Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today hosted the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest Weigh-In and Certification Ceremony. The competition, which is in its 87th year, will be held tomorrow on the Fourth of July at Nathan's Famous in Coney Island. Wayne Norbitz, President and Chief Operating Officer of Nathan's Famous, and several of the world's finest competitive eaters joined Mayor Bloomberg in City Hall Park for the ceremony.

"Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on the Fourth of July is a Coney Island tradition," Mayor Bloomberg said. "The competition is a grand international event, with participants from all over the world, and I wish everyone good luck. Also, I encourage all New Yorkers to go out and enjoy all of tomorrow's festivities as Americans all pause and reflect on the significance of this Independence Day."

Among those present at the ceremony were current world hot dog eating champion Takeru Kobayashi of Japan, who doubled the world record in hot dog eating by downing an astounding 50 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes; American champion "Hungry" Charles Hardy of Brooklyn, New York; and American record-holder Eric Booker of Copiague, New York, who recently set a new American record of 28 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes.

This year's contest will feature a total of 20 eaters from Japan, Germany, Thailand, Canada and the United States. To gain a seat at the table for the international contest, each participant won one of 20 regional qualifying contests throughout the United States and the world. For more information please visit the International Federation of Competitive Eating's website at www.ifoce.com.