Exchange activities are flourishing between students from Hong Kong, Macau and the mainland. These include science contests, military camps and arts performances.
Now, a series of sports competitions for teenagers from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau has been set up under an agreement by the three governments to foster sports ties.
The Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau Sports Exchange and Cooperation Agreement was signed in 2003. Macau held the first three-region soccer tournament for students on August 12 and 13.
Macau Sports Development Board director Alex Vong Iao-lek praised the tournament. He sees it as a first step towards regular exchange between student athletes across the Pearl River Delta.
'It has laid the foundation for youth sports exchange in the region,' he said. 'We are starting with soccer and will expand to cover a variety of sports in the near future.'
There were two age groups - Group A for players under 15 years old and Group B for the under-13s.
Guangdong players beat their opponents to become champions in both groups. They were 'beefier', and seemed used to exercising in the sun.
