Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, his Hong Kong counterpart Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Guangdong Governor Ma Xingrui attended yesterday’s closing ceremony for the 14th National Games in Xi’an, capital of Shaanxi province, according to a Government Information Bureau (GCS) statement.
According to the statement, when Premier Li Keqiang announced the end of the 14th National Games, Ho, Lam and Ma were handed the National Games’ flag, symbolising the fact that the Greater Bay Area (GBA) will be hosting the 15th National Games in 2025.
The statement noted that the National Games is organised by the General Administration of Sport, adding that it is the nation’s largest and highest quality competition. The statement noted that the General Office of the State Council announced on August 26 that Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau would host the 2025 15th National Games, which will be the first jointly organised National Games and the first time that Macau will host or co-host the National Games.
The statement said that Ho congratulated Macau’s sports delegation for achieving an outstanding record by winning the city’s first medal at the National Games. The statement quoted him as saying that in 2025 the Greater Bay Area will be co-hosting the 15th National Games and it will closely comply with the motto of “simple, safe and exciting” as its standard. The statement also said that Ho encouraged Macau athletes to actively prepare for the National Games in 2025 in order to promote the sports industry in Macau, while contributing to the nation’s sports sector.
According to the statement, 102 local athletes competed in 17 sports competitions. The statement pointed out that local karateka Kuok Kin Hang won a bronze medal in his men’s karate competition. Moreover, the statement said that runner Lou Wai Un in the 800-metre race men’s athlete category, and swimmer Chen Pui Lam in the 200-metre women’s breaststroke category, broke Macau records. The statement also pointed out that progress was also shown in other sports categories such as karate, fencing and beach volleyball.
The statement underlined that the Macau sports delegation including workers and medical team members will return to Macau today, stressing that they have all undergone nucleic acid tests (NAT) in Xi’an and will be undergoing a few more NATs after arriving back home. The statement said that the sports delegation will closely monitor the COVID-19 situation in Macau and make appropriate arrangements accordingly.
This handout photo provided by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) yesterday shows Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (right) handing over the National Games flag to Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng at the closing ceremony of the 14th National Games in Xi’an, capital of Shaanxi province.
