The East Asian Games is a multi-sport event organized by the East Asian Games Association (EAGA). It's been held every four years since 1993 among athletes from nine countries and regions in East Asia including the People's Republic of China; Guam; Hong Kong, China; Japan; the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; the Republic of Korea; Macao, China; Mongolia; and Chinese Taipei.

The first East Asian Games was held in 1993 in Shanghai, then in 1997 in Busan, South Korea, 2001 in Osaka, Japan, and 2005 in Macao.

Hong Kong won its bid to host the 5th East Asian Games in 2009. The decision was announced on November 3, 2003 following a meeting of the EAGA Council in Macao.

It was immediately described as good for Hong Kong, good for sport and good for athletes in the region as it is the first major sports games to be organized in Hong Kong.

The announcement of Hong Kong's hosting the East Asian Games in 2009 came at a most opportune time in 2003, when the Hong Kong sports community was engaged in about two years of vigorous debate and discussions about Hong Kong's sports policy. In 2002, a review was conducted by the government on sports policy development. A new vision for sports development in Hong Kong was recommended in 2003: promoting "sports for all", fostering high performance sports, and equipping Hong Kong to host international sports events.

In promoting wider community participation in sports, district community recreation and sports programs throughout the 18 districts were introduced. They were designed to sustain public interest in sports, to promote a stronger sense of belonging, better cohesion among athletes within the district, and to arouse public awareness of the importance of doing regular exercise in pursuit of healthy lifestyle.

One key aspect of developing community sports involves motivating students to participate in sports activities and to enhance the training of young people in some selected sports at the district level. From these programs, talented athletes can be identified for more intensive, even professional training and participation in competition. A Community Sports Committee was set up to advise the government through the Sports Commission on wider participation in sports through closer partnership with different community sports programs and initiatives.

Fostering high performance sport to sustain and enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness in the national and international sporting arena may be achieved by nurturing a cadre of high performance athletes. These can become role models for youth, as well as serving to enhance Hong Kong's standing in the sporting arena. The Hong Kong Sports Institute, the delivery agent for high performance sports services has been restructured to administer a scholarship scheme for career athletes in terms of training and coaching support, general and financial support, technical support, and academic and vocational support. An Elite Sports Committee was set up to advise the government on matters pertaining to high performance sports, providing policy direction to the reconstituted Hong Kong Sport Institute, and on funding priorities for supporting high performance sports and athletes.

Thirdly, a Major Sports Events Committee was also set up to advise the government on strategies and initiatives through close collaboration with sports associations, the tourism industry, and the commercial sector, and on funding priorities to facilitate the hosting of major sports events in Hong Kong as such events have attracted international media coverage and helped promote tourism and sports with economic benefits.

The 2009 East Asian Games has provided the Hong Kong community a concrete objective towards which the 2003 vision of promoting community sports, competitive sports, and sports industry are taken forward in leaps and strides.

Over the last six years, the sports community and the government has continued to galvanize support and encourage community involvement so that the 5th East Asian Games can become a benchmark for East Asian sporting excellence as well as a driving force for greater sporting achievement throughout the region.

The author is former secretary for home affairs of the Hong Kong SAR government

(HK Edition 12/02/2009 page1)