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| No.3 June, 2009 |
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Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games: 200 Days To Go! |
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 The 200-day countdown has begun for the 2009 East Asian Games (EAG), to be held in Hong Kong from December 5-13. More than 3,000 athletes from nine countries will compete in the biggest ever EAG – the largest sporting event to ever be held in Hong Kong.
A record 281 gold medals will be up for grabs, with the best athletes from China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macao, Mongolia, Chinese Taipei and Guam taking part. The record 23 featured sports include seven making their debut, with more than 1,700 competition events at 21 venues. More than 200,000 spectators are expected to attend. |
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Hong Kong makes a natural host for this great regional event, with its prime location at the heart of East Asia, its great infrastructure and connectivity, world-class hotels, hospitality and cuisine. |
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As Asia's sports hub, the city is home to exciting annual events such as the Hong Kong Sevens (rugby), Hong Kong Marathon, Hong Kong Open Championship (golf), Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes, Hong Kong World Grand Prix (volleyball), the International Tennis Champions Challenge and the International Dragon Boat Races. In 2008, Hong Kong staged the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events as co-host of the Beijing Olympics. |
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Hong Kong is able to field its own team at the EAG because of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle enshrined in the Basic Law – the city's mini-constitution. At the last EAG in Macao in 2005, Hong Kong's athletes won 13 medals. |
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The city celebrated the countdown with the launch on May 19 of a new 6-hectare sports complex at Tseung Kwan O – the main venue for the track and field events - and the unveiling on May 20 of a handprint wall in Kowloon Park, featuring handprints from representatives of the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), organisers and EAG sponsors and volunteers. Altogether, the Hong Kong Government is investing more than HK$1.2 billion (US$153 million) to build or upgrade sporting facilities. |
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Hong Kong is gearing up to welcome athletes and visitors from around the world. The Home Affairs Bureau and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department are working closely with the NOCs and 2009 East Asian Games (Hong Kong) Limited to ensure arrangements will be as smooth as possible. As athletes step up their training, 5,000 games volunteers recruited to help are also undergoing preparation. Colourful banners carrying the Games' slogan, ‘Be The Legend’, and images of the twin mascots, Dony and Ami, already line Hong Kong’s busy streets, while the official EAG promotional video and theme song are regularly broadcast. |
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Ticketing arrangements will be announced in August. Find out more at: www.2009eastasiangames.hk |
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