A total of 2,416 accredited journalists would cover the 5th East Asian Games in Hong Kong, said the Planning Committee here on Monday at the launching ceremony for the Media Center.

The Media Center of EAG, located on the ground floor of the Hong Kong Central Library, comprised a Main Press Center, an International Broadcasting Center and a 290-seat Press Conference Room. It opens from Nov. 23-Dec. 14, providing services on competitions schedules, athletes information, results updating, medal tally, news releases, etc.

"We are now ready, and we are looking forward to showcasing Hong Kong's ability in organizing a large-scale international sports event," President of the Planning Committee of EAG Timothy Fok Tsun-ting said here at the launching ceremony.

According to Eman Kwong, Media Services and Public Relations Coordinator of the 2009 EAG Limited, the number of accredited media amounted to 2,416, among which 257 were overseas, and a total of 16 TV Right has been confirmed with seven Hong Kong broadcasters and five from the Chinese mainland.

The semifinals and finals of 10 sports including aquatics, badminton, table tennis, athletics, cue sports, soccer, rugby seven, tennis, volleyball and basketball, together with the Openning and Closing Ceremonies, will be on live by the Host Broadcasting Consortium of EAG, made up by the seven local TV stations. The semifinals and finals of the other 12 sports will be recorded.

The fifth EAG, featuring some 2,300 athletes from nine countries and regions, will kick off here on Dec. 5 and be concluded on Dec. 13. It is the first time that Hong Kong holds an international multi-sport event.