The 15th National Games torch relay, held simultaneously in four Greater Bay Area cities on Sunday, was hailed by officials and residents for showcasing regional cooperation and boosting national pride.

The historic event attracted large crowds and was live-streamed, marking the first Games co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao.

Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Macao kicked off their respective relays at 9:30 am, half an hour after Shenzhen began its relay.

The route in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region took in the city’s landmarks, starting from the government headquarters in Tamar, Admiralty, and ending at Kai Tak Sports Park in Kowloon.

At the relay launch ceremony, acting chief executive Eric Chan Kwok-ki highlighted Hong Kong’s charm as an international metropolis.

IN PICTURES: The flame of spirit

He urged residents to watch the National Games and cheer for Hong Kong’s athletes.

At Macao’s ceremony, Macao’s Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai said the sacred flame, which symbolizes brightness and hope, shone a light on the city’s vibrant spirit. Sam vowed to do his best to host the games and let the city’s charm shine on a larger stage.

The 50 Hong Kong torchbearers, representing diverse sectors of society, from business to sports, were led by table tennis star Wong Chun-ting and concluded with champion fencer Kaylin Hsieh Sin-yan, who won a gold medal in the women’s epee event at the 2025 World University Games.

Expressing his excitement in being the first torchbearer, Wong said it was meaningful to pass on the flame — a symbol of sanctity — to torchbearers from diverse sectors of the HKSAR.

RELATED ARTICLES

• Games: Joint lighting flame unites region
• More efforts to promote National Games in HK
• HK concludes National Games test event at Kai Tak Sports Park
• HK’s first National Games competition event kicks off
• Sailing: Halliday bags Hong Kong’s first gold at 15th National Games

Hsieh said ending the last leg of the relay at Kai Tak Sports Park was a good start for the city’s fencing team as that event will be held in the park. She added that she hopes the team, with the power of the flame, will shine at the Games.

Sun Yiwen, an Olympic fencing champion, arrived in Hong Kong on Saturday to serve as the second torchbearer for the city’s leg of the relay. She said she felt the importance the city placed on the Games and was encouraged by the support from residents of all ages. “I will come back to Hong Kong to watch the fencing events,” Sun added.

At Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai, residents arrived early to watch the memorable moment, waving national and HKSAR flags and cheering the torchbearers.

Yeung was there with her five-year-old grandson on Sunday to watch the torch relay. She said being so close to the torch relay for the first time had boosted her and her grandson’s sense of national identity.

A forty-year-old resident surnamed Guan also chose to spend her Sunday with family and friends rooting for Hong Kong.

Excited by the opportunity to see the relay, Guan said she plans to visit other host cities in the Greater Bay Area to watch the sports gala if time allows.

In total, between the four cities there were 200 torchbearers, with each covering 50 meters to 100 meters.

The Hong Kong section traversed both sides of Victoria Harbour with a ferry ride in between, taking in renowned landmarks such as Tamar Park, the waterfront at Central and Wan Chai, Golden Bauhinia Square, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, and Hong Kong Space Museum. The route spanned about 10 kilometers and took around two hours to complete, with ferries and open-top buses being used along some parts.

In Macao, the route covered a total distance of 2.6 kilometers, passing several renowned landmarks, and concluded at the Ruins of St. Paul’s, a UNESCO world heritage site.

Following the relay, the flames from the four cities were returned to the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center in Guangzhou, where a ceremony was held at 5pm. The sacred flame will be used during a relay and to ignite the main cauldron at the opening of the National Games on Nov 9.

Advanced technologies, such as smart robots, autonomous vehicles and drones, were used throughout the torch relays.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said 99 percent of preparation for the National Games in Hong Kong has been completed. About 30 percent of tickets for the Hong Kong section have been sold, and tickets for the finals are already sold out.

Law said around 100,000 tourists are expected to come to Hong Kong for the Games, and the authority will improve port clearance efficiency to facilitate easier travel.

The 15th National Games will be held from Nov 9 to 21, along with the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games from Dec 8 to 15.

Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com