National Games viewed as window to experience modern China

Tech touches

Angus Ng Hok-ming, chairman of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Youth Association, praised the event's use of advanced technology.

Ng watched the games' opening ceremony at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center in Guangzhou, and was deeply impressed by the amazing platform design and visual effects, especially the use of modern robots to showcase traditional Chinese culture, which he described as a fusion of history with the future. Sport has become a platform to showcase the nation's technological strength, he said.

A good example is the men's individual road cycling race, which seamlessly traversed 231.8 kilometers across three regions. The riders set off from Zhuhai, traversed the Macao Bridge to reach Taipa in Macao, then traveled along the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. They then rode to Hong Kong Port, then along the North Lantau Highway and Penny's Bay Highway before heading back to Zhuhai.

During the half-day event, athletes crossed checkpoints six times without interruption, and realized "zero delay, zero contact, zero waiting time and barrier-free" clearance. Radio Frequency Identification readers, connected to the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, were installed at the checkpoints to instantly record athletes' wristband signals via RFID tags.

The smooth operation at the games — from real-name authentication by mobile phone and facial recognition for ticket verification, to automated shuttle vehicles, reflects the convenience of this "smart event", Ng said.

The convenience and modernization already achieved in the GBA can instill strong public confidence in the region's development, he added.

Li Jing, deputy director of the General Administration of Sport of China, said there was no precedent for co-hosting the National Games.

However, the successful 15th edition of the event has solved challenges such as the flow of personnel, materials, and information under different administrative systems. Valuable experience has also been accumulated for the integration and broader development of the GBA at deeper levels, Li said.

Lobo Louie Hung-tak, a senior lecturer in health and physical education at The Education University of Hong Kong, said the games can serve as a conduit for Hong Kong youths to learn more about cities in the GBA.

"The cultural attributes of sports can transcend language, ethnicity, and borders, representing a unifying social value shared by all," Louie said.

Development within the GBA can also bring economic, sport and cultural benefits to Hong Kong and Macao, he added.

Due to extensive media coverage, Hong Kong residents' appreciation of the GBA has deepened in recent years, Louie said. More residents go to mainland cities for sightseeing and shopping, or even cycling and climbing, due to increasing familiarity with the "one-hour living circle" in the region, he said.

Louie said the National Games can reflect the unique characteristics of the region. Flexible arrangements for cross-boundary competitions can also facilitate the development of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in other aspects, such as culture and the economy.

Hong Kong resident Sang, who goes to mainland GBA cities almost weekly, watched the badminton competition in Shenzhen, Guangdong, on Nov 16.

The close proximity of the venue allowed her to return to Hong Kong on the same day, which meant significant savings on accommodation. Sang, who only gave her last name, believes such events can attract more non-local tourists to the GBA, and hopes that more high-level competitions will be held to further enhance the region's attractiveness and vitality.