Delegations make grand entrance as China’s 15th National Games opens

Athletes and fitness enthusiasts from 37 delegations across the country made a grand entrance at the opening ceremony of China’s 15th National Games in Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong Province, on Sunday evening. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan attended the ceremony. 

The ceremony began at 20:00 as an eight-member guard of honor of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) solemnly escorted China’s national flag into the stadium with a steady stride. 

The flag of the National Games of the People’s Republic of China and the flag of the 15th National Games were then carried in. 

Delegations representing China’s provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions and Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, as well as various sports associations, marched into the venue to the warm applause from the crowd. 

Xi and Peng greeted the athletes, who enthusiastically waved their hands in response. 

The Games, scheduled from Nov 9 to 21, is co-hosted by Guangdong Province and the neighboring Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, marking the first time that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has co-hosted the country’s premier multi-sport event. 

First held in 1959, the National Games is China’s largest multi-sport event. 

The 15th National Games feature 34 sports with 419 events in the competitive program, and 23 sports with 166 events in the mass participation program.