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Watching the women's 100m hurdles final at the National Games on Wednesday, I couldn't help but noticed how both the broadcast and commentary were overwhelmingly centered on Wu Yanni - one of the country's top hurdler known as much for being good-looking and confident on track. Even as Wu cleared the final hurdle, the commentator, possibly misled by the camera angle, indicated that Wu, in lane 6, was leading the race, until Liu Jingyang from lane 4 surged ahead in the final meters to finish first.

So, who is Liu Jingyang? An online search turned up little. And even the next day, headlines still leaned toward "Wu in tears on the podium." While it's natural for attention to follow athletes with striking personalities and visuals — and Wu's credentials are unquestionable — the sight of Liu, an unsponsored "dark horse" in faded spikes and no makeup on track, seemed to momentarily silence the public narrative.

In the days since the race, I've been reflecting on what unfolded. Here are a few thoughts:

First, Liu Jingyang is no "dark horse"—we just didn't know her story. Any athlete who reaches a national final has endured years of grueling training and even setbacks. Domestic competitions are often more intense than international ones: not every worthy athlete gets a global stage. At 28, with two previous National Games disappointments behind her and fewer resources than her famous rivals, Liu won that gold through pure persistence. Sports stopwatch doesn't play favorites for anyone—results are earned, plain and simple.

Second, there's nothing wrong with athletes gaining visibility. Recognition can bring better training conditions, resources, and fan support—all of which can boost performance. But when popularity starts to skew media focus, when fan debates turn divisive, and when endorsements eclipse competitive achievement, we risk losing sight of what sport is really about. Athletic history, after all, is written in record books and training innovations—not in the footnotes of fan base.

Finally, ours is an era that values openness—yet emotion can still get the better of us. An athlete's career is short; a shot at a quadrennial event like the National Games may represent their entire youth. Whether they succeed or fall short, their raw, emotional responses are valid. As a nation that has hosted both Summer and Winter Olympics and celebrated world-class successes, we've matured. We have athletes who excel not only in performance, but in character. We've grown enough to temper our reactions. When athletes lay their hearts on the track, let's applaud the champions sincerely, and respect every competitor's journey.

A team of seasoned Hong Kong veterinary surgeons was standing by at the Shenzhen Guangming International Equestrian Center — the hosting venue of the 15th National Games' equestrian competitions — when riders and horses from across the nation were vying for glory from Nov 10 to 19.

The surgeons, who were based at an on-site equine hospital — the first in the event's history — were dispatched from the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Apart from providing standard clinical care, the full-fledged hospital also enabled them to perform surgery, with a fully equipped operating theater and a blood testing laboratory.

As the only sporting event to involve animals at the nation's top level games, the establishment of such a hospital marks a living embodiment of Hong Kong's contribution to the National Games and its equestrian development.

The hospital was a joint effort between the HKJC and the games' organizing committee.

The club provided guidance on its design, lending professional equipment free of cost, while also working with the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong authorities to facilitate the procurement and import of veterinary drugs and equipment.

Home to a world-class horse racing operator, the city has accumulated much experiences and expertise in equestrian development.

Apart from providing the vets and support, the club sent a team of experts from Hong Kong to help ensure the smooth operation of the racecourse for this year's games, co-hosted by Hong Kong and its neighbors Guangdong and Macao.

Ronald Chan Ngok-pang, head of the club's mainland affairs, said the cross-jurisdictional endeavor posed unique operational challenges.

At the Greater Bay Area Conference, a high-profile gathering co-hosted by China Daily in October, Chan said that these challenges prompted the club and other stakeholders to develop more cross-border innovations.

These hurdles could come in different forms. For Hong Kong vets to work on the mainland would need innovative tryouts. An ad hoc mechanism was therefore introduced to allow veterinarians to work and prescribe at the equestrian center, with special approval granted for exporting medications from Hong Kong.

Vet service was just one of the ways the club backed the games. As it marked Hong Kong's debut in co-hosting the event, the club, which is deeply rooted in the city, demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility.

It backed the games with over HK$500 million in funding and had its largest-ever squad of 11 horse-and-rider pairs competing across all categories. Moreover, leveraging its expertise in equestrian sports and extensive experience in organizing competitions, the club offered comprehensive support encompassing horse welfare, venue design, anti-doping protocols, stable management, event services, and more.

Long-term contributions

Long before the recent games, the club had been a significant contributor to the nation's equestrian sector with pioneering initiatives.

For the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, the club allocated HK$1.2 billion to venue construction and oversaw the process, while providing round-the-clock veterinary services. At the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, it donated 30 million yuan and provided technical support, particularly in transport logistics and veterinary services. Such support, at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, became more comprehensive, adding biosecurity, stable management, farriery services, venue operations, and international stakeholder engagement.

Notably, for the Guangzhou Asian Games, the club helped establish the mainland's first internationally recognized equine disease-free zone. This zone spanned from Hong Kong to Guangzhou's Conghua area — the Asian Games' equestrian venue designed and built by the club. The venue was later transformed into the Conghua Racecourse with the club's support and has since been operating as its training center.

Beyond event support, the club keeps expanding its footprint on the mainland. The club recently announced that it had acquired land for an equine transfer center, which will streamline horse importation into the mainland and potentially help foster China's horse breeding industry.

Racing into the future

Also at the GBA Conference, Chan announced a significant update: the Conghua Racecourse will host its inaugural regular race meeting starting from 2026, marking the commencement of world-class racing on the mainland.

The specific date was later confirmed by the club as Oct 31. The club said the timing will allow it to align its planning with China's new five-year national equine industry plan, which is expected to be released in March 2026.

This milestone, Chan said, will further elevate GBA as "a hub of world-class sporting events" and bolster the region's sports entertainment and tourism portfolio.

To further contribute to national equestrian development, Chan believes that international resources and networks, apart from professional expertise, are also Hong Kong and the club's unique strengths, noting that "the best international experts in our field are all willing to come work for the club".

"Marrying Hong Kong's international connectivity with the mainland's resources and experience, we are going to open doors to boundless opportunities," Chan said.

amberwu@chinadailyhk.com

Riding the momentum of the 15th National Games, various cities in Guangdong province are vigorously developing their own distinctive sports events, playing a part in promoting the development of the country's sports culture.

Senior city officials say their residents' enthusiasm for sports will remain intact long after the National Games flame is extinguished.

The games that opened on Nov 9 ended after a closing ceremony in the Shenzhen special economic zone on Friday. The country's largest comprehensive sports event was jointly hosted by various cities in Guangdong and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions for the first time in its history.

"Half of the country's volleyball players come from Taishan city," said late Chinese premier Zhou Enlai in 1972.

"It is an affirmation of Jiangmen's volleyball excellence. More than that, it is the highest praise for the sportsmanship of the city," said Lin Jiansheng, vice-mayor of Jiangmen city, which administers the county-level Taishan city.

Lin promised his city would continue to promote the sport's development in the city even after the National Games.

"Volleyball is not merely an exclusive domain for professional athletes, but a cherished pastime embraced by the entire community in Jiangmen," he said.

Taishan, with a resident population of about 900,000, is home to an impressive 3,300 amateur volleyball teams. Nearly 350,000 residents, or about 38 percent of the population, regularly participate in volleyball activities.

From farmlands to professional courts, people across all professions and age groups engage in the sport, creating a nationwide fervor where "every village boasts a volleyball court and fields its own volleyball team".

According to incomplete statistics, Jiangmen has so far sent 542 elite athletes to provincial and municipal teams across China and nurtured 62 national-level masters of sports. At the recent National Games, 22 athletes from Taishan competed in the volleyball events.

Wu Guoxiong, vice-mayor of Zhanjiang, said the city would continue to make great efforts to build on its "home of diving" legacy, inspiring more people to appreciate and love the sport and allowing the reputation of "diving town" to go global in the months to come.

As one of China's pioneering cities in competitive diving, Zhanjiang has established a comprehensive training system that spans both urban and rural areas and covers all school age levels, said Wu.

"The system not only preserves scientifically grounded training methodologies but also excels at identifying promising talent and providing individualized coaching," he said.

By forming a complete "selection-cultivation-transition" pipeline, the city ensures a continuous emergence of new generations of diving talent, said Wu.

Located in the western coastal area of Guangdong, Zhanjiang is home to Olympic gold medalists Quan Hongchan, He Chong and Lao Lishi.

Chen Zhiwei, a member of the standing committee of the Dongguan committee of the Communist Party of China, said organizing the basketball event was a significant opportunity for Dongguan to enhance its reputation as the "national basketball city".

Chen pledged that Dongguan would continue to promote basketball after the National Games, contributing to the sport's development in the country, besides sending more athletes to the national teams.

Guangdong men's basketball team, mainly consisting of athletes from Guangdong Hongyuan Southern Tigers, won the championship with a perfect record in the games. Guangdong Hongyuan, which Chinese basketball icon Yi Jianlian once played for, is a holder of 11 CBA titles.

"From the citywide phenomenon of "Village BA" and "Factory BA" to the dynamic street basketball culture, Dongguan has become a key case study for observing the development of basketball in China," said Chen, who is also director of the united front work department in the city.

