Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

THE 15th National Games, a showcase of Chinese athletic prowess, will conclude Friday with a closing ceremony in Shenzhen that promises to be as innovative as the city itself, featuring a fleet of cutting-edge robots and a first-of-its-kind coastal stage.

The ceremony, to be held at the Happy Theater in Bao’an District, breaks with tradition by moving from a standard stadium to a bespoke seaside venue. This innovative design will merge a land-based spectator area with a performance stage over the water, a first in the event’s history.

The ceremony will involve over 2,500 performers and staff and highlight the cultural tapestry of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

A segment titled “Symphony of the Greater Bay Area” will feature 120 performers from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, showcasing shared cultural elements to foster a sense of communal belonging.

True to Shenzhen’s reputation as a tech hub, technology will be a central character in the finale, with local firms playing a starring role.

In a preview of the technological spectacle, 16 fully autonomous mobile robots, developed by Shenzhen Yuhesen Technology Co. Ltd., have been rehearsing for the event. Their core component — a patented omni-directional chassis — is a product of nine years of research and will make its global debut at the ceremony before being launched internationally.

“This technology is a leader in its field,” said Li Leida, co-founder of Yuhesen. The team has been rehearsing for nearly a month to ensure a flawless performance.

The closing ceremony is the culmination of the Games, where Shenzhen’s technological prowess was a recurring theme.

The organizing committee has collaborated with over 20 tech companies to integrate the latest innovations, including in the ceremony’s extinguishing of the Games flame, which the organizers promise will be a novel, tech-driven spectacle.