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The 4th Hong Kong Games (HKG) grand opening, attended by over 8,500 audience from 18 districts, was held at Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground tonight (April 27).
The ceremony started at 8pm. The Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, officiated at the ceremony and announced the official kick-off of the Games.
Addressing the audience and athletes at the ceremony, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, said the HKG is the first highlight event of the "Vibrant Hong Kong" theme under the city-wide campaign "Hong Kong: Our Home" launched by the Government earlier this week. Showcasing the vitality and strength of Hong Kong people, the event attracts some 3,000 athletes from 18 districts to compete in over 1,000 contests, vying for the honours on behalf of their districts and fostering social cohesion and community spirit.
Mr Tsang urged members of the public to show up at the competitions to cheer for the athletes. They can also participate in the different community involvement activities so as to share the joy and spirit brought about by the Games.
The Opening Ceremony featured a host of programmes. Performances by 18 district cheering teams started off the pre-show. The various teams displayed the energy and characteristics of their respective districts with choreographed movements, slogans and colourful outfits, cheering for their districts and adding fun before the grand opening.
After the pre-show, the Opening Ceremony was officially launched. Holding a HKG flag aloft, eight elite athletes representing the eight sports of the 4th HKG led the athletes and teams of the 18 districts on a colourful parade into Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground.
¡@¡@After the Chief Executive announced the official opening of the Games, an athlete representative from Yuen Long District, the overall champion of the 3rd HKG, took an oath on behalf of all the participating athletes at the Games.
The HKG torches, lit by the President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF & OC), Mr Timothy Fok, and Legislative Councillor, Mr Ip Kwok-him, were passed to the Chairman of the 4th HKG Organising Committee, Mr William Tong, and the Executive Adviser of the 4th HKG Organising Committee, Mr Chau How-chen, who then passed the torch to two local Olympic medallists, Miss Sarah Lee and Mr Li Ching, to start a relay.
Athletes representing the 18 districts joined the torch relay and eventually passed the torch to the London 2012 Olympic Games gold medallists, Ms Wu Jing-yu (women's taekwondo), and Mr Dong Dong (men's trampoline), who lit the Cauldron of the Games.
Following the eye dotting ceremony for lion-and-dragon dances, there was a series of entertainment performances featuring a grand illusion show by Avon Lee and the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong playing the HKG theme song "Come on Games On", as well as drumming and dance performances. Local pop-singer, Mr Hacken Lee, girls groups As One and Super Gear also performed in the show.
The grand performance by the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison including military music and rifle squad march pushed the atmosphere of the entertainment performances to a climax.
Highlights of the Opening Ceremony were broadcast on TVB-Jade at 10.30pm on the same night.
The HKG is a territory-wide major multi-sport event held biennially since 2007 with the 18 districts as participating units. Eight sports competitions will be held, namely the athletics, badminton, basketball, futsal, swimming, table tennis, tennis and volleyball competitions. All competitions will be held at venues under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and are open to all public for free viewing. Competition schedules are available on the HKG designated website: www.hongkonggames.hk/en/ .
The 4th HKG is organised by the Sports Commission and co-ordinated by the Community Sports Committee with the 18 District Councils, the SF & OC, relevant National Sports Associations and the LCSD as co-organisers. The Hong Kong Jockey Club is the "Principal Contributor".
Ends/Saturday, April 27, 2013
Issued at HKT 21:45
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