"Every village has a basketball court, every town has a basketball arena: that is now the most vivid portrait of the city," he added.

Dongguan was named the national basketball city by the General Administration of Sport in 2004.

Yan Hongyu, vice-mayor of Zhaoqing, said his city government would vigorously develop judo, promoting its dual nature — both soft and strong — to shape the city's unique sports character.

"Relevant departments will systematically promote the introduction of judo programs in primary and secondary schools across the city, and construct an integrated judo talent training system with the mechanism of 'popularization, selection, and transportation'.

"Judo enjoys widespread popularity among teenagers and young adults in Zhaoqing, which has two-time Olympic gold medalist Xian Dongmei," said Yan, adding that the city has built 18 schools with a judo-focused curriculum, while 62 schools have incorporated standardized judo exercises into their programs, achieving the goal of "ensuring judo lessons in every classroom and basic judo skills for every student".

zhengcaixiong@chinadaily.com.cn

As wushu's global prestige reaches new heights — confirmed by its debut in the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games and a spotlight from International Olympic Committee officials at the 15th National Games — Macao's wushu leaders are calling for intensified and standardized cooperation within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

They argue that shared training, standardized coaching, and more regional competitions are the crucial next steps to harness this momentum, elevate the martial arts-based sport to new levels, and nurture new champions.

The three-day wushu set routine event at the 15th National Games — the first national sports meeting co-hosted by Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong province — drew attention from sports heavyweights including IOC Honorary President Thomas Bach and President Kirsty Coventry. They attended wushu competitions at the Guangzhou Nansha Gymnasium, praising Chinese sports development and expressing their excitement at bringing the sport to the 2026 YOG in Dakar, Senegal.

Also among the spectators was Li Yi, who won Macao a gold medal in the women's Changquan event at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. Every time Macao's junior players faced strong opponents, Li watched the rivalry with particular admiration.

"These young competitors are remarkably brave," she observed. "Making the finals means ranking among the nation's top twelve — that brings immense pressure, yet they truly rose to the occasion."

Selected for wushu training at the age of 8, Li emphasized that her journey from novice to champion was fueled by perseverance. Now a coach, she focuses on building strong fundamentals while prioritizing character development.

"There will be only one champion," Li noted. "What matters more is shaping resilient and responsible individuals through wushu."

Switching to a coaching career two years ago, Li said she has observed positive momentum in regional exchanges for this sport, including training sessions with teams from other regions such as Guangdong province and Malaysia.

Iao Chon-in — a former world champion and now the head coach of Macao's wushu team — is also a stout promoter and practitioner of cross-regional exchanges.

Regular interactions with fellow athletes and coaches from other wushu powerhouses are a vital catalyst for raising Macao's athletic caliber and "hugely beneficial" in ensuring the team moves with the most advanced training approaches, Iao said.

He championed a "veteran-led-newcomer" training model, through which local wushu schools can single out 10 to 20 trainees annually from a pool of over 250 candidates to join the city's representative team, thus forming a stable career ladder from rookies to elites.

Li, too, suggested more cross-regional competitions to train green recruits.

"Events like the National Games will serve as ideal platforms for joint training camps and performances. Athletes can spend extended time together, experiencing each other's training environments firsthand and fostering meaningful exchanges."

She also advocated for better integration of wushu with Macao's positioning as a world center of tourism and leisure, suggesting curated tours that combine competitions with cultural site visits to offer immersive experiences.

Iao said long-term career planning and logistical support for the sustainment of athletes' skills remain persistent challenges for Macao's wushu development.

Some of the most promising athletes have a tendency to leave the sport in their mid-20s to start families or pursue studies, causing a recurring talent drain, said Iao, likening the situation to "a plate of chicken but no soy sauce".

Fundamental support is in place, but critical incentives are still missing to retain the city's best talent, he said.

The head coach also urged stepping up medical and nutritional support to athletes, and above all, offering a dual-track career development pathway that helps young athletes balance training with academic needs, which is crucial for a smoother transition to a post-athletic career and long-term success.

Li encourages young athletes to enjoy wushu. "Though it was tough, I gained a lot. In the end, it all boils down to two words: extremely joyful."

Li said she is dedicated to passing on this joy and resilience to junior athletes, hoping one day to see students she coaches inherit Macao's wushu traditions and shine on the stage she once graced.

Contact the writers at stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com

With unity across regions celebrated along with athletic prowess, China's National Games have capped off a memorable edition with profound legacies, on and off the field of play, boosting integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

After two weeks of intense competition and an extensive display of southern China's culture, the country's biggest quadrennial sporting gala bid farewell to its participants in a visually stunning ceremony on Friday in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, leaving the crowd excited about the future prospects of closer GBA teamwork in hosting more major events.

The open-air closing ceremony, which took place at the waterfront theater at Shenzhen's OH Bay, featured a variety of art performances celebrating sporting achievements, cultural diversity and the close bonds between the host areas, enhanced by dazzling audiovisual effects, on a water-covered stage set against an illuminating backdrop of the city's urban night view.

As the first edition jointly held by Guangdong and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, the success of the multisports event is a compelling testament to the significance of the "one country, two systems" policy, said officials and participants.

"By hosting the games together, we've innovated and effectively implemented a cross-regional cooperation model for hosting mega events, which will give fresh momentum to the coordinated development of the GBA in the future," Wang Xi, vice-president of the Organizing Committee of the 15th National Games, said at a news conference on Friday.

As a highlight of the event, the smooth operation of the men's individual road cycling race, the first ever cross-border event in the games' 66-year history, which was facilitated by the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and a tailor-made customs clearance system helping riders pedal past mid-race border checkpoints without stopping, set a perfect example of the games' legacy for further promoting GBA integration.

The 230-kilometer race started on Nov 8 at Zhuhai in Guangdong, looped through Macao, and then crossed the spectacular bridge to reach Hong Kong before cyclists sprinted back to Zhuhai for the finish.

"Every aspect of the cross-border race, from the route design to the swift clearance of athletes, spectators and vehicles, required joint planning and close coordination. So pulling it off without a hitch was a significant practice for organizing similar events in the future," said Yeung Tak-keung, head of the Hong Kong coordination office for the games.

The successful hosting of the cycling race, as well as an inter-city marathon which started and finished in Shenzhen on Nov 15 with its route going through Hong Kong, shed light on the convenient transport infrastructure as an advantage of the GBA.

"The National Games carry great significance. It is not only about the sports community staging an event, but the whole of society is also involved," Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, president of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, told Xinhua News Agency.

"In the long run, the closer exchanges fostered by the games will give a major boost to the development of the Greater Bay Area."

Macao's involvement in hosting some of the most sought-after events, such as table tennis and women's volleyball, has already attracted over two million visitors to the city during the games, according to O Lam, secretary for social affairs and culture of the Macao SAR government.

"By bringing high-level sporting events to Macao we've seen quite an impressive increase in the number of visitors to the city, proving that sports-plus-tourism could be a new attraction for Macao's economic growth," said O, who is also vice-president of the games' organizing committee.

Chinese athletes' outstanding performances were underlined by the fact that eight world records, 13 Asian records and 14 national records were broken during the games, according to the General Administration of Sport of China, giving a strong confidence boost to the country's preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

"The rise of a group of young talents at the games has suggested that our sports talent development program is working well, building our confidence for a successful Olympic campaign in 2028," said Tong Lixin, vice-minister of the General Administration of Sport of China.

A total of 2,858 drug tests were completed during the games, with no positive results reported, proving that a vigilant anti-doping education program, which had involved over 36,000 athletes, coaches and team officials, worked well in promoting fair play and integrity, Tong added.

The total ticket sales of the games reached 246 million yuan ($34 million) by Friday, ranking third on the list of all mega sporting events hosted in China, following only the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, according to the organizing committee.

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn

Railway operators in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, have comprehensively optimized their transportation plans and services to accommodate the travel needs of passengers before and after the closing ceremony of the 15th National Games and during the upcoming Paralympic Games.

To improve travel efficiency, Guangzhou South Railway Station has increased capacity on key routes such as the Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity Railway, Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong, Beijing-Guangzhou, Meizhou-Shantou and Jiangmen-Zhanjiang, creating an extensive, efficient and convenient transportation network across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

As of Friday, the station has successfully facilitated travel for 3,447 event guests, including athletes, coaches and officials of the games, which concluded in Shenzhen, Guangdong, on Friday evening.

"Given the concentration of event guests and their need to carry equipment, we have set up dedicated lanes at the station's real-name verification and security checkpoints," said Zeng Yongxian, Party secretary of the first passenger transport workshop at Guangzhou South Railway Station.

The station has also designated special waiting areas in the waiting rooms and opened 72 real-name verification channels along with corresponding security channels to ensure smooth travel for both event guests and passengers.

During the upcoming Paralympic Games, additional trains have been scheduled to run between Shenzhen and Hong Kong West Kowloon.

The station has made accessibility a priority, installing 47 barrier-free elevators, 17 accessible restrooms, one accessible ticket window and five accessible service areas.

