The ongoing 15th National Games are playing a major role in helping Guangzhou, the Guangdong provincial capital, accelerate its development as an internationally renowned sports hub.
President Xi Jinping on Sunday met with representatives of national model units and individuals in mass sports and competitive sports, ahead of the opening of the 15th National Games of the People's Republic of China in Guangzhou, capital city of Guangdong Province.
On a sunny November afternoon, a group of children chased a soccer ball across a centuries-old garden square as boisterous basketball fans-turned-tourists, still buzzing from the thrill of a high-octane match, snapped happy selfies against a historic backdrop.
Running on the scenic Shenzhen Bay Bridge, cool sea breeze in their hair, was undoubtedly the highlight of the first cross-boundary marathon in China's historic 15th National Games.
During the ongoing National Games, airline ticket bookings to the major host cities, such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai, have seen double-digit growth compared with last year.
Through their headspins, high jumps and playful antics, the mascots Xi Yangyang and Le Rongrong, inspired by the Chinese white dolphin, have become the unexpected stars of the ongoing 15th National Games, stealing the show at venues across the three host regions.
For athletes, the ongoing 15th National Games is a massive domestic sports platform to compete for gold medals. For thousands of spectators, the event is also an opportunity to taste cuisine from Guangdong province, Hong Kong, and Macao.
When the 15th National Games opened in Guangzhou of Guangdong province on Nov 9, it marked a spectacular demonstration of event management, technological integration and the principle of shared participation.