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Hong Kong is gearing up for the final phase of meticulous preparation for hosting the Fifth East Asian Games to be held from December 5 to 13.
This was stated by the Principal Representative of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Mrs Jennie Chok, at the "Hong Kong Gearing Up to 2009 East Asian Games" Reception in Seoul this evening (September 8).
The reception was attended by about 150 government officials, athletes, coaches and representatives of the Korean Olympic Committee and related sports associations.
Mrs Chok said that to ensure the success of the Games, the HKSAR Government had invested an equivalent of about 190 billion won to build new sports facilities and upgrade existing ones.
Noting that Hong Kong had held torch-relay and major promotional events to mark the 100-day countdown of the East Asian Games just 10 days ago, she said this year's EAG would be the largest ever held, in terms of the number of sports being contested, the number of competitions organised and the number of medals to be won.
"There will be six new sports, rugby sevens, windsurfing, cycling, table tennis, squash and cue sports that add to the old favourites to make up a total of 22 sports being contested," she said.
"All together, there will be 262 gold medals to compete for, by an estimated 3,000 athletes from the nine participating countries and regions", she said.
To add more attraction to the event, Mrs Chok said the opening ceremony would be held in a harbour setting with a boat parade representing the nine participating countries or regions, and with spectacular fireworks display.
Also speaking at the reception, the President of the Korea Sports Council, Mr Park Yong-sung, called on the Korean sports community to help make the East Asian Games a success.
At the reception, a representative from the East Asian Games Company was invited to give a presentation on detailed logistical arrangements for participating athletes and sports officials.
Republic of Korea, which hosted the second East Asian Games in Pusan in 1997, is one of the nine participating countries and regions.
Ends/Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:00
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