"We have also added braille signage to the elevators and installed a wireless emergency alarm system in the accessible restrooms," said Zeng.

With their awe-inspiring predecessors about to hang up their spikes, China's future track stars have taken up the baton in style, fueling their hot pursuit of the world's elite with breakout performances at the National Games.

Leading the charge is China's own "Pocket Rocket" in the making, teen sprinter Chen Yujie, who's emerged as a serious world challenger at just 16 years old, bagging a golden double in the women's 100m and 200m at the 15th National Games, while also becoming the youngest winner of both sprint events in the quadrennial sporting gala's 66-year history.

The high-schooler set a new under-20 Asian record in 100m, too, clocking a personal best of 11.10 seconds to win Monday's final, before continuing that scintillating pace on Wednesday, battling through her fatigue to win the 200m title in 23.02 — the fastest time in the event since the 2001 Games.

Chen's untapped career potential, coupled with her bright smile and pint-sized physique, has earned her the "Pocket Rocket" nickname, with her fans paying homage to Jamaica's three-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who originally inspired the catchy track moniker for her diminutive five-foot-tall frame and signature burst of color and speed.

Only one U18 female sprinter in history has broken the 11-second barrier — American sprinter Candace Hill, who ran 10.98, also at 16, at a meet in Seattle, Washington, in June 2015, while Jamaican Olympians Briana Williams and Tina Clayton are the only other U18 athletes to have run faster than Chen over 100m.

With her breakthrough celebrated as a highlight of the Games' entire track and field program, Chen remains a confident, yet humble, young prodigy, who always has her sights set on the next race.

"I've been focusing more on the 100m, so my condition for the 200m wasn't my best," Chen said after winning the 200m final at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Guangzhou.

"I'm so excited at being able to win both, but now it's all over with the National Games. I want to focus on the long term and keep training well, stay humble and work hard. Now, it's time to look forward."

Two months ago, Chen became the youngest female athlete to compete at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where she ran the 200m heats and was on China's women's 4x100m relay squad.

A natural talent

Chen began athletics training in fifth grade and never looked back, taking by storm almost every student meet in her home city of Ningbo, and then provincial youth events in Zhejiang, consistently beating fields of older girls in the 100-200 combo, before eventually taking her senior bow on the national stage last season.

In June 2024, Chen won her first national championships in Rizhao, Shandong province, in a symbolic fashion, edging out Olympians Liang Xiaojing and Ge Manqi in the 100m final to herald the rise of the younger generation.

With Liang and Ge both sidelined by injuries this week, Wei Yongli, one of China's all-time best female sprinters and a three-time Asian Games champion, stood as the only hurdle in the way of Chen claiming her maiden National Games title in the 100m. She became another footnote in the story of Chen's surging rise, finishing runner-up on Monday.

Wei, for whom the Games were a final curtain call, said Chen represents a bright future for Chinese women's sprinting.

"I am actually happy that it was Chen who won today," said the 34-year-old veteran, who, in Beijing in 2015, became the first Chinese woman to reach the 100m semis at the worlds.

"I hope to see her crack 11 seconds on home soil in Beijing in 2027," Wei said, predicting success for Chen when the worlds return to the Chinese capital.

Teaming up with Liang, Ge and Huang Guifen, Wei helped China finish sixth in the women's 4x100m relay final at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, marking the best result ever for Chinese women.

The women's relay squad is already eyeing a higher finish at LA28, with a little help from Chen, said national indoor 60m record holder Ge.

"She's such a strong newcomer and her development has rekindled our hope (for better international results) if she joins us in the relay," said Ge, who helped her home province Fujian win the mixed 4x100m relay on Nov 15.

New kids on the block

The men's sprint events at the National Games also saw a changing of guard, as star veterans Su Bingtian, 36, and Xie Zhenye, 32, both likely ran their final races in Guangzhou.

Su, who became the first and only Chinese man to qualify for an Olympic 100m final at Tokyo 2020, didn't sign up with any individual events, only running a leg on Guangdong's men's 4x100m relay, while Xie missed the cut for the 100m final before finishing 7th in his strength distance 200m.

In the wake of their waning speed follows a younger group of talented runners, led by 20-year-old sprinter Li Zeyang, who became the first man born after 2000 to win the 100m title at the National Games on Monday, and his counterpart Shi Junhao, also 20, who came out strongly from the blocks to win the 200m on Wednesday.

"Obviously they are already better than me and Su at the same age. I hope they can lead Chinese sprinting to a new level," said the reigning 200m Asian record holder Xie.

Macao resident Kinki Chan Tong-ieng expected the coastal attractions when she visited Shanwei, Guangdong province, but she was equally impressed by the convenience and modernity of everyday life on the Chinese mainland.

She visited Shanwei, host of the sailing events in the ongoing 15th National Games — jointly staged by Guangdong and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions — on Oct 25 and 26.

Her son Chan Man-hin was representing Macao in the games' regatta.

The sailing competition spectators were able to check in to the viewing area by using options including facial recognition technology, which she described as efficient, smooth and providing a high level of security. Spectators could also check real-time competition results through a mobile app.

Kinki Chan Tong-ieng said that compared with Macao, the use of technology in everyday life on the mainland, especially for transportation and payments, is more widespread. Ride-hailing services have struggled to get a foothold in Macao, where transport authorities acknowledge a shortage of taxis.

"We used Didi ride-hailing service for transportation, which is transparent in pricing and quick to respond," Chan said of her experience.

Her son Chan Man-hin said he was honored to compete for Macao, and added it was a great opportunity to gain a glimpse into the country's rapid development.

"I had many chances to talk to athletes from the mainland and Hong Kong during the games, and received various helpful advice from other competitors," he said.

While participation in the games meant a detour from senior high school studies, Chan Man-hin said he took a great deal away from competing in such a large-scale regatta and encountering "tricky" sailing conditions, with waves reaching 2 to 3 meters in Shanwei.

Despite the personal challenges, Chan felt there was a strong comradery among competitors at the games, which he encouraged his fellow Macao residents to experience one day.

Cultural integration

The young athlete also stocked up on merchandise to remember his experience.

He bought several pairs of the popular games mascots, Xiyangyang and Lerongrong, which were inspired by the Chinese white dolphin, a resident of the Pearl River Estuary and classified as a grade 1 national key protected species.

Official data showed that the total sales revenue of the 15th National Games commemorative merchandise had surpassed 680 million yuan ($95.7 million) as of Tuesday, an indication of the IP's popularity with the public, according to cctv.com.

For the first time in its history, the National Games are being co-hosted, with Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao sharing events and facilities. The successful joint hosting of the games, which conclude on Friday, has been made possible by the highly-connected infrastructure, and deeply-integrated systems in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, experts and officials said.

Kinki Chan said the high degree of integration in several areas gave her a better understanding of the mainland's development.

She noticed, for example, the promotional materials and direction signs at games events used simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, and English to meet the needs of spectators from different regions. The venue staff members include volunteers from Hong Kong and Macao, helping ensure the smooth running of events.

Young people from both SARs were able to experience first-hand the vibrancy and opportunities in mainland cities, she said. "In the future, I hope the three places can further cooperate, and roll out more projects on culture, sports and tourism to deepen integration," she said.

Tech touches

Angus Ng Hok-ming, chairman of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Youth Association, praised the event's use of advanced technology.

Ng watched the games' opening ceremony at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center in Guangzhou, and was deeply impressed by the amazing platform design and visual effects, especially the use of modern robots to showcase traditional Chinese culture, which he described as a fusion of history with the future. Sport has become a platform to showcase the nation's technological strength, he said.

A good example is the men's individual road cycling race, which seamlessly traversed 231.8 kilometers across three regions. The riders set off from Zhuhai, traversed the Macao Bridge to reach Taipa in Macao, then traveled along the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. They then rode to Hong Kong Port, then along the North Lantau Highway and Penny's Bay Highway before heading back to Zhuhai.

During the half-day event, athletes crossed checkpoints six times without interruption, and realized "zero delay, zero contact, zero waiting time and barrier-free" clearance. Radio Frequency Identification readers, connected to the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, were installed at the checkpoints to instantly record athletes' wristband signals via RFID tags.

The smooth operation at the games — from real-name authentication by mobile phone and facial recognition for ticket verification, to automated shuttle vehicles, reflects the convenience of this "smart event", Ng said.

The convenience and modernization already achieved in the GBA can instill strong public confidence in the region's development, he added.

Li Jing, deputy director of the General Administration of Sport of China, said there was no precedent for co-hosting the National Games.

However, the successful 15th edition of the event has solved challenges such as the flow of personnel, materials, and information under different administrative systems. Valuable experience has also been accumulated for the integration and broader development of the GBA at deeper levels, Li said.

Lobo Louie Hung-tak, a senior lecturer in health and physical education at The Education University of Hong Kong, said the games can serve as a conduit for Hong Kong youths to learn more about cities in the GBA.

"The cultural attributes of sports can transcend language, ethnicity, and borders, representing a unifying social value shared by all," Louie said.

