Govt sets up body to ensure ‘smooth’ preparations for Macau hosting of 3 national games next year

The local government has set up a new body tasked with coordinating and organising Macau’s ongoing efforts to ensure smooth and continuous preparations for the upcoming 15^th National Games, the 12^th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9^th National Special Olympic Games to be held in Macau, abolishing as of today the Macau Organising Committee for the 15^th National Games established in 2022.

The Official Gazette (BO) published yesterday Executive Order No 135/2024 on the establishment of the Macau Organising Committee for the Macau Competition Zone of the 15^th National Games, the 12^th National Paralympic Games and the 9^th National Special Olympic Games, under the chairmanship of the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture.

According to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) yesterday, the changes are due to the fact that the three competitions will take place one after another next year.

The 15^th National Games, the 12^th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9^th National Special Olympic Games, which will be co-hosted by the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau for the first time, will be held in the three places on November 9-21, 2025 for 13 days. Macau will host five National Games categories – four competitions (table tennis, 3x3 basketball, men’s U18 basketball and women’s volleyball) and one modality (karate), as well as the National Games for Persons with Disabilities and National Special Olympic Games with a badminton competition each, i.e., seven different types of events in total.

Scheduled to last until June 30, 2026, the organising committee is composed of 13 members from various public entities, comprising the coordinator and deputy coordinator of the Preparatory Office for the Organisation of the Macau Competition Zone of the 15^th National Games and the 12^th  National Games for People with Disabilities and the 9^th National Special Olympic Games as secretary-general and deputy secretary-general respectively; as well as one representative each from the Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Sports Bureau (ID), Health Bureau (SSM), Government Information Bureau (GCS), Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM), Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Unitary Police Services (SPU), Macau Customs Service (SA), Fire Services Bureau (CB), Public Works Bureau (DSOP), and the Transport Bureau (DSAT).

Dated and signed by Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng on Tuesday, the executive order, which takes effect today, noted that the committee’s secretary general shall be responsible for liaising with the General Administration of Sport, the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, the sports authorities of Guangdong Province and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as well as the relevant entities to coordinate the organisation of the three national games and to report to the chairperson i.e., the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture , in a timely manner, on the plans and implementation of the work required for organising the sports competitions in Macau.

Yesterday’s GCS statement noted that “given the importance of the National Games, National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the National Special Olympic Games, which are jointly hosted by the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau for the first time, the Macau government needs to set up an office in the nature of a project team, with a dedicated director of office to coordinate the specialised teams to ensure that the preparatory work is carried out smoothly”.

Pun to head preparatory office, leave Sports Bureau

Meanwhile, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elise Ao Ieong U signed and published her executive order No. 72/2024 in the Official Gazette yesterday, announcing the appointment of Sports Bureau (ID) President Pun Weng Kun as the coordinator of the preparatory office for the organisation of the three national games in Macau, with the term of office taking effect from today to June 30, 2026.

ID Vice President Luís Gomes will assume the duties of his bureau’s president today, when Pun takes up the post of the preparatory office’s coordinator, according to Ao Ieong’s order. 

This file photo shows Sports Bureau (ID) President Pun Weng Kun speaking to local reporters after two separate press conferences about next year’s 15^th National Games, 12^th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9^th National Special Olympic Games, at a conference hall of the Zhudao Guest House in Guangzhou in April. – Photo: Yuki Lei