THE 15th National Games, jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, marks the first time the event has been co-hosted by multiple regions and the first time it has been staged in Hong Kong and Macao.

The Games has pioneered an operational model featuring seamless customs clearance, effectively addressing the challenges of cross-border movement of personnel, materials, and information under different administrative systems.

The three regions are collaborating on joint travel packages and simplifying spectator access through policies such as cross-border vehicle access and 240-hour visa-free transit.

“To facilitate cross-border movement of athletes and equipment, we have set up dedicated customs lanes, established a streamlined clearance mechanism for competition gear, and improved emergency coordination protocols,” Li Jing, an official with the organizing committee, said.

For instance, fencing swords, racing bicycles. and triathlon bikes used by mainland athletes can pass through checkpoints as personal luggage.

In a first for the National Games, the event features a men’s road cycling race linking all three regions via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, as well as a marathon running across Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

Organizers aim to make these the first carbon-neutral National Games, implementing green measures in construction, energy, and operations.

In Guangdong, more than 90% of the 75 venues have been upgraded from existing facilities as part of the low-carbon drive.

At Guangzhou’s Tianhe Sports Center, a landmark built in 1984 that hosted the sixth and ninth National Games, photovoltaic panels have been integrated into carport structures. The 2,400-square-meter distributed solar system has helped make the venue China’s first large-scale sports facility with near-zero carbon emissions.

In Guangdong, more than 188 million kilowatt-hours of green electricity will power all venues, cutting carbon emissions by approximately 160,000 tons — equivalent to planting 8.88 million trees.

Beyond sports, the games provide a platform for one of China’s most economically dynamic regions to showcase technological innovations, particularly in autonomous driving and low-altitude aviation.

In Guangzhou and Shenzhen, more than 100 autonomous “Robotaxi” vehicles will provide smart shuttle services, while a new pilotless aircraft will debut in real-world operations to transport personnel between venues.

“Without technology, many tasks would rely on manpower,” said Guan Jianyong, an employee at a Shenzhen robotics company. “This year’s games use tech to make transportation efficient, safe, and sustainable.”

(Xinhua)