HONG KONG (AP) – Olympic organizers say a severe tropical storm has delayed two flights carrying 24 horses to Hong Kong for the games’ equestrian competition.

The Olympic equestrian competition starts Saturday.

Mark Pinkstone, a spokesman for the event, said organizers expect rainfall to continue the next few days, but the bad weather won’t affect the contest.

Pinkstone said equestrian competitions usually continue on in wet weather and that drainage systems at the Hong Kong venues were tested in worse conditions during an exhibition last year.