Almost 400 athletes, coaches and officials are set to represent Hong Kong at the Doha Games, making it the territory's largest-ever delegation to the event.

Although the size of the final delegation is yet to be announced with the submission deadline set at the end of the month by the organizers, many of the sports have had their lists of participants, totaling slightly fewer than 400 athletes, approved by the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee (SF&OC) of Hong Kong, China.

Contributing to the large number of participants is the fact that the host city, Doha has agreed to provide free accommodation for the duration of the December games.

"The squad will be finalized very soon as we need to sort out some nitty-gritty things before we officially announce it," said a source close to the SF&OC.

"But there is no doubt that it will be the largest ever Hong Kong delegation to the Asian Games with that proposed number of participants."

Hong Kong sent a 300-strong delegation to the last Asian Games in Pusan, South Korea, including officials, coaches and athletes, and returned with their biggest medal haul of four gold, six silver and 11 bronze medals.

(South China Morning Post July 4, 2006)