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Delegates from nine member places of the East Asian Games Association (EAGA) who attended the 22nd EAGA Council Meeting in Hong Kong today (June 17) shared community enthusiasm for the 2009 EAG by attending a series of EAG-related functions.
The EAGA Council Meeting was the first in Hong Kong since Hong Kong took over the hosting right of the 2009 EAG.
Delegates were briefed by representatives of the 5th EAG Planning Committee (EAGPC) on the progress of preparations for the 2009 Games. The EAGA Council will meet annually in Hong Kong through to 2009.
Delegates this afternoon attended the ground-breaking ceremony of Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground which, with its international standard athletics facilities, will be used as the venue for track and field events in 2009.
Officiating guests included the Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho; Chairman of the 5th EAGPC, Mr Timothy Fok; Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Anissa Wong; Director of Architectural Services, Mr Yue Chi-hang; Chairman of Sai Kung District Council, Mr Ng Sze-fuk, as well as Vice-President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, Mr Cai Zhenhua, and women’s 10,000-metres gold medallist at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, Xing Huina, who both came to Hong Kong specially to convey Beijing’s support for the 2009 Games.
In the evening, the EAGA Council delegates joined Mr Fok and Ms Wong at a ceremony to present prizes to the winners of the 2009 East Asian Games Slogan Competition. They witnessed the adoption of the winning entry “Be the Legend” as the official slogan of the Games.
Delegates later attended a Welcome Dinner hosted by Dr Ho during which Acting Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Michael Suen, accepted sponsorship cheques from Games donors. This brought the amount of cash sponsorship received so far to $26 million.
Ends/Saturday, June 17, 2006
Issued at HKT 20:21
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