HKIA Welcomes the Beijing Olympic Flame

(HONG KONG, 30 April 2008) — The aircraft carrying the Beijing Olympic Flame arrives at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) at 1353 hrs today. As the official airport for the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events, HKIA designated an aircraft parking space to facilitate the welcome reception of the Olympic Flame. 

To support the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay in Hong Kong, Airport Authority frontline staff and airport ambassadors will dress in red or wear the Olympic slogan stickers on Friday, 2 May 2008. Other staff members are also encouraged to follow.

Stanley Hui, Chief Executive Officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong, said, “HKIA is proud to contribute to the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Equestrian Events. We have made a range of special hospitality and passenger flow arrangements to ensure a warm welcome for everyone coming to Hong Kong for the Games.”

Thousands of Olympic and Paralympic delegates, athletes and spectators will visit Hong Kong this summer. The Airport Authority is working closely with the Home Affairs Bureau, the Equestrian Company and the Hong Kong Tourism Board to provide a memorable experience for these guests and other travellers using HKIA during the Games.

To welcome our honourable guests, we will help the Equestrian Company to set up hospitality desks and an accreditation centre on the arrivals level of Terminal 1. An electronic link will ensure the Equestrian Company has access to the latest flight information.

Special immigration and customs channels will be provided for Olympic and Paralympic delegates. Designated car park spaces, as well as transport rendezvous points and helpdesks, will also be available.

Promotions and other activities have been planned to heighten the Olympic spirit at HKIA. These include a decoration campaign, where welcome banners, icons and images of Fuwa, the official mascots of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, will be installed throughout the airport.

To add to the atmosphere, an HKIA interactive sports arena, complete with equestrian displays and a giant Fuwa photo backdrop, will be installed at the airport. Travellers will be able to watch live broadcasts of Olympic events and an Olympic-themed sales promotion will be conducted with VISA, the Worldwide Olympic Sponsor, in July and August.