The countdown is on for the 15th National Games and the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD) and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG), jointly hosted for the first time by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, with preparations in full swing across the Hong Kong competition zones.
Today (July 28), a new batch of licensed merchandise featuring the games' mascots, "Xi Yangyang" and "Le Rongrong," will arrive in Hong Kong from the mainland for sale. Among the products are many with distinctive Hong Kong characteristics, including fridge magnets of "Xi Yangyang" and "Le Rongrong" riding the tram to tour Hong Kong, and badges incorporating famous landmarks such as the Golden Bauhinia Sculpture and the Hong Kong Palace Museum.
Capitalizing on the global popularity of the trendy IP Labubu, representatives of the licensed manufacturers and retailers for the 15th National Games and 12th NGD & 9th NSOG, who designed and sold this batch of souvenirs, exclusively told Wen Wei Po that they hope to use Hong Kong's international platform to share Hong Kong's and China's stories with the world, promoting Hong Kong culture, Lingnan culture, and Chinese culture, while developing tourism and creative products for Hong Kong.
Hold Tight Development Manufacturing Company in Zhongshan is one of the companies approved by the Hong Kong Organizing Committee of the 15th National Games to sell licensed merchandise for the event in Hong Kong. Since this year's Games are jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, the company has specifically designed products highlighting Lingnan and Hong Kong cultures.
Multiple on-site observations and data collection
Huang Baiquan, design director of Hold Tight Development Manufacturing Company, noted that before designing the products, the company's designers made several special trips to Hong Kong to observe and collect information, personally experiencing the city's unique characteristics and culture. They visited famous landmarks such as Victoria Harbour, the Avenue of Stars, Wong Tai Sin Temple, and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, and took rides on double-decker buses and the Star Ferry.
Ultimately, they created a range of licensed products infused with Hong Kong elements, including badges featuring landmarks like the Golden Bauhinia Square, fridge magnets shaped like trams and double-decker buses, and products related to cha chaan teng (Hong Kong-style cafes) and Wong Tai Sin blessings. These products are exclusively available in Hong Kong, with the hope of using the city's international platform to share Hong Kong's stories and spirit with the nation and the world.
Additionally, the company has designed a series of products rich in Lingnan culture and characteristics, including 24 solar term badges. Through vibrant and playful designs, these badges depict Lingnan customs associated with each solar term. For example, the "Xiaoman" (Grain Buds) badge is shaped like a bitter melon, drawing on the Lingnan folk saying, "Eating bitter during Xiaoman keeps summer's bitterness away," symbolizing the traditional wisdom of consuming bitter melon during this season to clear heat, relieve summer discomfort, and promote health. When opened, the badge reveals a scene of the mascots dragon boating, showcasing the Lingnan tradition of celebrating harvests and praying for peace through dragon boat races.
Beyond the 24 solar term badges, the company has also incorporated elements of Lingnan culture such as Yingge dance, lion dance, Cantonese opera, and puppet shows into its licensed product designs.
Practical suggestions
Mei Yingchun, deputy general manager of the company, estimated that the first batch of products would arrive in Hong Kong for sale today (July 28). During the product selection process, the company worked closely with the Hong Kong Organizing Committee of the 15th National Games, which provided plenty of suggestions. Mei believes these products will resonate deeply with Hong Kong residents and hold great commemorative value for tourists, predicting strong sales in the city.
As for sales on the mainland, he mentioned that the company recently launched a set of 12 zodiac plush keychains featuring the mascots, describing them as "extremely cute" and highly popular on the mainland, with hundreds of sets already sold.
Mei noted that this year's National Games, jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao for the first time, is both a national and international event, presenting an excellent opportunity to promote Hong Kong culture, Lingnan culture, and Chinese culture through Hong Kong's global platform. He also pointed out that as an international metropolis, Hong Kong embodies a clear blend of cultures, combining Western trends with the depth of Chinese culture. Therefore, during the design phase, careful consideration was given to creating products that are both fashionable and expressive of Hong Kong's hardworking, Lion Rock Spirit.
Furthermore, the company plans to develop Hong Kong-themed cultural and creative products in the future. After the National Games conclude, it will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of product development and sales performance before determining the direction for Hong Kong's cultural and creative product development. The goal is to use the experience gained from participating in the National Games to promote and develop tourism-related creative products on Hong Kong's international stage.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Zhang Xian; English Editor: Darius)
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