China Focus: 15th National Games highlights regional integration of China's Greater Bay Area

GUANGZHOU, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- In a historic first for China's premier sporting event, the upcoming 15th National Games will see athletes racing across the borders of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, dubbed the Greater Bay Area, symbolizing a new chapter in regional connectivity and integration.

During one of the Games' road cycling events, cyclists will embark on a 230-km course that starts in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, traverse the Macao Bridge to Taipa, Macao, cross the iconic Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge to Hong Kong's Lantau Island, and return to Zhuhai for the finish.

This race covers a route where every inch of pavement tells the story of regional collaborative development, said Huang Mingzhong, director of the office of the National Games' organizing committee.

The 2025 National Games, alongside the National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the National Special Olympic Games, marks the first time that Guangdong and the special administrative regions (SARs) of Hong Kong and Macao to co-host the country's premier multi-sport event.

The two SARs, which operate under a "one country, two systems" formula, are granted a high degree of autonomy, including maintaining their own immigration and border controls.

The National Games includes two cross-border races, namely the cycling race and a marathon that highlight "hard connectivity" of infrastructure in the Greater Bay Area.

The cycling race, which will utilize the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge as part of its course for the first time, will be the Games' landmark event connecting Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

Since its opening in October 2018, the bridge's Zhuhai Port has recorded over 93 million passenger trips and over 19 million vehicle crossings as of Oct. 22 this year.

The bridge's growing traffic flow, along with the completion of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-Speed Railway and the world-class Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, has strengthened the Greater Bay Area's infrastructure connectivity, serving as vital arteries for regional integration.

Separately, the marathon will see athletes running across the Shenzhen Bay Bridge, making it the first cross-border marathon in the Games' history.

"Every aspect of these cross-border events, from race route design to swift clearance of athletes, spectators and vehicles, requires joint planning and close coordination," said Yeung Tak-keung, head of the Hong Kong coordination office for the Games.

This coordination is powered by "soft connectivity" that features streamlined administrative procedures. Cyclists will pass through the border ports six times without stopping, enjoying a "no-brake" clearance experience, said Zhang Zhihua, an official overseeing the Games' coordination work with Hong Kong and Macao.

Similarly, marathon runners will cross the Shenzhen-Hong Kong border on the Shenzhen Bay Bridge without pausing to present travel documents.

"We have worked closely on optimizing routes, competition organization, mutual recognition of regulations and information sharing -- to enable seamless clearance," Huang added.

Industry observers note that this cooperation model not only enhances the Greater Bay Area's overall competitiveness but also fosters more people-to-people exchanges.

"The streamlined customs process connects people's hearts and conveys the warmth of the host," Zhang said. He noted that dedicated and "green" channels have been set up at border crossings for delegations and ticket-holding spectators, facilitating quick entry.

The spirit of integration is already taking root. Earlier this year, approximately 500 young people from the three regions participated in a health run event in Guangzhou to promote the Games.

"Running with friends from across the Greater Bay Area not only deepens our mutual understanding and friendship but also strengthens our sense of national identity," said Jimmy Lee Cho-wai, a former Hong Kong track team member and one of the event's pacers.

Tam Kaman, a participant from Macao, said the Games will boost cooperation in sports, culture and the economy. "The atmosphere was incredibly enthusiastic as we ran together, encouraging each other and cheering for the Games," Tan said. "It fully demonstrates the spirit of unity and collective striving among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao." ■