Britain's Zara Phillips has complained conditions will be too hot when she attempts to win equestrian gold at next year's Beijing Olympics.
The 26-year-old royal will have to compete in sweltering heat at the games and has hit out at the International Olympic Committee for their choice of host country.
She told Britain's Daily Express newspaper, "Why do they pick these places? It's the same for the athletes as well. I mean why do they do it? The hottest, most humid conditions I have competed in was Italy for the European Championships a few weeks ago. We don't get that heat or humidity in Europe."
The Olympic horse-riding events are being staged in Hong Kong rather than Beijing because it does not suffer as badly from air pollution.
However, the heat and humidity will still be so stifling that Zara's horse Toytown must be provided with a special air conditioned stable.
Zara will follow in the footsteps of her mother, Princess Anne, who rode at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
As the reigning individual eventing world champion Zara is strongly fancied to win Olympic gold.
She will also have the chance for a double victory as part of Britain's eventing team at the games.
The team recently picked up silver at the European Championships in Italy, but Zara failed to retain her individual title when Toytown refused a jump on her final run.
Britain's equestrian team will not be officially named until next year.
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