Development within the GBA can also bring economic, sport and cultural benefits to Hong Kong and Macao, he added.

Due to extensive media coverage, Hong Kong residents' appreciation of the GBA has deepened in recent years, Louie said. More residents go to mainland cities for sightseeing and shopping, or even cycling and climbing, due to increasing familiarity with the "one-hour living circle" in the region, he said.

Louie said the National Games can reflect the unique characteristics of the region. Flexible arrangements for cross-boundary competitions can also facilitate the development of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in other aspects, such as culture and the economy.

Hong Kong resident Sang, who goes to mainland GBA cities almost weekly, watched the badminton competition in Shenzhen, Guangdong, on Nov 16.

The close proximity of the venue allowed her to return to Hong Kong on the same day, which meant significant savings on accommodation. Sang, who only gave her last name, believes such events can attract more non-local tourists to the GBA, and hopes that more high-level competitions will be held to further enhance the region's attractiveness and vitality.

Tourism boost

Travel agencies in the GBA also banked on the event driving up business.

Guan Jian, a spokesman for GZL International Travel Service, one of the official ticketing agencies of the 15th National Games, told China Daily the agency rolled out 75 spectator-oriented products covering 20 sports events, including group tours and individual travel options.

"The games have given many people — both living in or outside the GBA — a reason to travel in November, a traditional off-peak tourism season," Guan said.

The agency's short-haul travel business has increased by more than 30 percent year-on-year, and the average order value has risen by over 20 percent, he said. "There were tourists from other provinces who traversed three cities during their four-day trip to watch the games," he added.

Guan said the games have had a significant influence on tourism, with a notable influx of family groups eager to experience the atmosphere over the past two weekends. The travel agency boosted the itineraries of visitors from Hong Kong and Macao with elements of Lingnan culture and intangible cultural heritage, enhancing their overall experience.

"The 'sports + tourism' model will be one of our key areas for market exploration, and we believe that it will have a huge market," Guan added.

Yeung Sai-hing, general manager of the culture, sport, and tourism center at China Travel Service — the designated offline ticket seller for Hong Kong events — said the agency introduced GBA tour packages for the games, which combine visiting tourist attractions with eating local cuisine.

In Guangzhou, 32 tourist attractions, seven cultural and museum venues, 12 park areas, Pearl River cruises and 300 public sports facilities are offering nearly 1 million complimentary and discounted tickets.

In Shenzhen, the city's cultural and tourism department has launched multiple themed tourist routes to achieve a seamless integration of watching the events and touring.

Bao'an district rolled out a special bus service this month, connecting sports venues, the Shenzhen International Convention and Exhibition Center, and the commercial district. Tourists can travel on the bus for free.

Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, said that the games have inspired some Hong Kong residents to travel north to watch the games and explore mainland cities in the GBA. The event has driven home the message that Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao are closely connected and also showcased the allure of the region, he said.

The GBA is a mature cluster of cities with global standing and top-tier infrastructure. The region should participate in more world-class events to accumulate greater experiences, Chui said, expressing hope the GBA can host the Olympic Games in the 2040s, nearly 50 years after Hong Kong's return to the motherland.

International Olympic Committee Honorary President for Life Thomas Bach said the region's tremendous dynamism and potential in hosting mega sports events mean it has the right elements to host the Olympics.

Bach, along with IOC President Kirsty Coventry, attended the opening ceremony of the games in Guangzhou. During his visit, he also toured various sports venues and facilities.

atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com

Hong Kong show jumping specialist Raena Leung said that, a decade ago, riders from the special administrative region used to enjoy an obvious advantage at nationwide equestrian events, but that is no longer the case, as the competitive level of riders from the Chinese mainland continues to rise.

"I started to compete in jumping events in the Chinese mainland in 2011. Back then, international competitions were just starting to emerge there. We were quite confident, and we would win those competitions, even without riding our own horses, due to the number of Hong Kong riders training in Europe at the time," Leung said after qualifying for the individual show jumping final at the 15th National Games in Shenzhen, Guangdong province on Wednesday.

"However, if you ask me now, even if I have a pretty good horse that's suitable for me, I can't say with certainty that I can win every competition. I don't think that's possible anymore, as the quality of the horses and the skills of the riders have really improved a lot," she said.

She credits the improvement to the fact that more young riders are able to regularly attend and compete at equestrian events, as well as train in Europe or work with foreign coaches.

"More importantly," she added, "their determination to excel in equestrian events is very strong, so they put in all their effort to learn and fully commit to it."

Many riders from the Chinese mainland now train, compete and buy horses in Europe. Furthermore, they bring that rich experience back home, to share with the domestic equestrian community, Leung said.

Also, the number of equestrian events, which cater to different levels of riders, being held in the mainland has soared in recent years to accommodate the surge in participants, she noted.

"Equestrian competitions, such as show jumping and dressage, are being held all over the country — in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou. I feel that riders have a competition that they can participate in every week if they want to," said Leung who also coaches now.

"I often take young riders to compete in the Chinese mainland, and, sometimes, just to watch competitions there, so they can learn from good local riders," she said.

Hebei rider Wang Yunjing, who, on her horse Hoselinde, qualified in second place for the individual show jumping final at Shenzhen Guangming International Equestrian Center, agreed that there has been significant development in the mainland's equestrian prowess, both in terms of training facilities and techniques.

"For one, more foreign coaches are coming here to share their experience and introduce new things. Additionally, more people are getting involved in the sport, leading to improvements in all aspects," Wang said.

Wang, 27, fell in love with horse riding when she was 10. "There were only about a dozen young equestrian athletes in the Chinese mainland when I first started, and now that number has increased to more than 100," she added.

Those young athletes are more fortunate, as they have better conditions in which to train and improve their skills, said Wang, who has been training in Germany. "I am sure Chinese riders will win medals at the Olympics one day, and I believe it won't be long before they do."

What's made her more pleased is that, as well as riders' equestrian skills, the level of care and the wellbeing of the horses, which are seen as equal partners of the riders, has also been stepped up in the mainland, gradually aligning with international standards, Wang said.

With the support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the venue for the equestrian events at the National Games is equipped with an on-site equine clinic, which reflects the highest commitment to the animals' welfare and could be an example for the sport in China going forward.

Rebecca Parkes, an equine veterinarian with HKJC who leads a team of experts in running the unique facility, which can carry out surgeries on the horses if necessary, said that it's the first time the National Games have incorporated such a comprehensive veterinary facility.

"If any of the horses get particularly sick, or suffer an injury, then we're here. That's what the surgery is for," Parkes said.

As the level of competition in the mainland is increasing, the level of professionalism in equine veterinarian services also needs to be stepped up, Parkes said.

"There's a demand for high quality veterinary care, which is what we're trying to deliver here."

In Europe or the United States, at major competitions, there is usually a surgical facility close by, so if a horse gets sick or injured, they can receive timely treatment. That's why HKJC helped to design and build the clinic, to ensure that the horses have the care that they need, she added.

Equestrianism in the mainland has come a very long way since her first visit in 2015, said Parkes.

"The level of equestrian sport in China is now quite high," she said. "And I think the welfare standard of the sport has progressed as well."

Parkes has also been sharing her knowledge and providing hands-on training for vets within the mainland who want to become equine specialists. She believes that more equine vets are needed as the interest in equestrian sports continues to grow.

"There are some really great horse vets here, but there's not enough of them," she said, adding that the National Games' equestrian program is the first time she has been involved with a competition in the Chinese mainland.

Besides fracture specialists and farriers, the team has a pharmaceutical specialist available in Hong Kong if needed, Parkes said. "If she is required here, she can jump on the high-speed train and be here very quickly. Fortunately, though, we've had to treat very few horses."

HKJC CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges highlighted the new equestrian site in Shenzhen as a prime example of cooperation between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.

He hailed the National Games equestrian program, saying it was "of very high international standards — beautifully designed, highly functional and operated by a well-trained professional team."

Engelbrecht-Bresges also highlighted the maiden collaboration between the National Games and HKJC's world-class anti-doping laboratory to ensure the integrity of the equestrian competitions.

"The partnership ensures world-class facilities, top-level expertise and fairness throughout the National Games," he said.

He recalled that one of HKJC's first forays into the mainland was to assist the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, when the club established an equine disease-free zone.

"The legacy is now a horse racing training center in Guangzhou. And, with the boost from the National Games, Shenzhen now also boasts high-level equestrian facilities."

Xinhua contributed to this story.

cuijia@chinadaily.com.cn

After leading her side to glory in the women's soccer competition at the 15th National Games, Jiangsu head coach Chan Yuen-ting has said she's keen to step out of her comfort zone to help further develop Chinese women's soccer.

"I want to see where there might be better opportunities for me to try new things or develop further," the 37-year-old Hong Kong native said following her team's dramatic 1-0 victory over Hubei in Foshan, Guangdong province, on Saturday.

In the hunt for Jiangsu's first National Games title in 12 years, Chan had anticipated a challenging game, and it proved thus, with the competition finale quickly developing into a nail-biter.

It remained deadlocked until the final minute, when two promising young Steel Roses proved to be the decisive thorn in the side of Hubei's staunch defense.

