MANUEL SILVÉRIO Chairman of MEAGOC

Between October 29 and November 6 of this year, Macau will be hosting the largest sporting event in its history – the fourth edition of the quadrennial multi-sport event of the region, the East Asian Games. The games came into being at a meeting of the East Asian National Olympic Committees in 1991 in an attempt to create opportunities for greater sports and cultural exchanges between countries in the area.They were first held in Shanghai in 1993, followed by Pusan, Korea, in 1997 and Osaka, Japan, in 2001. Hosting the games has given Macau the opportunity to prove itself as a successful venue for large international events and the SAR government has lent it wholehearted support in creating an unforgettable occasion. A number of new sporting facilities have been constructed, the largest being the massive state-of-the-art Macau East Asian Games Dome located in Cotai: a three-story, multi-purpose sports complex that houses two separate indoor pavilions as well as an exhibition center. In total 16 venues, of which 13 are entirely new construction, have been prepared in three competitive zones – the Macau Peninsula, the Macau Olympic Complex in Taipa and the Cotai International Sports Complex.

Chairman of the 4th East Asian Games Organizing Committee (MEAGOC) Manuel Silvério says the Games will give Macau the chance to increase its international credibility and showcase its growth, economic development and political stability to the world. He adds that the region is not stopping here – it aims to continue hosting world-class events and has already scheduled the Portuguese-Speaking National Olympic Games for 2006 and the 2nd Asian Indoor Games for 2007. Mr. Silvério comments, “It is very much our intent to bring more exciting international events to Macau. The legacy from the East Asian Games will be modern new facilities, a large group of well-trained professionals, an advanced level of IT and sports development, and I dare say a reputation as one of the region’s choice destinations for events organization.”

The Macau East Asian Games Dome, a state-of-the-art, three-story, multi-purpose sports and exhibition complex, demonstrates the infrastructure is in place for future international events.