Hong Kong's athletes lived up to the slogan of the East Asian Games - 'Be the Legend' - with a record medal haul at the multi-sports event which ended on Sunday. The hosts won 26 gold, 31 silver and 53 bronze to finish fourth in the medals table, behind China (113 golds), Japan (62) and South Korea (39).
Hong Kong boasted many 'legendary' performers. The most celebrated among them were no doubt the city's soccer team who beat Japan in a penalty shootout to claim the gold medal in front of a packed house at Hong Kong Stadium.
'I watched the matches of the Hong Kong team from the preliminary rounds to the final. I never thought they would win the championship,' said university student Andrew Tsang.
Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, who watched last Saturday's final, said it was his happiest day of the year.
Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, Olympic chief and president of the Hong Kong Football Association, said the final victory was a historic moment for Hong Kong soccer. 'We have created a legend!' he said.
Hong Kong's women's table tennis team also gave a memorable performance, beating arch rivals China to win the gold after a marathon battle. It was their first-ever victory over China in a multi-sports games final.