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The ceremony to launch the 4th Hong Kong Games (HKG) was held today (June 11) at the Arcade of Kowloon Park, Tsim Sha Tsui, with the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, as one of the officiating guests. The 18 districts will start selecting athletes in the middle of this month, signifying the rolling out of this major biennial sports event that has "Let's have fun in the Games!" as its slogan this year.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Tsang said that the number of sports events and athletes taking part in the Games had been increasing since it was first launched in 2007, showing that the HKG is gaining wider support in the community.
He added that an array of public participation activities will be organised to offer various ways for people to join the HKG. He called on members of the public to sign up and have fun in the Games together.
Mr Tsang presented certificates of appointment to eight 4th HKG Sports Ambassadors at the ceremony. Taking up this meaningful task, these ambassadors will represent the eight sports in the Games. The eight ambassadors are Ng Ka-fung (athletics), Wong Wing-ki (badminton), Lee Ki (basketball), Yip Tsz-chun (futsal), Wong Kai-wai (swimming), Li Ching (table tennis), Yeung Pak-long (tennis) and Lam Ka-ching (volleyball). They will assist in promoting and publicising the Games.
A thematic publicity video for broadcast at Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) sports venues and on the televisions in MTR train compartments and buses was premiered at the ceremony. A dedicated webpage, including a new simulated torch relay game, was also launched. Players who manage to finish the online game within the prescribed time with the highest score can download a commemorative certificate from the site.
The Chairman of the 4th HKG Organising Committee, Mr William Tong, also an officiating guest at the ceremony, said that publicity would be stepped up for the athlete recruitment drive at district and community levels. Various means will be explored to spread information on the Games, and a series of community activities to solicit public support will be arranged, including elite athletes' demonstrations and exchanges, talks, online games, a cheering team competition for the 18 districts, the Dynamic Moments Photo Contest, voting for the My Favourite Sporty District competition, and the guessing competition Overall Champion of the 4th HKG.
Held every two years, the HKG is a territory-wide major multi-sport event organised by the Sports Commission and co-ordinated by the Community Sports Committee, with the 18 District Councils (DCs), the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC), relevant National Sports Associations and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department as co-organisers. With the 18 districts as participating units, the HKG aims at providing chances for sports enthusiasts to come together and compete with each other on behalf of the districts they live in, thereby developing their potential in sports and strengthening their sense of belonging to their districts.
The HKG was first launched in 2007 and the 4th HKG will be held between April 27 and June 2, 2013. The number of athletes participating in the HKG has seen a continuous increase, from some 1 200 in the 1st HKG to the 2 300-odd in the 2nd HKG to over 3 000 in the 3rd HKG. The number of sports has also increased substantially from four in the 1st HKG to eight in the 3rd HKG. As with the last Games, the 4th HKG will have eight sports competitions, namely athletics, badminton, basketball, futsal, swimming, table tennis, tennis and volleyball.
There will be prizes for the overall champion, first runner-up and second runner-up in each of the sports competitions. The three districts accumulating the highest total scores from all the eight competitions will be awarded the overall champion, first runner-up and second runner-up prizes. Yuen Long District was the overall champion for both the 2nd HKG and the 3rd HKG while the overall champion for the 1st HKG was Kwai Tsing District.
In addition, there will be prizes for District with the Most Gold Medals, District with the Greatest Participation and District with the Best Progress.
Also attending today's ceremony were the President of the SF&OC, Mr Timothy Fok; Legislative Councillor Mr Ip Kwok-him; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mrs Betty Fung; the Executive Advisor of the Organising Committee, Mr Chau How-chen; and Chairmen and representatives of the 18 DCs and representatives of the related National Sports Associations.
All 18 districts will start recruiting athletes for the Games soon. Sports lovers are encouraged to enrol for the districts they live in.
Information about athlete selection and details of the Games are available on the 4th HKG's webpage (hongkonggames.hk). Enquiries can be made at 2601 7671.
Ends/Monday, June 11, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:03
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