The 5th East Asian Games (EAG) in Hong Kong came to a close on December 13, 2009. 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 center for sport in Asia.

The Games are the biggest in EAG history, bringing together 2,300 elite athletes from nine countries or regions to complete for 262 gold medals in 22 sports.

Sports fans were 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 Tateishi were 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.

The opening ceremony took place on a floating stage in Victoria Harbor, and at the adjacent Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, with the city’s stunning skyline as backdrop. Hundreds of thousands of spectators shared the occasion on both sides of the harbor.

To review some of the most dramatic moments of the EAG, visit www.2009eastasiangames.hk. To revisit the spectacular opening ceremony, please visit the video (http://www.hongkong.org/video/051209.wmv).