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China's 15th National Games will open on Nov 9 across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, marking the first time three regions have co-hosted the country's premier multi-sport event.
MACAO -- The torch relay for the Macao session of China's 15th National Games was held on Sunday morning, filling the city with festive energy and pride as the flame made its way through some of Macao's most iconic landmarks.
The relay began at the headquarters of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government. Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai lit the first torch and handed it to Li Yi, who won the women's changquan gold medal for Macao at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023.
Covering a total distance of about 2.6 kilometers across the Macao Peninsula, the route passed several renowned landmarks and concluded at the Ruins of St. Paul's, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a total of 50 torchbearers participating.
The final torchbearer Kuok Kin-hang, who won a bronze medal in the men's karate at the 14th National Games to become Macao's first-ever medalist at the Games, carried the flame up the steps in front of the Ruins of St. Paul's and lit the cauldron amid cheers.
"I feel very honored and happy to be the final torchbearer," he told Xinhua, adding that it can be an experience "remembered for a lifetime."
The torch relay for the 15th National Games was held simultaneously on Sunday in Hong Kong, Macao, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, marking the first cross-boundary torch relay in the history of the Games and the first time the torch has been carried in Hong Kong and Macao.
SHENZHEN -- China's National Games celebrated a milestone on Sunday as its first cross-boundary torch relay is held simultaneously in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, with one week before the Games opens.
Following the launch ceremony in the southern coastal city of Shenzhen, the torch relay started in Hong Kong, Macao, Guangzhou and Shenzhen - four key cities of the Greater Bay Area.
200 torchbearers from all walks of life will carry the flame, including physicist Xue Qikun and former Olympic diving champion Yang Jinghui.
The "source flame" was extracted and ignited from combustible ice lying more than 1,500 meters beneath the surface of the South China Sea in September.
Following the relay, the torch flames from the four cities will converge in Guangzhou later on Sunday, at Guangdong Olympic Sports Center to be merged into a single flame, which will light the main cauldron at the opening ceremony of the 15th National Games on November 9.
Volunteers from Guangdong province, Hong Kong, and Macao are joining forces to support the upcoming 15th National Games, an initiative that organizers say will deepen regional cooperation and youth exchange across the Greater Bay Area.
"The practice helps explore a collaborative development path for volunteer services in Guangdong," said Wang Hao, deputy director of major events and volunteer service department of the Games' Guangdong division organizing committee, during a press conference on Friday.
The Games, jointly hosted for the first time by Guangdong and the two special administrative regions, will open on Nov 9 in Guangzhou.
After a rigorous selection process, Guangdong has recruited 30,000 volunteers from 17 host cities and 99 universities, including 389 from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese communities.
"Each volunteer must undergo systematic training and assessment to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to meet the event requirements before they can begin their service," said Wang.
To encourage public participation, volunteers from transportation hubs, shopping districts, tourist sites, and cultural squares will assist visitors throughout the Games. Sectors such as ride-hailing, food delivery, and courier services are also being encouraged to offer convenient and friendly support, Wang said.
In addition, 24 professional emergency teams from across the province have conducted drills to ensure safety and smooth operations during the event.
Volunteer enthusiasm is strong beyond Guangdong. In Hong Kong, more than 30,000 people have applied, marking the largest volunteer activity in the city's history. Since its launch in February 2023, the Macao division's program has drawn broad support from the public and social organizations, with 3,500 volunteers already serving in hotels and event venues.
To strengthen coordination, the three divisions have established a regular communication mechanism, shared training materials, and exchanged instructors. "We have launched a unified cultural identity for the volunteer service theme, shared training course materials, and exchanged training instructors for mutual learning and practice, consolidating efforts to collaboratively deliver outstanding volunteer services for the Games," said Wang.
