The opening ceremony of the 15th National Games was held in Guangzhou yesterday (Nov. 9). Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee delivered a speech at the ceremony, noting that this is the first time Hong Kong has participated in the National Games as a host city since its return to the motherland, which makes Hong Kong feel immensely honored.
"The joint hosting by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao is not only an innovative practice in the history of the National Games but also fully reflects the country's firm support for the coordinated development of the Greater Bay Area (GBA). This is one of the manifestations of Hong Kong's integration into the national development landscape, with significant and far-reaching implications."
He emphasized that the SAR government will live up to the trust placed in it and spare no effort in successfully organizing the events.
Lee stated that Hong Kong, in close collaboration with the General Administration of Sport of China, Guangdong, and Macao, has made comprehensive preparations and arrangements with the highest standards and strictest requirements to create a first-class competitive environment for athletes and an unforgettable viewing experience for spectators.
"Hong Kong has sent its largest-ever delegation to participate in the Games. We eagerly look forward to competing and learning from elite athletes from across the country on this national-level stage, jointly promoting the spirit of sports and enhancing competitive prowess, thereby contributing to the country's goal of building a strong sporting nation."
Lee firmly believes that with the joint efforts and full dedication of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, a "simple, safe, and spectacular" sports event will be presented to the people of the nation, showcasing the vibrant charm of GBA.
Regarding the Hong Kong events, he mentioned that the stunning Victoria Harbour waterfront and the world-class Kai Tak Sports Park will serve as competition venues. He warmly invited everyone to come to Hong Kong to watch the events and experience the city's energy and charm firsthand.
Eric Chan: Adhering strictly to the event philosophy and principles
Before the opening ceremony, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan attended a meeting in Guangzhou. He stated that the Hong Kong SAR feels deeply honored to participate in hosting the 15th National Games and strictly follows the event philosophy of "green, shared, open, and clean" and the principle of "simple, safe, and spectacular" to comprehensively advance the preparatory work for the Hong Kong events.
He mentioned that the various events in Hong Kong are progressing smoothly as planned. All departments of the SAR government and relevant units are fully prepared and will ensure the subsequent event preparations with a rigorous attitude to guarantee flawless execution and efficient event organization.
Chan noted that the first competition event in the Hong Kong events, beach volleyball, commenced on Oct. 31. It has been operating smoothly and is well-received by the public. The tickets for the evening session on the finals day (Nov. 8) were sold out, and the first gold medal for the Hong Kong events was successfully awarded. The men's handball event also started on Nov. 1, with a lively atmosphere at the venue. The remaining six competition events will be rolled out successively.
The men's individual road cycling event, completed the day before yesterday, historically spanned Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, fully reflecting the characteristic of this National Games being jointly hosted by the three regions. "The event implemented seamless real-time boundary crossing, with smooth coordination of port services and transportation, fully demonstrating the close cooperation among the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao."
Hong Kong's largest-ever volunteer team
In terms of preparation progress, the informatization construction for the Hong Kong events was completed on schedule at the end of June this year, covering competition services, event support, and event network services. It has also completed three phases of joint debugging and testing with the Guangdong and Macao events.
For promotion, the Hong Kong SAR Government has collaborated with several local TV and radio stations to launch multiple series of programs focusing on athletes, introducing competition events, and updates on preparations across the three regions. Content has been disseminated through various channels. The three free TV broadcasters in Hong Kong and Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) will broadcast the 15th National Games events. The SAR government has also placed online and outdoor advertisements in several Southeast Asian countries and multiple mainland cities, and collaborated with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) from the mainland to attract tourists to Hong Kong to watch the events.
The Hong Kong events have also appointed over 16,000 volunteers, forming the largest-ever event volunteer team in Hong Kong's history. They have all completed systematic general training and received professional skills training according to their service roles.
Additionally, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung, who attended the opening ceremony in Guangzhou, told reporters that he felt very honored and excited to attend. He noted that many of the performance items incorporated Lingnan elements familiar to people in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, and programs were jointly performed by the three regions, which is highly meaningful for the integration of the GBA.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; English Editor: Darius)
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