In a move that proved pivotal, Chan sent on Huo Yuexin in the 77th minute. When a long pass from Shao Ziqin found fellow Team China striker Huo in the box, the 20-year-old calmly slotted home the golden goal.

"Before I was about to come on as a substitute, the coach told me to boldly showcase myself, not to be afraid and to push forward with the ball," Huo said afterward.

"This gold medal means a lot to us — finally, we completed the team's four-year-long mission," said Chan.

When Chan took on the role as head coach of the Jiangsu women's team in 2022, the Women's Super League side had no sponsors, no foreign players and a threadbare squad. By winning the women's soccer title at the Games, Chan said she had delivered on her promises when she took the job.

"I've completed a most important, and personally significant task. I'll now take a break, go back to Hong Kong and enjoy a bowl of noodles," Chan said with a smile.

Chan began playing soccer in high school, and after graduating from The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2010, she decided to leave the field of science and engineering to pursue a professional career in the sport.

In 2016, at 27 years old, Chan took the helm at Eastern Sports Club and led the team to victory in the Hong Kong Premier League, becoming the first female soccer coach ever to lead a men's team to a top-flight league championship. In 2017, she became the first woman to coach a male soccer team in a top-flight continental competition, when Eastern played Guangzhou Evergrande in an AFC Champions League match.

In 2019 Chan was appointed head coach of China's under-16 women's national team, before transitioning to the Chinese Women's Super League, taking the Jiangsu job in 2022.

Chan said she has learned a lot in Jiangsu over the past three years. "We have gone through a lot together, experiencing both joy and bitterness," she said, adding that there's always room to improve.

"In the future, I hope to become a better coach and contribute further to Chinese women's soccer."

Speaking about the development of the women's game in China, specifically the Women's Super League, Chan believes that there is great potential.

"The domestic soccer league has given players a platform to perform well — it has the potential to develop into the best women's league in Asia," she said.

She also noted that China's U-17 and U-20 women's teams have performed well in international competitions over the past few years thanks to the growing number of talented youngsters.

"I have high expectations for the future development of Chinese women's soccer, and hope that young internationals like Huo can shine on bigger international stages," she said.

Since taking charge at Jiangsu, Chan and the coaching staff have been studying the technical characteristics and development trends of modern women's soccer, experimenting with new formations and playing styles, while nurturing promising talent.

Chan has often encouraged the players, especially the younger ones, to confidently showcase their skills and play in their own style.

"I hope that, through our efforts and the exchanges during the Games, all of the teams will improve, allowing Chinese women's soccer broader development opportunities," she said.

Jiangsu's triumph in Foshan was widely seen as a testament to exchanges between the mainland and Hong Kong in terms of talent and soccer development.

Using herself as an example of those exchanges, Chan noted with a smile: "The games are jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, so I am also part of that."

She added that she hoped greater sports exchanges between the Chinese mainland and the two special administrative regions will become the norm, rather than the exception.

"I hope that players from Hong Kong and Macao will get more opportunities to showcase their talent at professional soccer clubs in the Chinese football pyramid, and that coaches from the two SARs can engage more frequently and deeply with their mainland counterparts," Chan said.

qiuquanlin@chinadaily.com.cn

Surfers with shortboards jog across the wet sand and paddle through choppy waters one after another. They read the restless waves, choose their moment, and catch a powerful one. In one fluid motion, they pop up and begin their ride, carving explosive turns, launching into technical airs, and turning the ocean's chaos into their stage.

This was the scene at Qing'ao Bay on Nan'ao Island, Shantou, in Guangdong province, from Nov 13 to 16. As the venue for the surfing competition of the 15th National Games which is co-hosted by Guangdong province, Hong Kong and Macao, the bay welcomed 56 surfers from 15 teams who competed on its powerful winter waves.

Among them was Huang Tianyu, a teenage shortboarder representing Shandong province. He first embraced surfing at the age of 5, inspired by his father Huang Yonghai, who operates a surf club in Hainan province.

The sun-tanned, curly-haired father, usually seen in board shorts, started surfing in 2014. He came to Qing'ao Bay to cheer on his son.

Huang Tianyu and his older sister Huang Zilan grew up playing in the waves with their father. "Initially, I wanted them to surf to build courage and connect with nature," recalls Huang Yonghai who is based near Fuli Bay in Hainan's Lingshui county.

Their childhood pastime evolved into a shared passion. The siblings progressed from longboards to more competitive shortboards. Since the Shandong surf team trained nearby, both siblings — familiar faces in the bay — were recruited, launching their professional careers.

"Surfing has transformed our parent-child relationship. In the water, we interact more like surf buddies," says the father.

During his son's closed training session for the National Games, Huang Yonghai, an early riser who often surfs at 6 am, would frequently encounter Huang Tianyu in the lineup on the waves.

Now the father, who has advanced to riding barrels, sometimes even seeks technical advice from his professionally trained children.

This is his second time visiting Nan'ao Island to support his son. Not long ago, Huang Tianyu won a championship title here at a youth surfing competition.

Comparing the surf culture in Nan'ao with that of China's most renowned surfing destinations in Hainan, such as Riyuewan Bay and Fuli Bay, the father observes that Nan'ao has undergone more substantial commercial development and attracts larger tourist crowds.

"Here, visitors can come primarily to enjoy the sea view while getting their first taste of surfing," he says.

Qing'ao Bay, one of 66 bays along Nan'ao Island's 92-kilometer coastline, features a 2.4-km beach with a gentle underwater slope that maintains shallow depths of just over one meter even dozens of meters offshore.

Noted for its consistent, long, and powerful winter waves, pleasant water temperatures and mild ultraviolet levels, the bay is increasingly attracting surfers from both China and abroad.

Konex Casano, a 29-year-old surfer from the Philippines, has joined the surf team of Zhejiang province as a coach and recently arrived at Nan'ao Island for the ongoing Games.

Hailing from Siargao Island, known as the "surfing paradise" of his home country, Casano grew up surrounded by ideal surf conditions, especially from September to November.

He began surfing at the age of seven and has been traveling across the globe in search of new surf spots. "I thought, 'Okay, let's check out China'," Casano recalls.

"I was amazed to find not only great waves here but also many talented surfers. It's been a wonderful experience exploring a new place."

On his first visit to Nan'ao Island, he expressed surprise at the local surf scene: "I didn't expect such waves here. The island offers beautiful beaches, nice people and plenty of good food. That's my favorite part."

For Casano, surfing offers a unique sensation that's hard to describe. He emphasizes that proficiency demands persistent practice, intense concentration, mental clarity, and constant readiness to embrace the waves.

Perry Hatchett, former head judge for the Association of Surfing Professionals (now the World Surf League) and the current Australian coach for the Shandong team, has been on the island for three weeks.

"The last two to three weeks have brought pretty good waves. Even when it's small, it's still fun," he remarks.

He adds that the island shows great potential for developing a vibrant surf culture and community: "Many popular surf spots in Australia rely on beach breaks like those found here. This makes it an ideal environment for young surfers to learn and for the sport to grow."

Luo Zhaopeng, a surf instructor on Nan'ao Island, found that the island offers waves suitable for surfers of all skill levels.

"For instance, Yun'ao Bay is a summer spot with relatively gentle waves, perfect for beginners. Qing'ao Bay, on the other hand, offers powerful winter waves ideal for competitions and advanced surfers," he explains.

Once a mechanical engineering graduate student at Shantou University, Luo discovered surfing during his university years and was quickly captivated.

"It embodies free spirit, and I don't have to be constrained by lots of equipment," he says.

"As an introvert, having just a board and heading into the sea allows me to be alone and brings me pure joy," adds the 28-year-old.

Lin Jianfeng, 35, who has been co-running a surf club near Yun'ao Bay with Luo since 2022, shares similar sentiments.

"Surfing has lowered my material desires and made it easier for me to feel happy," Lin reflects.

His interest in surfing was first sparked while swimming at Nansha Bay in Shantou, where he noticed good waves.

He ordered a surfboard online and contacted a surf club in Shenzhen, before embarking on a completely self-taught journey.

"In the beginning, even catching just one or two waves could make my whole day," Lin recalls.

To connect with fellow enthusiasts for shared growth and companionship, Lin founded an online local surf community in Shantou, which has seen steady growth in recent years.

This initiative later led him to meet Luo, and the two became close friends and business partners.

Lin observes that currently, most people learning to surf at the club are tourists who try surfing as an incidental activity during their visit to Nan'ao, unlike dedicated surf travel seen in destinations like Hainan and Huizhou in Guangdong.

Lin notes that selecting Nan'ao as the Games venue helps raise its profile as a surf destination.

"The event has also enhanced local understanding of the sport, gradually changing the stereotype that surfing is dangerous. As a result, we rarely face objections when surfing here," he adds.

Now, as the only island county in Guangdong, Nan'ao has hosted various water sports events over the past three years and has also attracted national teams for sports such as stand-up paddleboarding and motorboating, besides surfing, which have held local training sessions.

