HONG KONG, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Around 6,000 volunteers will serve the 5th East Asian Games (EAG) to be staged here from Dec. 5-13, and they pledged their allegiance and dedicated service hereon Saturday.

    "Hong Kong is about to hold its first international multi-sports Games, which makes us excited and nervous at the same time," said Henry Tang Ying-yen, the Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

    "I am very glad that the volunteer program received so much support from our citizens, and to see that you are ready today to showcase Hong Kong's hospitality to the world and promote Hong Kong as Asia's World City."

    More than 1,000 volunteers turned up at the sports ground in Wan Chai to pledge their allegiance to the Games.

    The recruitment for volunteers for 2009 EAG began on May 24, 2008 and concluded on Jan. 15, 2009. The program received a positive response from the local public, with some 6,000 people applying to be volunteers only in the first three months of the recruitment.

    "A multi-sports event will never succeed without sufficient manpower and community support," said Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, Chairman of the Planning Committee of the EAG.

    The 6,000 volunteers will provide services in reception and liaison, event and ceremonies, hotline enquiry, security, medical service and doping control, media, ticketing, transportation and logistics support, photography, information technology and catering, etc.

    Some 2,300 athletes and over 1,000 team officials from nine countries and regions will participate in the 5th EAG.