The 5th East Asian Games (EAG) in Hong Kong came to an emotional close tonight
(December 13), with an enthusiastic crowd cheering the star-studded finale at a
coliseum in this southern Chinese city.
The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government,
Mr Donald Tsang, declared the Games closed. This was followed by the handing
over of the EAG flag to Mr Wang Xingguo, Mayor of Tianjin, China. Tianjin will
host the 6th EAG in 2013.
The moving chorus of the 5th EAG theme song "You Are The Legend" filled the
coliseum. It was a fitting send-off for the elite athletes from nine countries
and regions who set the biggest ever EAG alight since the Games` spectacular
opening on December 5. Altogether 2,300 sportsmen and women competed in 22
sports in a spirit that combined friendship with sportsmanship. EAG records were
shattered and new stars were born.
Sports fans are left with vivid memories of the gold medal winning performances
of several world-class athletes. Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang and diver Guo
Jingjing, Korean taekwondo expert Cha Dongmin and Japanese swimmer Ryo
Tateishiwere among the star athletes who won the loudest applause.
On the medals table, China finished top with 232, followed by Japan 190 and
Korea 143. Host Hong Kong harvested 26 golds, 31 silver and 53 bronze, a record
haul since its first participation in the EAG in 1993. Other participants in the
EAG are DPR Korea; Macao, China; Mongolia; Chinese Taipei and Guam.
Pop stars from the region - Korea`s Chae Yeon, Japan's Kousuke Atari, Richie Jen
from Chinese Taipei, China's Dadawa and Hong Kong's own Eason Chan - joined the
Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra to perform the EAG theme song at the closing
ceremony after performers from Tianjin gave a taste of what is to come in 2013.
Hong Kong spent six years preparing for the EAG - the largest international
multi-sport event ever held in the city, which only last year joined the ranks
of Olympic co-host cities by staging the equestrian events of the Beijing
Olympics. The annual Hong Kong Rugby Sevens and flagship marathon, squash,
badminton, volleyball, tennis, golf, cricket and dragon boat racing events have
all reinforced the city`s position as a major centre for sport in Asia.
To review some of the most dramatic moments of the EAG, visit
www.2009eastasiangames.hk. To revisit the EAG opening ceremony which took place
in Hong Kong`s world famous Victoria Harbour, please see the video attached.
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