Nearly 10,000 athletes from 25 cities and counties are participating in the 2009 National Sports Game in Taichung, vying for medals in 35 events from Oct. 24-29. President Ma Ying-jeou and Premier Wu Den-yih attended the opening ceremony Saturday evening at the stadium of the National Taiwan Sport University. Addressing the opening ceremony, Taichung Mayor Jason Hu welcomed all the participants and wished them enjoying the game in a festive mood. The competitions of the five-day sports game include water sports, archery, track and field, badminton, baseball, basketball, bodybuilding, bowling, boxing, canoeing, billiards, cycling, fencing, soccer, golf, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, karate, rugby, shooting, softball, soft tennis, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, martial art, sailing, rowing, equestrianism, and roller sports. 