SFC Correspondent Zhou Hui, Yang Yulai in Beijing, Guangzhou
21st Century Business Herald: Compared with previous the National Games, a major feature of the Games is that it is jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. Could you please explain how the event’s organization reflects collaboration and the integrated development of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao?
Tong Lixin, vice president of the Organising Commitee ofthe 15th National Games and vice minister of the General Administration of Sport of China
The 15th National Games will be the first major sports event jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. And it will also be the first time in the Games’ history that the Games will be held in Hong Kong and Macao. As you just noted, the tri-region collaboration is the most distinctive feature of this edition— a special mission entrusted to Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao by history. Because this new model carries special significance, we have undertaken a number of innovations in the way the event is organized.
On the organizational side, we have established a dedicated command structure. It is built around the National Games Organizing Committee, the Guangdong Executive Committee, the Hong Kong Coordination Office and the Macao Preparation Office. This system ensures that information flows in a standardized, timely and accurate manner, and that any contingencies or emergencies can be handled promptly and effectively.
In terms of event layout, we have pioneered a multi-city and cross-border model. Competition events will be held in 19 cities, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macao, with full respect for the preferences of the Hong Kong and Macao. Fencing and track cycling will take place in Hong Kong, while table tennis and women’s volleyball will be staged in Macao. The road cycling race jointly organized by Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macao, as well as the marathon co-hosted by Shenzhen and Hong Kong, will mark the first cross-border events in the history of the National Games.
On integration and connectivity, the earlier cross-border test events introduced two world-first models: a single competition spanning three jurisdictions at once, and a process featuring advance inspection, closed-loop operations, and “friction-free” customs clearance. Drawing on these trials, we have developed a set of “three-region” protocols—one event, one policy, one set of rules— that successfully overcome the challenges of moving people, goods, and data efficiently across different legal systems. These innovations have laid a solid foundation for the 15th National Games and more importantly, will provide invaluable Games-tested experience for even broader and deeper integration across the Greater Bay Area in the future.
In the mass-participation events, the orienteering race in Maoming invited teams from Hong Kong and Macao to savor local cuisine and explore rural villages, while the dragon-boat regatta in Foshan marked the first time Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao fielded a unified crew. Athletes from the three regions trained together and competed side by side, fostering mutual understanding and deeper friendship. These experiences vividly illustrate that the Greater Bay Area has profound cultural and human integration.
