EI dampens Olympic hopes

Equestrian events are still suspended in areas which have been affected by the devastating Equine Influenza virus, severely disrupting Australia's planning for next year's Beijing Olympics.

KERRY O'BRIEN: An important milestone in the long awaited recovery from equine flu was reached on the weekend, when horse racing resumed in both Sydney and Brisbane.

It's a big step back for the thoroughbred industry, since the virus swept through parts of New South Wales and Queensland in August, leaving some of the nations' top racehorses and stallions stranded in quarantine.
But most other equestrian events are still suspended in effected areas, imposing further hardships on tens of thousands of people. And it's severely disrupting Australia's preparations for next year's Beijing Olympics, with some of the top horses trapped in contaminated zones and missing vital competition.

Paul Lockyer reports.
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