Min Yuntong, Deputy Secretary General of the Zhuhai Committee for the National Games, said the race was more than an athletic contest—it showcased a new model of regional cooperation and reflected the integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

The flow of connection 

The 15th National Games is the first cohosted with an SAR, with Hong Kong and Macao jointly hosting the event with 19 cities in Guangdong. 

The symbolic elements of the Games reflected this tripartite collaboration. The mascots, Xi Yangyang and Le Rongrong drew inspiration from the Chinese white dolphin, an iconic species of the GBA waters that connect the three territories. Similarly, the Games' emblem features three-colored petals representing Guangdong's kapok trees, Hong Kong's bauhinia, and Macao's lotus—botanical symbols of unity in diversity.

Behind the scenes, making cross-border competition possible requires meticulous planning and unprecedented cooperation. "These cross-border competitions require joint planning and close coordination among the three regions in every aspect, from designing the race routes to facilitating rapid customs clearance for athletes, spectators, and vehicles," explained Yeung Tak-keung, head of the Coordination Office for the 15th National Games. The logistical achievement represented a template for future regional integration, proving that administrative barriers could be overcome through shared objectives and careful planning.

This spirit of coordination extended into every aspect of the Games, from venue arrangement to event design. Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), expressed his enthusiasm for the event in an interview with Xinhua News Agency: "It's fantastic to see the cities coming together to celebrate sports," he said, highlighting the Shenzhen Guangming International Equestrian Center as a prime example of Hong Kong-mainland cooperation for the Games with the HKJC providing professional advice and technical support during the construction of the equestrian facilities. 

"From the start, we offered development guidance to ensure the venue meets world-class standards," he said. "One aspect we're especially proud of is the first tailor-made equine hospital, which reflects the highest commitment to animal welfare and could serve as a model for the future."

The German CEO also emphasized a groundbreaking collaboration between the National Games and the HKJC's world-class anti-doping laboratory to ensure the integrity of equestrian competitions. "This partnership guarantees world-class facilities, top-level expertise, and fairness throughout the Games," he added.

Looking beyond the current Games, Engelbrecht-Bresges sees significant potential for equestrian cooperation across the GBA. "The National Games is a wonderful example of how cities can work together to create an economic, social, and cultural cluster. We see multiple opportunities in equestrian sports and horse racing."

He revealed that one of the HKJC's earliest initiatives in the Chinese mainland was during the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, where it helped establish the first equine disease-free zone. "The legacy is now a training center for horse racing in Guangzhou," he noted, illustrating how sporting collaborations can create lasting infrastructure.

"Equestrian sports have a great future in Shenzhen," Engelbrecht-Bresges predicted. "The city has a unique opportunity to become a center of excellence. The key is to organize regular competitions and get people excited about horses." His vision extends beyond individual cities to regional transformation. "I see great potential for this area to become a hub for equestrian sports and horse racing. We will help build an equestrian cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao region."

A sporting future 

Professor Zhang Guangnan, Director of Center of Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macao Regional Studies at Sun Yat-sen University, said the National Games have served as both a showcase and catalyst for the accelerated connectivity within the GBA in recent years.

With the regional transportation network continuously improving, the "half-hour living circle" and "one-hour economic circle" are gradually becoming a reality. "In this context, sports have evolved from mere recreation to become both a magnet attracting people across boundaries and an engine powering the social and cultural connectivity of the GBA," he told People's Daily.

Hong Kong rowing coach Tang Siu Man, a former member of the Hong Kong rowing team, has won numerous honors in major competitions such as the Asian Rowing Championships. In 2020, invited by a Macao rowing coach, she visited Hengqin, a vibrant island district of Zhuhai to observe a competition and was captivated by the vibrant area. At that time, Hengqin was actively building a diverse sports and cultural ecosystem, and although rowing was still in its early stages there, she decided to put down roots and open a new chapter in her rowing career.

Today, the rowing club she founded has become a team that brings together members from all three regions of the GBA. With her partners, she also established the Hengqin Youth Rowing Team and provides athlete training for the Macao Polytechnic University as well as local schools in Hengqin. Through years of exploration and promotion, they have successfully transformed rowing from a niche sport into a new signature water activity of the GBA.

Renowned Hong Kong cyclist and world champion Wong Wan Yiu chose to settle in Shenzhen, Guangdong, after retiring, where she founded a BMX club dedicated to promoting cycling among young people. "I can see the sea right from my

window. In my free time, I often cycle dozens of kilometers along the coast alone," she told Xinhua. "On weekends, friends from Hong Kong come to Shenzhen to cycle together, and more than 30 Hong Kong children regularly come to the club for training."

In her eyes, Shenzhen is a cycling-friendly city with not only multiple scenic coastal cycling paths but also frequent cycling events, well-developed facilities, and a strong cycling culture.

Ahead of the National Games, approximately 500 young people from across the GBA gathered in Guangzhou for a mass participation health run event.

Hong Kong pacemaker Lee Cho Wai, a former member of the Hong Kong athletics team who still holds the 800-meter record at the Hong Kong Athletics Championships, captured the deeper significance of the event. "Running alongside young friends from the GBA not only enhances mutual understanding and friendship, but somehow strengthens our shared sense of national identity," Lee told Xinhua.

Copyedited by G.P. Wilson 

Comments to yuanyuan@cicgamericas.com