Jackie Chan promotes Olympic equestrian event

Hong Kong action movie star Jackie Chan adjusts his hat during the filming of an advertisement for the Hong Kong Tourism Board to promote the Olympic equestrian event to be held in Hong Kong February 11, 2008. [Agencies]

Chan's video, shot Monday, highlights efforts to promote one of the Olympics' more low-profile events.

A rash of equine diseases and substandard quarantine procedures in China forced Beijing to hand the equestrian events to Hong Kong, which has a well-established racing circuit but few facilities for dressage and show-jumping events.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club, which controls horse racing in the former British colony, has spent about $100 million on upgrading existing venues and building new ones for the Olympic equestrian competition, which will take place Aug. 9 to Aug. 20.

In other promotional efforts for the Beijing Olympics, Chan also recorded the event's official one-year countdown song, "We Are Ready."