Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

AS China’s first multi-sport event jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, the 15th National Games opened yesterday with a ceremony blending cutting-edge technology and rich cultural heritage to spotlight the spirit of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony and declared the Games open at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry and IOC Honorary President for Life Thomas Bach also attended the ceremony.

The 75-minute program included the ceremony protocol, a cultural and artistic performance, and the torch relay and lighting process.

In line with the Games’ emphasis on frugality, the 20,000-sqm stage featured no mechanical installations on the ground. Instead, organizers leveraged the technological prowess of the GBA, utilizing robotics and virtual reality (VR) to reinterpret traditional Lingnan culture for the modern era.    (Continued on P3)