The 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games of the People’s Republic of China concluded successfully in Shenzhen on the evening of the 15th. This marked the first time that the three regions of Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macao co – hosted the National Games for Persons with Disabilities and National Special Olympic Games, which fully reflects the great importance attached by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core to the cause of persons with disabilities and its special care for them.
At 8 p.m., the closing ceremony was held at the Shenzhen Sports Center Gymnasium. Huang Kunming, Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, attended the ceremony. Shen Yiqin, State Councilor, announced the closing of the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games of the People’s Republic of China.
During the closing ceremony, Meng Fanli, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Governor of Guangdong Provincial People’s Government and Secretary of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, Chan Kwok – kee, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Ao Ieong U, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region, and Cheng Kai, Chairman of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, delivered speeches successively. Gao Zhidan, Minister of the General Administration of Sport of China, also attended the ceremony.
A total of 46 sports were featured in this edition of the Games. 7,824 athletes from 34 delegations across the country registered to participate, with both the scale of the delegations and the number of athletes registering for mass sports events hitting record highs. The Games served as a concentrated showcase of the new achievements made in the development of sports for persons with disabilities in China during the 14th Five – Year Plan period. More than 15 world records and 156 national records were broken. The competitive performances of the athletes with disabilities, who constantly surpassed themselves and strived for excellence, along with their spiritual outlook of perseverance and optimism, inspired and touched everyone.
At the closing ceremony, Wang Xi, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and Director of the United Front Work Department, together with Chan Kwok – kee and Ao Ieong U, returned the flags of the National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the National Special Olympic Games to Zhou Changkui, Chairperson of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, and Tong Lixin, Vice Minister of the General Administration of Sport of China. Afterwards, Zhou Changkui handed over the flags to Wang Daoxi, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee, who represented the host of the next Games. The 13th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 10th National Special Olympic Games will be held in Hunan Province in 2029.
