The Observatory lends support to Guangzhou's Asian Games

19 November 2010

Following the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the 2009 Hong Kong East Asian Games and the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games, the Hong Kong Observatory renders support again to another important international sports event - the 16th Guangzhou Asian Games. Specialized meteorological services and assistance in setting up a "Heat Stress Monitoring System" were provided in support of the Sailing and Equestrian Events.

The Sailing Events were scheduled to be held in Shanwei (a co-host city) from 14 to 20 November. The specialized meteorological services provided to the Hong Kong Windsurfing Team by the Observatory included climatological study for Shanwei, hourly updated high-resolution computer forecasts, as well as detailed venue-specific weather forecasts during the event period. All data were uploaded to a website dedicated to the Windsurfing Team so that the athletes on the spot could have instant access to the most updated weather information for timely adjustment of racing tactics.

To support their meteorological service for the Equestrian Events of the Asian Games, the Guangdong Meteorological Bureau (GMB) has adopted the Observatory's in-house built "Heat Stress Monitoring System". Apart from real-time monitoring of heat stress index on site, the system also provides useful data for preparing in-situ weather forecast. At the invitation of GMB, Mr. LEE Kwok-lun, Scientific Officer of the Observatory, visited the Equestrian Venue of the Asian Games to share his equestrian forecasting experience with the local forecasters.

Figure 1 - The weather forecast specific to the windsurfing race area in Shanwei disseminated by the Observatory can be accessed using computer or smart phone through a dedicated web site.

Figure 2 -Mr LEE Kwok-lun (on the right), Scientific Officer of the Observatory, sharing with Miss XIONG Yali (on the left), Deputy Director of Business of the Guangzhou Meteorological Bureau, on the use of heat stress index at the Guangzhou Equestrian Venue in Conghua.

Figure 3 Mr LEE Kwok-lun in ardent discussion and idea exchange with the duty officers at the Equestrian Meteorological Service Office at Conghua

Figure 3 - Mr LEE Kwok-lun in discussion with the local forecasters about providing weather forecast for Equestrian Events at the Equestrian Meteorological Service Office in Conghua.