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"Come On! Games On! Join us at the third Hong Kong Games!" This exciting biennial event was officially launched today (February 25) at the 18 Districts' Pledging Ceremony held in Kowloon Park Arcade, Tsim Sha Tsui.
A 30-second promotional video, to be broadcast on TV from tonight to appeal for public support for this major local sports event, was also premiered at the ceremony.
Officiating at the ceremony, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, said the Government has all along attached great importance to the promotion of a sports culture in the community, and the Hong Kong Games (HKG) was a highlight of Sport for All.
Mr Tsang called on members of the public to support the third HKG, saying that apart from competing in the Games, they could also cheer for the athletes at the events or join related community activities to help promote sport development in Hong Kong.
He added that in addition to providing precious opportunities for athletes to demonstrate their skills and compete with fellow athletes, the HKG also enhance communication among various districts, promote the concept of Sport for All and strengthen community spirit.
The third HKG, to be staged between May 14 and June 5, has a much larger scale than the last two Games with more competition events, more athletes participating and a greater variety of public participation activities. The number of sports events has been increased to eight by adding futsal and volleyball to the six sports of athletics, badminton, basketball, table tennis, swimming and tennis held in the last Games. Additionally, the number of athletes has soared almost 30% from 2,300 for the second HKG to over 3,000 for the Games this year.
There will be prizes for overall champion, first runner-up and second runner-up in each of the eight sports competitions. These prizes will go to the three districts which accumulate the highest total scores in all eight competitions.
To nurture district participation and a competitive atmosphere, a new "District with the Most Gold Medals" prize has been introduced this year to commend the district which wins most gold medals. The district which makes best progress in the third HKG compared to its performance in the last Games will be awarded the new "District with the Best Progress" prize.
For the first time, the Organising Committee for the HKG has appointed ten elite athletes, namely Wong Kam-po (cycling), Fu Ka-chun (cue sport), Tsui Chi-ho (athletics), Yip Pui-yin (badminton), Cheng Kam-hing (basketball), Chan Siu-ki (futsal), Sze Hang-yu (swimming), Ko Lai-chak (table tennis), Yang Zijun (tennis) and Hui Pui-tak (volleyball), as third HKG Sports Ambassadors and they will help promote and publicise the Games. Eight of them also will represent the corresponding sports events in the third HKG. Mr Tsang presented certificates of appointment to the Ambassadors at the ceremony today.
Speaking at the pledging ceremony, the Chairman of the third HKG Organising Committee, Mr Chau How-chen, said the Committee would step up training activities for the athletes, making them better prepared for competition.
He said each District Council would soon rally the community groups, schools and public to offer support for their athletes and to organise community activities for the Games.
The third HKG is organised by the Sports Commission and co-ordinated by the Community Sports Committee, while the 18 District Councils, the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF & OC), relevant National Sports Associations and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) are co-organisers. The Hong Kong Jockey Club is the "Principal Contributor", while the Yuen Yuen Institute is the "Major Sponsor" for the event.
The Games will proceed with a series of activities to solicit public support and involvement. These include a large-scale opening ceremony, a closing-cum-prize presentation ceremony, elite athletes' demonstrations and exchanges, a cheering team competition among the 18 districts, as well as the voting for "My Favourite Sporty District", guessing the "Overall Champion of the third HKG" competitions, the "Dynamic Moments Photo Contest" and the "District with the Greatest Participation in the 3rd HKG" prize.
Various publicity activities will be launched shortly, including the erection of banners and posters in various locations throughout the territory, broadcasting the 30-second promotional video at the venues of the LCSD, on buses and MTR trains, placing advertisements in newspapers and in MTR stations, and displaying posters on billboards at both entrances of the cross-harbour tunnel.
Also officiating at today's ceremony were the President of the SF & OC, Mr Timothy Fok; the Honorary President of the third HKG Organising Committee, Mr Ip Kwok-him; Chairman of the Community Sports Committee, Mr William Tong; and the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mrs Betty Fung. Representatives of the 18 District Councils and relevant National Sports Associations also attended to show their support.
Details of the third HKG and various community activities are available at the dedicated homepage hongkonggames.lcsd.gov.hk.
Ends/Friday, February 25, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:38
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