Games get 'cool', smart with innovations

The ongoing 15th National Games is more than a sports bonanza where athletes push themselves to their limits; it also acts as a "super application scenario" for tech innovators in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, laying the foundations for further industrialization.

The event, which kicked off on Sunday and runs through Nov 21,features a range of emerging technologies from Guangdong province, Hong Kong, and Macao — the three co-hosts — covering areas like spectator experience, sustainability, assistive technology, and event support.

In line with the event's green blueprint, a Hong Kong-developed technology that cools buildings without consuming electricity has emerged as a major highlight.

Nearly 100 volunteer service stations in Guangzhou have been coated with a special paint that reflects sunlight and radiates heat away. When applied to buildings, this technology — developed by the Guangzhou HKUST Fok Ying Tung Research Institute — can cool surfaces by over 15 degrees C and indoor spaces by 3 to 5 degrees, making it well-suited to South China's intense heat. It is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 200 metric tons during the event.

Zhu Longqian, director of the institute's Building Energy Research Center, said that the bionic technology was jointly developed by several Hong Kong universities, and was inspired by the way Saharan silver ants have tiny hairs to reflect the intense sunlight. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology introduced it to the Chinese mainland for commercialization, and the National Games mark its first large-scale application.

Originally white, the paint is now available in various colors to match the design of volunteer stations, supporting further industrialization after the games.

If applied during South China's scorching summer, the technology can achieve a surface cooling effect of about 30 degrees. In tests conducted on containers in the Middle East, surface temperatures dropped by up to 42 degrees, with indoor temperatures decreasing by 5 to 6 degrees.The company is also integrating this technology into other materials, such as clothing, helmets, substation components, car paint, and ceramics.

Zhu said the biggest challenge for emerging technologies is gaining widespread market acceptance and trust. The National Games provide government endorsement and large-scale technology validation, which can significantly accelerate this process.

Reliable power

The largest National Games in history are also testing the limits of Shenzhen's power grid, the most densely loaded in the country.

To ensure reliable operations, the Shenzhen Power Supply Bureau of China Southern Power Grid has implemented a smart power monitoring system, a high-capacity energy storage station, and quantum encryption communication technology.

The Dianhong IoT operating system monitors the temperature and load of power equipment through 2,000 terminals, providing more precise real-time data than traditional manual methods.

A newly commissioned 10-kilovolt grid-connected energy storage station, the largest of its type nationwide, can independently supply power to key sports venues during grid failures.Its ultrafast response time mitigates the risk of power interruptions during switching to backup sources, and is more environmentally friendly than diesel generators.

Kuang Yongwen, who is responsible for the power supply at the event's closing ceremony in Shenzhen on Nov 21, said that the city's packed schedules and multivenue setup require reliable power support, for lighting, refereeing, broadcasting, medical services, and vehicle charging.

He said the core technological upgrades driven by the National Games have boosted operational efficiency and emergency support, potentially helping large companies expand their markets.

As energy storage gains importance nationwide, small-scale grid-connected energy storage systems will be adopted more broadly. Factories can utilize them to store electricity during low-demand periods for use during peak times, reducing costs.Large office buildings and residential communities can use these systems as a more environmentally friendly backup power source, Kuang added.

Smart mobility

On Nov 2, when the torch relay for the National Games was taking place in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macao, driverless vehicles from Pony AI Inc transported the torch over a distance of 6.8 kilometers in Guangzhou.

This event featured the company's latest seventh-generation robotaxi, marking the first time an autonomous vehicle took part in a torch relay.

During the National Games, hundreds of such robotaxis are shuttling spectators and athletes, helping to establish an efficient, low-carbon smart transportation network.

Mo Luyi, vice-president of Pony AI Inc, hailed the company's participation — especially in the torch relay — as the "best recognition" of its driverless technology and operational capabilities.

Other autonomous driving leaders, including WeRide and Didi, also seized the opportunity to apply their autonomous driving technologies in shuttle bus services, sanitation cleaning, and logistics delivery during the games.

Compared to the smaller-scale shuttle operations at previous sporting events, this year's National Games are putting multiple types of autonomous vehicles in various scenarios to the test. With high foot traffic and complex road conditions, the event serves as an invaluable proving ground for the systematic, open operation of autonomous driving. Experience gained here may influence the companies' future commercialization pace.

Qin Haiou, chairman of the Greater Bay Area Technology Innovation Service Center, which facilitates technology support for the National Games, said that the high technical demands of large-scale sporting events cannot be mirrored in any laboratory setting.

He described the event as an "invisible catalyst" for urban industrial upgrades, providing a unique opportunity for the tech sector to gain and flex its muscles, and for the accumulation of valuable digital assets that enhance urban governance.

Qin said that the integration of technology in the National Games has reached an "unprecedented level",shifting from direct procurement of individual tech products to tangible application scenarios. Additionally, the event extends technological innovation beyond stadiums into daily life, while promoting technological exchanges between the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao.

Alongside established tech giants, rising enterprises such as Yinshu Technology, which offers online sign language translation services, have gained attention. Such a focus on addressing specific needs is likely to inspire other startups seeking commercial traction, he said.

Contact the writer at bingcun@chinadailyhk.com