olympic Equestrian Events. The piazza also exhibits life-sized model horses, while three life-sized colorful horse statues designed by local students are displayed in Hong Kong for the first time.