TORONTO

The 9th annual Asian Community Games (ACG) starts June 15 at the Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham with a golf tournament, the official opening ceremony however begins June 22 at 9 am at the Toronto Track and Field Centre of York University. With addition to a new ‘fencing’ event, this year there will be total 11 games — track & field, swimming, soccer, basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, cricket, golf, taekwondo and fencing. Over 1,500 athletes are expected to participate. The competitions are open to all communities. “The Asian Community Games is not only for Asians, it welcomes everyone and open to all Canadian communities,” Joseph Fong, chair of ACG 2013, told SAF. “The mission of our event is to promote health, wellbeing, sportsmanship and friendship.” “We aim at promoting multiculturalism, to bring all communities together and to celebrate the cultural heritage of Canada through sports,” said Fong. Established in 2005 with just 200 athletes, Fong said this season they are expecting more than 1,500 athletes to participate. The Asian Community Games are being organized by Sing Fai Sports Club, a not-for-profit organization, with support of sports facilities and joint partnerships with the cities of Toronto, Vaughan and the town of Richmond Hill.