Leveraging these events to raise its profile, the county has been boosting local tourism. In 2024, the county received over 10 million visitor entries, generating comprehensive tourism revenue exceeding 4 billion yuan ($563 million). In the first half of this year, the island had a total of 6.48 million visitor entries, with tourism revenue reaching approximately 2.72 billion yuan ($383 million), according to the county's bureau of culture, radio, television, tourism and sports.

Contact the writer at xingwen@chinadaily.com.cn

By successfully co-hosting the ongoing 15th National Games, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has demonstrated that it has what it takes to evolve beyond the sporting arena, shape strategy and drive long-term momentum to capitalize on the event, experts said.

Sports executives and policy experts called for carrying out institutional groundwork and innovating sports-finance solutions to foster a sustainable sports economy that would benefit the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the country as a whole.

Speaking to China Daily, World Table Tennis CEO Steve Dainton said that Hong Kong ticked all the boxes when it came to "vision, capacity and connectivity to the wider sports economy".

Commenting on the fact that the city has been chosen to host table tennis' season-ending WTT Finals in December, Dainton said: "When you put all of this together — event capability, international appeal, and a city that already thinks in terms of big events — Hong Kong becomes a very natural home for the WTT Finals."

Dainton said he believes that for sports tournaments to generate long-term economic and social value, host cities should be clear about the benefits of hosting, build true collaboration between stakeholders, and focus relentlessly on the quality of experience, especially for fans.

"The encouraging thing about Hong Kong is that many of the fundamentals of a sustainable sports-events ecosystem are already present," Dainton noted. "The next step is more about linking them together around a common story."

According to him, there is strong public support for strengthening Hong Kong's role in the mega events economy. "The city has a robust tourism appeal, a strong business community, and a base that already understands sports like table tennis. When those elements are aligned, each major event reinforces the next," he added.

Kenny Shui, vice-president of Our Hong Kong Foundation and executive director of the Public Policy Institute, said the greater spillover and broader impact cannot happen without the SAR government's strategic coordination to align large-scale sports competitions with art and MICE events — meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions — in a bundled manner.

Shui highlighted the significance of deeper institutional groundwork. One path, he said, would be to transform the National Games Coordination Office — set up by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of Hong Kong in 2023 — into a permanent entity to host large-scale multi-sports events.

Leveraging Hong Kong's entrenched status as a world-renowned financial hub, Shui suggested introducing sports-related financial products, such as event rights trading, sports bonds and real estate investment trusts in the city's market, which would allow Chinese mainland investors to access global sports assets with ease.

"Furthermore, the city can serve as a clearinghouse for international sponsorship agreements, athlete endorsements and intellectual property licensing, thereby lowering barriers for Chinese brands entering global leagues," he said.

"Funds raised for major events in Hong Kong can be reinvested into the Greater Bay Area infrastructure, creating a virtuous cycle where sports drives urban development," he added.

As the Chinese sports industry expands its global footprint, Shui said that Hong Kong's robust initial public offering market and private equity channels are valuable platforms for raising capital to support overseas acquisitions and international marketing. Leading brands such as Anta and Li-Ning have already leveraged Hong Kong as a springboard for international growth — from mergers, overseas retail expansion to sponsorships.

Chi Sum Li, head of government and public sector in Hong Kong for KPMG China, noted the city's unique value in "soft infrastructure", including international standards, IP protection and global connectivity.

"It can drive the regional sports economy by coordinating standards, facilitating cross-border collaboration for sports tech, and supporting the development of a sports brand of the Greater Bay Area for international promotion," Li said.

sophialuo@chinadailyhk.com

When Gong Lijiao stepped into the shot put circle on Sunday night, she knew the moment would mark the end of a journey that began more than two decades ago.

Holding the shot, bending her elbow, turning and unleashing one final effort — the Olympic champion completed her last throw at the 15th National Games with the same intensity that defined her career.

As the metal ball landed, Gong thrust her arms into the air and shouted. She bowed deeply to the crowd at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Guangzhou, and then the tears came — a release shaped by grief for her late mother, the thrill of clinching her fifth consecutive National Games title and the ache of leaving the arena for the last time.

At 36, Gong was the undeniable focal point of the evening. The "five-time veteran" of the National Games delivered a throw of 19.68 meters to defend her title and complete an extraordinary five-in-a-row sweep of the women's shot put — a feat unmatched in the Games' history.

Her journey began on the National Games stage, when she arrived as a teenager from rural Hebei. Over the years, she evolved from a promising newcomer into the figure who carried the weight of China's hopes in women's shot put on the global stage, breaking barriers with Olympic and world championship golds and defining an era in Chinese women's throwing.

Even with the championship already secured before her final attempt on Sunday — three of her first five throws had already exceeded 19 meters — Gong refused to let the final moment slip by. She stepped into the circle and gave everything she had left.

"No matter how far it goes, this is my final throw on the field. It's a throw worth remembering and cherishing," she said, recalling the moment.

Love, she said later, was what kept her going all these years. After the competition, she walked the field to shake hands with officials and waved to the stands one last time. When asked to summarize her career, she chose three words: "perfect," "regret" and "perseverance".

"Today, the 'five consecutive titles' feels perfect," she explained.

"The regret is definitely Paris — my form wasn't good and I was injured. And perseverance… I kept going because I loved it, and I wanted to make shot put, a relatively niche event, more popular.

"I'm grateful to myself, for never abandoning or giving up all these years, for holding on until the end for the dream in my heart.

"The journey was tough, but with so many honors, it was all worth it."

From a rural girl, to a national, world and Olympic champion, Gong's athletic life was defined by repetition — the same set of movements practiced millions of times. They took an inexorable toll and, ultimately, it was her body, not her will, that forced her to step away.

"My knee injuries have seriously affected my daily life. I'm even afraid to climb stairs," she said.

Her mother's passing early this year added another emotional weight.

"After I finished my final throw, the first person I thought of was my mom. I hope she could see it," she said.

Talking about her mother during a post-competition interview, Gong broke down. She wiped away her tears quickly and tried to smile, but emotion overwhelmed her.

"I really wish my mom could have seen it. I've done it. I achieved the five-straight titles."

Looking ahead, Gong plans to take a long break, undergo surgery and rebuild her daily life.

But retirement will not take her away from the sport she loves. She will join the Hebei athletics center as a coach, passing on the torch of Chinese women's shot put to young talent like Zhang Linru and Ma Yue — and she hopes to play a role in promoting the event nationwide.

She wants to see more Chinese throwers stand tall on the international stage, she said, and continue writing new, glorious chapters in Chinese athletics.

And though she has stepped away from the circle, the legacy she leaves behind — the records, medals and the generations she has inspired — will go much further than her final throw.

At the Shenzhen Universiade Center on Monday, the swimming program at the 15th National Games finished with an unexpectedly youthful surge.

Among seasoned stars and established champions, it was 13-year-old Yu Zidi from Hebei who stole the spotlight, leaving the pool with three gold medals, one silver and one bronze. Her performances signaled not only the arrival of a prodigy, but perhaps the beginning of a new era in Chinese swimming.

Yu's most dazzling moment came in the women's 200m individual medley, where she stopped the clock at 2:07.41 and broke an Asian record that had stood for 13 years. She went on to add a silver medal in the women's 200m butterfly, beating Olympic champion Zhang Yufei.

The breakout did not come out of nowhere. Earlier this summer, at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, Yu — then only 12 — had already shown that she belonged to the world stage.

She finished fourth in the women's 200m butterfly and both the 200m and 400m individual medley finals. Though she repeatedly brushed against the podium without quite making the step onto it, her performances were enough to establish her as one of the most promising young talents anywhere in the sport.

From that debut to her stunning results at the National Games, Yu now fully embodies the title of Chinese swimming's "future star".

After her record-breaking 200m individual medley on Nov 11, Yu was still trying to process what she had done.

"I'm very happy, very excited," she said. "Before the race, I felt that refreshing my personal best would be enough. I didn't expect to swim this fast."

The time was three seconds faster than her result at the world championships and broke the Asian and national record of 2:07.57 set by Ye Shiwen at the London Olympics in 2012 — before Yu was even born.

"I didn't see my time clearly," she admitted. "Suddenly I heard that the Asian record had been broken, and I was wondering who broke it. I didn't expect it to be me!" Yu called the moment "unbelievable", adding: "I had only one feeling — I wanted to cry!"

Her surprises did not end there. In the 200m butterfly, she surged ahead of Zhang Yufei, one of China's most accomplished swimmers. Before the race, Zhang had gently patted Yu on the shoulder.

Zhang later explained that she wanted Yu's path to be smooth, but also hoped she would encounter moments that would help her grow. A completely smooth journey, Zhang said, is not always ideal for an athlete — but she also didn't want Yu to lose confidence because of any setbacks.

Yu continued her momentum by helping the Hebei team win gold in the women's 4X200m freestyle relay. Her split time of 1:57.98 was the fastest she had ever swum.

Looking back on her overall performance at the National Games, she gave herself a score of 90. "I'm generally satisfied," she said. "I did my best in the races, but there are still areas I can improve, especially my breaststroke technique. I will keep working hard and try to do even better next time."

