The 2009 East Asian Games, officially known as the V East Asian Games, was an international multi-sport event that took place in Hong Kong, between 5 December and 13 December 2009. A total of 2,377 athletes from 9 East Asian national competed in 262 events in 22 sports.^[1] It was the biggest sporting event ever held in the territory.^[1]

Organisation

Bid

In 2003 Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Mongolia entered the bidding process as potential host cities for the 5th East Asian games.^[2] Mongolia subsequently withdrew. On 3 November 2003 at a meeting in Macau, Hong Kong was selected as the host.^[3]

June 2004 saw the formation of the Preparatory Committee for the Hong Kong East Asian Games, chaired by Timothy Fok, president of Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong.

Costs

On 13 January 2006 the Legislative Council had approved the government spending of HK$123 million for the games.^[4] The total expenditure for the games is estimated to be HK$240 million. The estimated total revenue is also HK$240 million, including HK$123 million government funding, HK$43 million from ticket and merchandise sales and HK$74 million from cash sponsorhip.^[5]

Venues

• Kowloon Park Swimming Pool: Aquatics (Swimming, Diving)
• Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground: Athletics, Bodybuilding, Cycling (Indoor Cycling)
• Queen Elizabeth Stadium: Badminton, Table-tennis
• Hong Kong Coliseum: Basketball, Volleyball
• Western Park Sports Centre: Basketball, Wushu (Taolu, Sanshou)
• Hong Kong International Trade & Exhibition Centre: Bowling, Cue Sports, DanceSport
• Kwai Chung Gin Drinker's Bay: Cycling (BMX)
• Public Roads in New Territories: Cycling (Road Cycling)
• Hong Kong Stadium: Football, Rugby Sevens
• Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground: Football
• King's Park Hockey Ground: Hockey
• Shek Kip Mei Park Sports Centre: Judo, Taekwondo
• Shatin Rowing Centre: Rowing
• South China Athletic Association Hong Kong Club House: Shooting
• Hong Kong Squash Centre: Squash
• Aberdeen Tennis and Squash Centre: Squash
• Hong Kong Park Sports Centre: Squash
• Victoria Park Tennis Centre: Tennis
• Lai Chi Kok Park Sports Centre: Weightlifting
• Stanley Main Beach Water Sports Centre: Windsurfing

Fireworks emblem

Emblem

During the 2005 East Asian Games in Macau, a competition was held to determine the logo for the 5th East Asian Games. On 11 July 2005 a fireworks emblem, designed by Clement Yick Tat-wa, was selected. The design makes reference to the five Olympic rings, and the sparkling fireworks symbolise the energy of athletes striving to fulfill their potential and to achieve sporting excellence.^[6]

Slogan

A slogan contest was held at the Asian Games in 2006 and the winning suggestion was "Be the Legend" (); fitting well with the ideals of athletes reaching their potential and achieving legendary victories. This slogan was submitted by secondary school student Choi Sau-chu ( ).^[7] The event song is You are the Legend ().^[8]

Mascot

Mascot for the games The event has two fluffy mascots, "Dony"() and "Ami"(). Fire and lion are the creative elements for the design. Fire has many different forms and radiates light and heat, representing the flexibility of Hong Kong people. Lion is the symbol for strength and confidence. Below the Lion Rock, Hong Kong people nurtured a mutually helping and continuously striving spirit.^[9]

Stamps

A set of "Heartwarming Stamps" was released in March and another set will be available in August while commemorative stamps will be issued on the opening day of the event, 5 December.^[10]

Countdowns

One year

The 1 year countdown to the 2009 East Asian games began with Hong Kong Chief executive Donald Tsang inaugurating a special countdown clock in Hong Kong Cultural Centre on 5 December 2008.^[6] The ceremony was also attended by chairman of the East Asian Games planning committee Timothy Fok and heads of delegations of the nine countries. The countdown clock is based on the Mascot "Dony". The Cantonese version of the theme song You are the Legend was also performed for the first time by 30 Hong Kong singers including Alan Tam.^[6] Representatives of the Hong Kong 18 district councils were also present.^[6] For the 300 day countdown, 24 athletes were invited to sing the theme song at the Alan Tam Hacken Lee concert.^[11]

200 days

A flower show was opened to the public on 13 May at Victoria Park. The show lasted 10 days featuring 60,000 pots of themed flower. Around 200 organizations from 20 countries participated in the show.^[12] The new Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground was opened on 19 May to celebrate the 200 days count down. A relay race was held between the HK police, HK immigration department, Leisure and Cultural department, HK Fire service, Customs and Exercise department, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Sai Kung District sports association.^[13] There was a dragon and lion dance performance and a tree-planting ceremony.^[13] A cheerleading competition was also held.^[14]

Torch relay

Swimmer Sherry Tsai holds the relay torch A torch relay was held on August 29 as part of the 100-day Countdown. The relay held the theme "Light the way to the EAG".^[15] The torch is a curvy cylinder with a square top and round bottom. It resembles the horn of an ox as 2009 is the year of the ox.^[16] They create the patterns of "Lucky Clouds" to put forward the concept of yin and yang. This also convey the message that Hong Kong is a place where the Chinese and Western cultures meet.^[16]

Calendar

In the following calendar for the 2009 East Asian Games, each blue box represents an event competition, such as a qualification round, on that day. The yellow boxes represent days during which medal-awarding finals for a sport were held.^[17]