China’s National Games torch passes to Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong
- Xian’s hosting of elite sporting event passes pandemic test with no coronavirus cases linked to games
- All eyes now on the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February
Twelve days after the games officially began, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang declared the sports event closed on Monday night, capping an hour-long spectacle at the Xian Olympic Sports Centre in Shaanxi province.
Along with thousands of masked spectators, the chief executives of Hong Kong and Macau, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Ho Iat-seng, attended the ceremony, which featured martial artists in a celebration of traditional Chinese culture and performers in personal protective equipment “showing Chinese power” during the pandemic.
Gou Zhongwen, director of the games and the head of China’s General Administration of Sport, praised the people of Shaanxi for holding a successful and safe event.
“The games committee took scientific and rigorous epidemic prevention measures ... Along with more than 6,000 health workers, we built strong safeguards for the games,” Gou said.
He also paid tribute to the athletes, who set 12 world records and two Asian records.
05:35
President Xi Jinping declares China’s National Games open at ceremony in Xian
As with the games’ opening ceremony, Monday night also saw musical items celebrating the “new era”, a phrase that alludes to the Communist Party’s official ideology of “national rejuvenation” under Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The National Games flag was also passed to the organisers of the next hosts in 2025: Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong province. A smiling Lam accepted the flag on Hong Kong’s behalf.
This year the event attracted more than 12,000 athletes from around the country to the northwestern province of Shaanxi.
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Authorities in Shaanxi tightened pandemic control measures more than a month before the start of the event, according to Ma Guanghui, deputy director for the games’ medical team and the provincial health commission.
“The pandemic control experience from the Xian event was a valuable lesson, but the Beijing Winter Olympics will have even higher standards,” news outlet Huanqiu.com quoted Ma as saying.
Several of China’s Olympians repeated their record-breaking performances, with track athlete Su Bingtian winning his first National Games gold in the 100 metres. He crossed the line in 9.95 seconds, the only competitor with a time under 10 seconds.
During the Tokyo Olympics, Su recorded Asia’s fastest time in the event at 9.83 seconds.
Swimmer Liu Xiang won gold in the women’s 50-metre freestyle in 23.97 seconds, smashing her own previous Asia-best record of 24.03 seconds.
And diving star Quan Hongchan came out on top in the women’s 10-metre platform.
03:05
Ancient city of Xian takes extensive measures to protect China’s National Games from Covid-19
With the Shaanxi games over, eyes are now on Guangdong, Macau and Hong Kong.
Without specifying, Lam said on Sunday she would push for Hong Kong to host certain events.
“Hong Kong will have more sports facilities in four years with the Kai Tak Sports Park, which will have a large stadium capable of seating 50,000 people,” she said in Shaanxi. “We should be able to host at least a few events.”
Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park will be one of the main venues in the city and is expected to be completed in 2023, according to Johnny Woo Wai-man, CEO of the executive arm of the planning committee of the 2009 East Asian Games, the last major multi-sport event Hong Kong hosted.
“The most important thing now is to discuss with the National Sports Administration, and Guangdong and Macau authorities what events will be hosted in which location,” Woo said.
Apart from the main stadium, the Kai Tak park will have an indoor sports centre with up to 10,000 seats and a public sports ground for 5,000 spectators.
