function preloadImages(path)
  {
    //-- preload images (backgrounds, buttons)

    img_h01 = new Image(); img_h01.src = path+"images/style/cch_logo.jpg";
    img_h02 = new Image(); img_h02.src = path+"images/style/cch_ecke_menueliste.gif";
    img_h03 = new Image(); img_h03.src = path+"images/style/cch_slogan.gif";
    img_h04 = new Image(); img_h04.src = path+"images/style/cch_right_img_bottom.jpg";
    img_h05 = new Image(); img_h05.src = path+"images/style/cch_right_img_middle.jpg";
    img_h06 = new Image(); img_h06.src = path+"images/style/cch_menueleiste.gif";
    img_h07 = new Image(); img_h07.src = path+"images/style/cch_header_veranstaltungen.gif";
    img_h08 = new Image(); img_h08.src = path+"images/style/cch_oben_rechts.jpg";
    img_h09 = new Image(); img_h09.src = path+"images/style/cch_rand_links.jpg";

    img_h10 = new Image(); img_h10.src = path+"images/style/trenner1.gif";

    img_h99 = new Image(); img_h99.src = path+"images/buttons/empty_button.gif";

  }