An impressive list of world-class athletes, including a number of Beijing Olympic gold medallists, will compete in the 2009 East Asian Games (EAG) in Hong Kong from December 5-13.
Heading the list are 2008 synchronised three-metre springboard Olympic gold medallists Guo Jingjing and Wu Minxia, current Olympic badminton men's singles champion Lin Dan, and 2004 Olympic 110-metres hurdles champion Liu Xiang from China.
Swimming
Chinese Taipei will be fielding Chen Wei-ling, who was third in the world women's 48 kg weightlifting, and Liu Shin-mei, who is a two-time world champion in cue sports.
Out to win gold for Japan are top men's table tennis player Mizutani Jun, as well as the country's first and second ranked women's paddlers Hirano Sayaka and Fukuhara Ai.
Korea has high hopes for success on the range with 2008 Olympic men's 50-metre pistol champion, Jin Jongoh.
The team from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea includes 2008 Olympic stars - women's 63 kg weightlifting gold medallist Pak Hyonsuk, 58 kg weightlifting bronze medallist O Jongae and women's 57-63 kg judo bronze medallist Won Okim.
Mongolia will also send its top athletes to the Games, including 2008 Olympic men's 100 kg judo gold medallist Naidan Tuvshinbayar.
Among the outstanding athletes in the Hong Kong team is Wong Kam-po, who became the first Chinese world champion cyclist by winning the 15 km-scratch race in 2007 UCI Track Cycling World Championships.
Cycling
The Macao team includes wushu medallist hopeful Qin Zhijian, who won the 2006 Doha Asian Games men's sanshou 60 kg bronze medal.
Guam won a medal at the 4th EAG in Macao in 2005. All eyes will be on the new generation of Guamanian athletes to see if they can go further at the 5th EAG in Hong Kong.
The design of the EAG medals is unique with the intertwining of the leaves of the flowers representing the participating countries and regions to reflect the mission of the Games' host to bring different races together in Hong Kong. The size of the leaves is standardised to represent fair play and sportsmanship.
The design of the Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games medal features the leaves of the flowers representing the nine participating countries and regions. The medal is the work of famous Hong Kong designer Freeman Lau.
1. Korea - Hibiscus 2. China - Peony
3. Macao China - Lotus 4. Chinese Taipei - Plum Blossom
5. Japan - Cherry Blossom 6. Mongolia - Pygmy Waterlily
7. Guam - Bougainvilla 8. Hong Kong China - Bauhinia Blakeana
9. DPR. Korea - Magnolia
The unconventional design of the 5th East Asian Games medals, with interlocking leaves forming a round-shaped medal, symbolizes participation and solidarity of athletes, spectators and supporters from different races.
The city is making final preparations for the Games. A new EAG video is shown on television and the EAG theme song by well-known international and local singers is heard regularly. Colourful banners carrying the EAG Slogan, 'Be the Legend', and the images of the twin EAG mascots adorn the busy Hong Kong streets.
Colourful EAG banners adorn the busy Hong Kong streets
A spectacular EAG opening ceremony will take place on a floating stage on the world renowned Victoria Harbour on December 5. Hong Kong welcomes international visitors to the top sporting event next month - and they can enjoy some Christmas shopping while they are in Hong Kong. Those who cannot come are urged to follow the events on newscasts or the papers.
The EAG Opening Ceremony will take place on a floating stage in the world-famous Victoria Harbour
For the EAG schedules and ticketing details, please visit www.2009eastasiangames.hk.
Information Services Department
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Taryi Ha
Tel: (852) 2842 8615
or
Terence Leung
Tel: (852) 2842 8613