Hong Kong's best athletes will represent the city in the 2009 East Asian Games in December with 380 athletes competing in 22 sports - its biggest-ever team.

They include Wong Kam-po in cycling; Wang Chen, Zhou Mi and Yip Pui-yin in badminton; Marco Fu in cue sports; Li Ching and Ko Lai-chak in table-tennis; Au Wing-chi and Chiu Wing-yin in squash; and, Hannah Wilson and Tsai Hiu-wai in swimming. For the full list click here.

Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing today said he is pleased sports associations are backing the games by enrolling their elite athletes.

"I look forward to the enthusiastic support by Hong Kong people for the games and the athletes, to encourage our athletes to demonstrate the spirit of excellence in the competitions and create a legend for themselves and for Hong Kong," he said.

Games ambassadors

Five outstanding athletes - Dr Lee Lai-shan, So Wah-wai, Leslie George Santos, Amy Chan and Yu Chui-yee - were appointed games ambassadors today for their significant achievements and contributions to the local sports sector.

The draw ceremonies for basketball, soccer and volleyball were also conducted. The six soccer teams comprise Group A: Japan, Macau and North Korea; and, Group B: China, South Korea and Hong Kong. In men's basketball there will be eight teams from Hong Kong, the Mainland, South Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Macau, Mongolia and Guam.

In volleyball the Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Japan, Macau and Guam teams will join the men's competitions while China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei and Guam will compete in women's matches. Click here for the competition schedules for the three team sports.

Seven enterprises have signed sponsorship agreements to become the games' diamond partners, bringing the total number to 12. The athlete lists of the other eight participating countries and regions will be announced later.