With the addition of accessible toilets, sign language interpretation systems, and new AR navigation services… in recent days, multiple events of the 12th National Paralympic Games and 9th National Special Olympic Games have been held. A variety of barrier-free facilities and thoughtful services have conveyed humanistic care. Taking the opportunity of hosting the 15th National Games and the Para Games & Special Olympics, a number of sports venues in Guangdong Province have been renovated and upgraded, and sports events have become increasingly abundant. The joy of sports can be seen everywhere in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Hosting Events Boosts Urban Renewal
“‘Xiyangyang’ and ‘Lerongrong’ are going to become permanent IPs of the Greater Bay Area!” Recently, news that “Guangzhou plans to build a permanent IP park for the mascots of the 15th National Games” has attracted attention. At landmarks such as the Canton Tower and Beijing Road, mascot check-in spots have drawn citizens and tourists to interact and take photos.
The National Games have brought a new atmosphere to the Greater Bay Area. In Guangzhou, a cruise ship themed on the 15th National Games sails on the Pearl River, where the scenery on both banks complements the elements of the 15th National Games; in Zhuhai, themed banners reading “Gather in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao, Chase Dreams on a New Journey” flutter in the wind along multiple roads including Lovers’ Road and Jinwan Road; in Hong Kong, Victoria Park has been transformed into a beach volleyball court, allowing citizens to experience beach volleyball, fencing and other events for free; in Macao, a carnival integrating food, basketball and music was held in Taipa, where people tasted local snacks and felt the charm of competitive sports.
A renovation “without large-scale demolition and construction” has changed the daily life of Guangzhou citizens. The Guangzhou Tianhe Sports Center has renovated 15,000 square meters of under-forest space, integrating rest and fitness functions, and also transformed 5 main entrances into full-width curb ramps to create a “barrier-free competition zone”, ensuring the safe travel of the elderly and disabled.
“Hosting events is equivalent to developing the city.” Hu Feng, chief planner of the Guangzhou Urban Planning & Design Survey Research Institute, said that the improvement of the competition zone’s quality has also promoted urban renewal, and the achievements of hosting the National Games and the Para Games & Special Olympics will continue to benefit the public.
Venues Become Popular Fitness Destinations
After a year of optimization and renovation, including renewing the turf, track and stands, building a new steel structure canopy, creating arcade-style spaces, and upgrading audio-visual and lighting equipment… the Guangdong Provincial People’s Stadium has taken on a new look. Part of the U16 women’s football matches of the 15th National Games were held here, and this time-honored stadium has now become a popular place for citizens to exercise and keep fit.
As night falls, people come to the Guangdong Provincial People’s Stadium for exercise. Lanes 1-3 are for jogging and lanes 4-8 are for walking, with clear zoning meeting the exercise needs of different groups of people.
Talking about the changes in the stadium, citizen Mr. Xiang sighed deeply: “The facilities here used to be outdated, and the experience was very poor.” Now, the stadium has not only been upgraded in hardware but also optimized in layout design. “We specially connected the main north entrance of the stadium to Guangzhou Yingxiong Square and carried out refined renewal of the original green space. It only takes a few tens of meters to walk between the stadium and the square, allowing people to exercise and relax at the same time, making the urban space more user-friendly,” a relevant person in charge of the Guangzhou Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau said.
The nightlife at Guangzhou Yingxiong Square is very dynamic, with multiple square dance teams and hip-hop teams gathering here. Grandma Jiang, who is 72 years old, said: “I go for a walk in the stadium every morning and dance in the square every night. I’m very happy and have made many friends.”
“The Guangdong Provincial People’s Stadium has also held activities such as youth sports training camps and the ‘National Games Champions Park’, actively promoting national fitness and enhancing the influence of events and public participation,” said Chen Yanduan, director of the Guangdong Provincial People’s Stadium.
Multiple venues and public fitness areas of the Guangzhou Tianhe Sports Center have resumed opening to the public; some venues of the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center have opened fitness services for citizens; 8 professional venues of the 15th National Games, such as equestrian and shooting venues, host professional events and build training bases. More and more venues of the 15th National Games have realized post-event reuse, attracting more people to participate in sports and fitness.
Atmosphere of Helping the Disabled Grows Stronger
“Don’t be confused, don’t be flustered. When the sun goes down, there is still moonlight, which will light up the road of life…” The singing came from the Sun Yat-sen Library of Guangdong Province, and the art performance to welcome the 2025 Para Games and Special Olympics kicked off. The Integrated Art Troupe of Guangzhou Rehabilitation Experimental School brought wonderful programs to the audience. This is an art troupe composed of disabled and special children. Off the stage, the leading teacher Yu Yulin watched the children affectionately and cheered them on.
Taking the opportunity of the National Games and the Para Games & Special Olympics, the Integrated Art Troupe of Guangzhou Rehabilitation Experimental School has actively participated in performances inside and outside the school, allowing children to polish their skills and shine on the stage, helping them embrace the world with a more calm and positive attitude.
In the Greater Bay Area, the atmosphere of caring for the disabled is becoming increasingly strong. Ling Xiaojun, a hearing-impaired person, was once very introverted. With the support of the hearing-impaired rehabilitation intelligent agent independently developed by China Mobile Internet Co., Ltd., AI-enabled language rehabilitation training has changed her life. After several months of training, Ling Xiaojun has gradually gone from “daring to speak” to “being able to speak”. The recognition rate of her words on the mobile phone’s exclusive model has increased from 29% to more than 83%. “Now she often takes the initiative to communicate with colleagues and can even complete physical examinations alone. She is one step closer to her dream of ‘tutoring her child’s homework alone’,” her colleagues said with relief when talking about Ling Xiaojun’s changes.
Recently, the “Chasing Dreams in the Greater Bay Area, Brilliant Life Path – Art Exhibition of Guangdong Province to Welcome the ‘Para Games and Special Olympics'” was held. Among the 100 exhibited works, 80 were created by disabled people. Everyone has actively participated in creation, using brushes to build a bridge of understanding, respect and care. “We held this art exhibition not only to support the Para Games and Special Olympics, but also to further promote the formation of a good atmosphere of helping the disabled in the whole society and encourage more disabled people to bravely pursue their dreams and live a wonderful life,” said Qiu Zhaoxian, member of the Party Group and Deputy Director of the Guangdong Provincial Federation of Disabled Persons.
