GBA to host upcoming 15th National Games

The 15th National Games, to be jointly organized by Guangdong province and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, will accelerate the integrated development of the Greater Bay Area, according to a news conference held in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong on Tuesday.

Under the guidance of the General Administration of Sport, the China Disabled Persons' Federation and the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the three regions have reached consensus in six key areas through high-density communication and negotiations, said Huang Mingzhong, director of the office of the 15th National Games Organizing Committee.

"The areas are cross-border events, port clearance, personnel and vehicle documents, food safety, green event management and event schedule," Huang said at the news conference, which disclosed the progress of the three regions' joint organizing work for the 15th National Games.

"The three regions have now explored a joint competition model of 'three regions with three similarities', indicating 'same frequency communication, concerted decision-making and synchronous execution'," he said.

"Taking the emblem design as an example, our emblem consists of three petals. With Guangdong's kapok, Hong Kong's bauhinia and Macao's lotus overlapping and rotating, it forms a concentric floral pattern, symbolizing the unity and deep integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area," said Huang, who is also deputy secretary-general of the Guangdong provincial government.

Huang revealed that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Road Cycling Race, as a part of the 15th National Games, will take place in the three regions.

"At that time, cyclists will depart from Zhuhai and first reach Macao via the Macao Bridge and then arrive at Hong Kong's Lantau Island via Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge," said Huang.

Zhang Zhihua, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong province, said relevant departments have set up a dedicated channel at entry and exit ports, allowing relevant delegations to enter and leave whenever they need.

"We have also opened a green channel for our ticket holders, with nationwide application for entry and exit documents," he said.

"With special treatment for entry and exit, we will contribute to the development of a one-hour life circle within the GBA," said Zhang, who is also the deputy director of the coordinating department of the 15th National Games Organizing Committee.

During the National Games, visitors can enjoy entry and exit without the need to show documents, he said.

The 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities, and the 9th National Special Olympic Games, are expected to attract more than 6,000 athletes from the Chinese mainland to cross the borders to Hong Kong and Macao to compete, while another more than 3,000 athletes from the two Chinese SARs are expected to come to the mainland for the competition, according to Zhang.

Guangzhou will host the opening ceremony, while Shenzhen, which borders Hong Kong, will host the closing ceremony.

The 15th National Games will take place from Nov 9 to 21.