The 3,000-square-foot "Domino City" at Tseung Kwan O's East Point City was toppled yesterday afternoon to show Hong Kong's support to the Beijing Olympics.

Led by "Father of Domino in China" Cao Zhongfa and domino toppling world record holder Ma Lihua, 120 secondary students and 1,000 local residents used three days to arrange 100,000 dominoes to form the Olympic rings and "2008".

"It is very meaningful to celebrate the 100-day countdown to the Games in Hong Kong, especially when Hong Kong is the first leg of the torch relay in China," said Cao.

He is the founder of Future Star Domino Club, the only officially-recognized domino sports training center on the mainland. The club has been supporting the Beijing Olympics through domino sports since Beijing's application to become the host city in 2000.

For eights years, the club has organized more than 20 domino activities to greet the Olympics.

More than 6,500 people participated in the activities, utilizing more than 2.4 million dominoes.

Cao said he was impressed with the Olympic spirit in Hong Kong over the past three days.

"Hong Kong people are very passionate towards the Olympics, perhaps even more passionate than some big cities on the mainland," he said.

"Olympic news can be found everywhere in Hong Kong," he said.

Domino toppling may be included as one of the performances at the Olympics opening ceremony, he said.

Domino toppling first started in the Netherlands 500 years ago.

But it has only become popular on the mainland since 2000, the time when Cao founded the club.

Domino toppling is suitable for everyone, the young and the old, he said.

"It can train a person's persistence and concentration. Letting more Chinese learn it can enhance the quality of the Chinese race," he said.

(HK Edition 04/30/2008 page1)