After the swimming program ended, Ye approached her with a smile. "When I broke the world record in the 400m individual medley, I was also wondering who it was that had broken it," Ye told her. "Your feeling today was just like mine."

Ye said she was sincerely happy to see her own record fall.

"Records are meant to be broken," she said. "Congratulations to Yu for beginning her own era. I'm very happy to see such a strong new generation in Chinese swimming, and I look forward to seeing her continue to perform miracles for China on the international stage."

Yu's journey in the water began with something much simpler than medals or records — a summer filled with play. When she was six, her father used to take her to a water park, where she discovered an instinctive joy in the water.

While other children hesitated or clung to floats, Yu seemed to merge with the element, floating effortlessly and paddling forward with a natural rhythm. Her instinctive "water sense" caught the eye of Li Chao, a coach with the Baoding swimming team, who happened to see her at the pool.

"She wasn't the kind of child who was especially outgoing," Li recalled. "But once she got into the water, she was completely different.

"Her kicking was great — she just whooshed forward. She wasn't scared to jump in, and even when the water covered her head, she wasn't afraid."

With her father's agreement, Yu began formal training.

Her rise was swift and steady: she joined the provincial training team at age nine and began competing at the national level at 10.

She garnered wider attention during the National Swimming Championships in May, where she won the 400m individual medley and the 200m butterfly.

She achieved the A standard in all three of her events, qualifying for the world championships and quickly attracted global attention.

At the Singapore worlds, the youngest athlete in the entire competition became one of its most talked-about. Yu reached the finals in all three of her individual events and finished fourth in each.

She also swam in the preliminaries of the women's 4X200m freestyle relay, helping China win a bronze medal — making her the youngest medalist in the history of the world championships.

She has been training with the national team since the start of the year alongside Li Bingjie, another swimmer from Baoding, who also rose to fame as a teenager.

Li Bingjie has become something of a big sister, sharing her experience generously and helping Yu navigate the pressures of international competition.

Yu once wrote in her journal: "I hope that when I grow up, I can be like Li Bingjie — become a world and Olympic champion and know what that feeling is like. It's very tiring, but as long as I can swim, I will definitely work hard and bring glory to my country."

Following her mentors and predecessors, Yu is moving steadily toward her dream of competing at the Los Angeles Olympics.

From a child joyfully splashing around in a summer water park to a teenager breaking continental records and leaving seasoned champions in her wake, she is already carving out a lane through the choppy waters of competitive swimming.

liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn

Qing'ao Bay on Nan'ao Island in Shantou, Guangdong province, hosted the four-day surfing competition of the 15th National Games from Nov 13 to 16, attracting surfing enthusiasts from home and abroad. Watch the video and ride the waves with us!

Born inland, in a mountainous area of Southwest China's Sichuan province, Yang Siqi's origin couldn't be more at odds with her sporting career — catching breakers atop a surfboard.

The nation's first-ever Olympic surfer, while hailing from miles above sea level, seems to have been born with sea legs, as she once again solidified her status as China's top shredding talent by claiming the women's shortboard gold medal at the 15th National Games on Sunday.

The 16-year-old prodigy claimed the victory with a final score of 14.00 points, defeating Liaoning's Jin Shuhan by a significant 5.33-point margin.

During the four-day surfing competition, held from Nov 13 to 16 at Qing'ao Bay on Nan'ao Island in Shantou, Guangdong province, the weather alternated between sunny and overcast, with waves ranging from powerful to choppy. However, for Sunday's final, the bay experienced the best conditions of the entire four-day event, with clear skies and consistent swells, providing Yang with a stable platform to showcase her high-flying jumps and explosive turns on the waves.

"Today's weather and sea conditions were very favorable. It's all about training hard and being able to reproduce that level when it's time to compete," said Yang who, at the Paris 2024 Olympics, became the first and only surfer to represent Team China.

"Going through the Olympics has taken my experience, wave-reading skills and mental approach to a new level. I feel much more mature as a surfer now," Yang added.

Last summer, defying the odds in the challenging waves of Teahupo'o, Tahiti, the then-15-year-old Yang — also the youngest surfer at the Paris Games — made history for China. She powered through two rounds to advance to the last 16, ultimately securing a tied-ninth-place finish.

"Surfing is a very exciting sport and every race is a new challenge," said Yang.

"I'm so glad that, thanks to the sport's inclusion in the Olympics, and to my debut as a Chinese surfer at the Games, we are seeing more young people pick up the sport."

Unexpected journey

Yang's journey to the waves was unexpected. Growing up in the mountainous Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture in Sichuan, the sea was once a distant concept for Yang.

She was an energetic and lively child from a young age. Her uncle introduced her to a sailing team affiliated with an acquaintance, which required training in Hainan province. Thus, at the age of eight, Yang saw the ocean for the first time.

After a year of sailing, an opportunity exposed her to the new sport of surfing.

In 2018, the Chinese national surfing team was officially established, and surfing programs subsequently opened in Sichuan. Around the same time, as sailing was dropped from the National Games program, Yang and her teammates collectively transitioned to surfing.

This involuntary shift, however, led her to discover her true passion.

"After I started surfing, I found it much more interesting than sailing. Every training session felt incredibly fun. Over the years of training, even when sessions were long and my body felt tired, I never found it particularly hard or exhausting," Yang recalled.

Her passion and dedication to surfing began to pay off as her results steadily improved. She participated in the National Surfing Championships every year from 2018 to 2023, winning the title multiple times.

At the World Surfing Games in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, in March 2024, Yang secured her Olympic quota spot by winning the Repechage Round 6 with a score of 11.83 points. This achievement guaranteed her place among the 24 women who would go on to compete in the Paris 2024 surfing event in French Polynesia, writing her name into the nation's history books.

Her achievement has resonated far beyond last year's Games.

"Having a Chinese surfer compete in the Olympics is significant for casual surfing enthusiasts like us," said Lin Jianfeng, a surfer from Shantou.

"Without her participation, it would be difficult for us to watch the television broadcast domestically and appreciate world-class surfers riding massive waves."

Perry Hatchett, the former head judge for the Association of Surfing Professionals (now World Surf League) who currently coaches the Shandong team, sees this as a crucial developmental step.

"She is absolutely the best," Hatchett remarked, noting her visible joy for the sport.

He emphasized that competing internationally is key to her growth, allowing her to experience diverse conditions from China's sand breaks to the coral reefs of the Maldives and Australia.

"Surfing in such varied conditions teaches you to navigate different ocean situations," he explained.

"You learn to read the ocean, to identify the good spots, to find safe places for an easy paddle out. The key is to work with the ocean, not against it. If you fight the ocean, you'll never win."

The cheers at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Sports Park lingered long after the final buzzer. More than 5,000 fans rose to their feet, clapping and shouting as the Hong Kong men's handball players gathered at center court — arms wrapped around one another, tears mixing with sweat.

They didn't win. The team fell 33-25 to Beijing in the bronze-medal match at China's 15th National Games on Nov 10.

While the scoreboard didn't tell the whole story, the fourth-place finish marked Hong Kong's best-ever result since first competing in the National Games nearly three decades ago.

The Hong Kong men's handball team fielded a squad of 16 amateur players, a group rarely favored in pre-tournament predictions. What remained largely unknown, however, was the sacrifice behind their story: almost every player either resigned from their job or took unpaid leave to compete.

"Out of the 16 players, 15 currently don't have full-time jobs," said Ho Chung-ho, chairman of the Handball Association of Hong Kong, China. "There's no stable salary. What keeps them going is just the passion for the sport."

Unlike the professional teams from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong's players come from ordinary walks of life — firefighters, flight attendants and personal trainers among them.

Team captain Tse Wing-fai, a handball coach who also runs a workout studio, recalled that their training sessions used to take place late at night, squeezed in after long shifts. "Sometimes we couldn't even gather everyone because someone had overtime or an emergency duty," Tse said.

"But the moment we stepped onto the court, the exhaustion disappeared," he added.

Handball — a fast, physical seven-a-side sport that combines the pace of basketball with the contact of rugby — has never been a mainstream discipline in Hong Kong.

The local handball movement began in the 1970s. Although the Hong Kong Amateur Handball Association (now the Handball Association of Hong Kong, China) was founded in 1970, the sport long remained on the fringe due to limited facilities and funding.

When Hong Kong first competed at the National Games in 1997, the hastily assembled team finished ninth. In 2005, they broke into the top eight, and, in 2017, they finished sixth — then a record. But a stubborn cycle persisted: modest results meant limited support, which, in turn, restricted progress.

Without access to the government's elite sports funding tier, the team often trained outdoors on hard concrete courts, managing just one indoor session per week. Weather disruptions were common, and the unforgiving surface heightened the risk of injury.

"Compared to the systematic support enjoyed by professional mainland teams, the gap in training conditions is enormous," said head coach Hui Man-pong.

The 2025 National Games, co-hosted by Guangdong province and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, offered Hong Kong a rare opportunity: to play on home soil. For a group that had spent years training in the shadows, it felt like a calling.

