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Japan will be sending a large delegation of 378 athletes to compete in all 22 sport events in the Fifth East Asian Games (EAG) in Hong Kong.
In her speech today (December 1) at the Inauguration Ceremony of the Japanese Delegation to the Fifth East Asian Games organised by the Japanese Olympic Committee, the Principal Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Mrs Jennie Chok, extended Hong Kong's warm welcome to the delegation.
Noting that the Fifth East Asian Games would begin in Hong Kong in just a few days, Mrs Chok said it would be be the first major international multi-sport event hosted in Hong Kong and the largest EAG ever held so far.
"About 2,300 athletes from nine countries and regions, including Japan, will compete for 262 gold medals across 22 sports," she said.
Mrs Chok said Japan was a country with proven record of great achievement in sport and had won a total of 640 medals during the past four EAGs.
The inauguration ceremony today was attended by about 700 athletes, coaches, government officials, sports association representatives and family members.
Ends/Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:06
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