Hong Kong stands ready to make history by cohosting the 15th National Games in November with Guangdong province and Macao for the first time, and will bring “unforgettable experiences” to audiences, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Saturday.

He spoke at a 100-day countdown ceremony for the upcoming 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (Hong Kong), noting it will be the first time for such a national event to be staged in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, reflecting the country’s full support for the region.

Lee said the HKSAR has cooperated closely with the Macao SAR and Guangdong province, and has completed the test events for the eight competition events and two cross-boundary cooperative games in Hong Kong.  

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Hong Kong will use sporting events as a link to further promote the integrated development of the Greater Bay Area’s sports industry, expand youth sports exchanges, and enable more residents, including those with disabilities, to experience the equality and inclusiveness of sports.

During the countdown ceremony, guests, including Hong Kong athletes and officials, had jointly finished the last 100 kilometers of the city’s Million Kilometers Challenge through bike riding which is among the series events to celebrate the 15th NG, the 12th NGD, and the 9th NSOG (Hong Kong).

Hong Kong’s 100-day countdown for the national sports events, held at Hong Kong Velodrome in Tseung Kwan O, featured a plethora of interactive sports demonstrations, imaginative workshops, and photographic moments with the beloved Games’ mascots, “Xi Yangyang” and “Le Rongrong”.

A Hong Kong resident living on Hong Kong Island said he learned about the countdown carnival through social media and decided to attend.

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“The scale is larger than I thought. I think the authorities can organize more promotional activities to encourage sports for all, rather than just during major events,” he said, adding he looked forward to the fencing competition in Hong Kong, and may travel to other cities to watch the swimming and table tennis competitions.

A series of celebratory activities, including drone performances and star-studded concerts, are being held across the Greater Bay Area this weekend, marking the start of the 100-day countdown to the Games due to open on Nov 9.

A series of “100”-themed warming-up events have been staged in the three regions as of Friday.

Another 100-day countdown ceremony under the same theme will be held at night in Shenzhen, which Lee will attend.

Numerous landmark buildings throughout Shenzhen will be lit up tonight, featuring a rolling display of slogans and promotional taglines associated with the competitions.

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The 15th National Games will feature 401 elite events across 34 sports, with Guangdong hosting 350 competitions. The opening and closing ceremonies will be held in Guangzhou and Shenzhen on Nov 9 and 21, respectively.

Hong Kong, a first-time host, will stage 37 elite events in eight sports, including track cycling, golf, fencing and rugby sevens, while a bowling event will be open to mass participation.

Two groundbreaking sports events -- the Shenzhen-Hong Kong marathon  and the Zhuhai-Macao-Hong Kong road cycling race -- will physically link up the three regions, highlighting the Greater Bay Area’s seamless integration.

Edmond Tang contributed to the story.

Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com