"After discussing with the players, we all agreed — if we want to beat professional teams, we must first become as professional as possible ourselves," Hui said.

So the team made an unprecedented decision in Hong Kong handball history: to fully commit to the Games. Nearly the entire squad stepped away from their jobs to train full-time.

They studied match videos frame by frame, managed their diets like professionals and followed a rigorous training schedule matching that of national-level teams — all despite their limited resources.

Hong Kong's path at the 2025 Games became a storybook run: defeating Macao and Shanghai in the group stage, stunning Guangdong in the quarterfinals, and pushing Anhui to the final minutes in a narrow three-goal semifinal loss.

The fourth-place finish was more than a statistic — it was proof that passion and discipline could bridge a seemingly impossible gap.

Hui struggled to describe the moment. "I imagined this scene many times," he said softly. "But when it actually happened, I still couldn't believe it was real."

For Ho, the team's breakthrough carries meaning far beyond a single tournament.

"The National Games allowed more people to see Hong Kong handball," he said. "It brings hope and possibilities for the sport's future development in Hong Kong."

Xinhua

The ongoing 15th National Games are playing a major role in helping Guangzhou, the Guangdong provincial capital, accelerate its development as an internationally renowned sports hub.

In addition to further raising Guangzhou's image at home and abroad, the National Games, which are being jointly hosted by Guangdong province and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, have helped promote the city's sports industry development and spark public enthusiasm for sports participation, said Zhu Xiaoyi, deputy director of the Guangzhou division of the executive committee of the 15th National Games.

"When we look at world-class cities around the globe, most are internationally renowned sports hubs that possess a wealth of sports venues and facilities," said Zhu.

Zhu, also deputy director-general of Guangzhou municipal government, made the remarks at a news conference over the weekend.

After the Guangzhou division of the executive committee was officially established two years ago, the southern metropolis accelerated the renovation and construction of its sports venues to meet the requirements of a world-renowned sports city, he said.

According to Zhu, of 62 large-scale sports venues, 30 were selected for "targeted minor renovations".

"We promoted the quality improvement of both the interior and exterior of the venues in an integrated manner, ensuring they meet the requirements for both domestic and international competitions," he said.

And, during the buildup to the 15th National Games, specialized and innovative enterprises based in Guangzhou participated heavily in the preparations, contributing to the smooth hosting of the massive, multisport event.

"In table tennis, the Hawk-Eye challenge system being used is provided by Guangzhou-based enterprises," Zhu noted.

"And for the opening ceremony on Nov 9, we launched the world's firstof-its-kind power supply model, featuring high-reliability municipal power, plus new energy storage as the main supply, replacing the traditional diesel generator microgrid," he added.

Zhu explained that the new model helped save about 31 metric tons of diesel consumption and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by around 96 tons per performance, adhering to the principle of hosting a "green, streamlined, safe and splendid "opening ceremony.

At the opening ceremony, a total of 2,950 volunteers transformed into "little dolphins" — nicknamed after the mascots of the National Games — creating a warm and efficient volunteer service network, ensuring the successful operation of the opening ceremony.

After the conclusion of the opening ceremony, they contributed to the efficient and orderly exit of the audience, which set new records. The venue was clear of all attendees in 36 minutes, and they boarded their return transportation within 55 minutes.

Since the start of the year, 11,000 volunteers have successfully completed support tasks for 11 large-scale events, with a total volunteer service time exceeding 310,000 hours, Zhu said.

Over the course of these historic cross-boundary Games, the hosting capability of the whole Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has enjoyed an international stamp of approval.

Thomas Bach, the IOC's honorary president for life, said that the GBA has the capability to one day host the Olympics.

"If you look at the scope of the National Games, they are bigger than the Olympic Games," he told local media at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong last week after watching the first day of the rugby sevens.

"You have many world-class sports facilities, you have a sports-loving public, you have all the ingredients needed, so, one day, I think it would be a very good candidate for the Olympics," he said, adding that the GBA should "go for it".

Already seeing the benefits of hosting the Games, Zhu said he is pleased to learn the competition venues in Guangzhou, including the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center, Tianhe Sports Center and the sports center at the Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, have been fully booked to host events throughout 2026, further strengthening Guangzhou's position as an international sports hub.

World Athletics chose Guangzhou as the host city when the 2025 World Athletics Relays Championships made its debut in China.

Attracting over 70 athletes from 43 countries and regions, Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, told the Yangcheng Evening News at the time that "Guangzhou is a city that truly understands the importance of sports ... and its leadership clearly grasps the true value and meaning of sports."

Zhu said Guangzhou has hosted over 240 major international sports events since the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.

"So far this year, it has organized more than 500 sports events and activities at all levels and of various types," he added.

Last year, Guangzhou's sports industry totaled 237.23 billion yuan ($33.51 billion), the fourth straight year it has exceeded 200 billion yuan, said Zhu.

He noted that the city's sports consumption was 63.13 billion yuan, with a per capita figure of 3,345.51 yuan, ranking among the highest in China.

Hong Kong's Central Harbourfront has long been one of the city's most iconic open spaces, a meeting point of sea, sky and steel. But last weekend, it transformed into a dynamic sporting arena as the triathlon events of the 15th National Games took over the waterfront.

With crowds lining the promenade and athletes slicing through the blue waters of Victoria Harbour, the familiar skyline seemed to vibrate with a rare intensity.

The two-day competition crowned champions in the men's and women's individual races as well as the mixed relay.

The course offered a striking journey through the heart of the city: a 1.5-kilometer swim, starting from the temporary Wan Chai waterfront park, a 37.8km bike ride past landmarks such as the Hong Kong SAR Government Headquarters and the Legislative Council Complex, and a 10km run that followed the waterfront before finishing beside the Hong Kong Observation Wheel.

Few triathlons anywhere in the world unfold against such a spectacular urban panorama.

The women's race opened the weekend's events. Sichuan athlete Lin Xinyu, who achieved a historic 28th-place finish for China at the Paris Olympics, took an early lead during the cycling segment. Yet the run shifted the momentum: Huang Anqi from the Sports Association of Public Security team overtook Lin and held her advantage to win the gold medal with a 55-second lead, leaving Lin with silver.

The roar of the spectators left a deep impression on Huang. "The course and environment were excellent, and the spectators were incredibly enthusiastic, which motivated me even more," she said. "This time, it felt like the entire course was surrounded by spectators. Their energy was far beyond what we usually experience, and it made me even more excited."

Lin, a frequent competitor in Hong Kong, said the city felt like a lucky place for her. "The volunteers and officials were very dedicated, and all the athletes' needs were catered to. I had a really wonderful experience," she said.

For many athletes, the race offered a chance to see Hong Kong from an entirely new perspective.

Victoria Harbour may be described as Hong Kong's most beautiful horizon, but for athletes, swimming directly across its waters remains an extraordinary privilege.

Hong Kong representative Hilda Choi said the race felt surreal.

"Central has many iconic buildings. Normally, people come here to walk, picnic, relax, or even run along the waterfront. But I never imagined we'd get to swim in Victoria Harbour."

She explained that training there is nearly impossible due to strong winds and constant marine traffic, but racing with the skyscrapers rising on both sides created an experience she said no other city could replicate.

Similar admiration came from Henan athlete Fan Junjie, who took the men's gold medal. "I've raced in Hong Kong many times, and the scenery here is stunning, especially around Central and Victoria Harbour," he said.

"I really hope I can come back again to cycle here."

Hong Kong's Oscar Coggins added to the excitement, snagging bronze for the home team in the men's race. He then joined Bailee Brown, Robin Elg and Cade Wright to win silver in the mixed relay the following day.

Competing at home, he said, was a moment of pride. "I hope this venue will be used continuously for triathlon events in Hong Kong and for people who want to get involved in the sport, or even just continue to watch," he said.

Reflecting on the relay, he added: "The mixed relay event is special because it's the only chance where you get to compete and celebrate as a team. My teammates have put in a really strong performance to make that result possible."

The Hong Kong relay team had trained at high altitude in Yunnan province for five weeks, preparation that brought it within just 11 seconds of beating defending champion Shandong.

Brown said that racing in front of home supporters brought both pressure and joy.

"I was nervous before the race because competing in Hong Kong added extra pressure — we didn't want to let the home crowd down. We love this city and want to make it proud," she said. "We are thrilled to win a medal, the color doesn't matter to us!"

Among all the athletes, one story, particularly, resonated — that of Macao triathlete Hoi Long. She lost her hearing at five months old due to a medical accident, yet for decades she has carved out a place for herself in a sport defined by discipline, resilience and mental endurance. Hoi learned to communicate by reading lips and has built a life balancing full-time work and elite athletic training.

She has competed in triathlon, long-distance running and cycling, winning Macao's first triathlon medal at the Asian Games with a bronze in 2018. In Hong Kong, she finished eighth in the women's individual race and left the event satisfied with her performance.

By Sunday, the triathlon had become part of Victoria Harbour itself — athletes pushing through water and pavement as the skyline rose around them. For a moment, sport and city merged, writing another chapter in the history of Hong Kong's iconic cityscape.