Posted in: Press Releases

June 20th, 2009

At the opening of the annual Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival held today (Saturday) at Centre Island, attending dignitaries, spectators and participating boat paddlers were given an opportunity to know more about Hong Kong’s forthcoming event – the East Asian Games.

As one of the Dragon Boat event sponsors, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Canada set up a booth at the venue to promote the East Asian Games, which will be held this December in Hong Kong.  Athletes from nine countries and region will take part in over 1,700 competitions to vie for 281 gold medals in 23 sports, including rowing, windsurfing, aquatics, basketball, football, table tennis, wushu, weightlifting and  ruby sevens, etc. Of all the sports being contested, 16 are Olympic disciplines.

Addressing at the opening ceremony, Acting Director of the HKETO, Mr YC Chan, told the guests and spectators that as Asia’s sports hub, Hong Kong is a natural choice for the East Asian Games. 

“With its prime location at the heart of East Asia, its great infrastructure and connectivity, world-class hotels, a mix of East and West, old and new, and a multitude of dining, leisure and retail opportunities, Hong Kong is a perfect host for major sporting events,” he said.

The two-day dragon boat event, held today and tomorrow (Sunday), sees some 150 teams competing for the championship. One of the winning teams in the final round will be awarded a “Hong Kong Cup”.

Organized by the Toronto Chinese Business Association, the dragon boat race festival is one of the most popular and celebrated community events in Toronto.

Photo shows Acting Director of the HKETO in Canada, Mr YC Chan (left), joined by guests and organizer representatives, performing the eye-dotting ceremony at today’s Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival opening ceremony.

The 2009 East Asian Games souvenir bag is a popular item at the dragon boat event.

Chinese version on next page.

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