The 15th National Games are poised to drive significant growth in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), experts said at the fourth China (Guangzhou) Sports Industry Innovation Conference held Tuesday in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province.

The fourth China (Guangzhou) Sports Industry Innovation Conference is held in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, Jan. 14, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Interactive Sports Technology Invention Co., Ltd.]

The National Games, slated for Nov. 9 to 21, 2025, will feature 34 competitive sports and 23 mass participation activities. Guangdong will host the majority of events, while Macao and Hong Kong will host four and eight events, respectively. This edition of the National Games marks the first time Hong Kong and Macao will co-host the prominent national sporting event since its inception in 1959.

The conference focused on the economic impact and emerging opportunities associated with the 15th National Games in the GBA, exploring urban development, market expansion and economic growth. It also addressed the phased development of the National Games sponsorship program and built a high-end communication platform for the Guangzhou events of the Games.

"As one of the most open and economically dynamic regions, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA plays a strategic role in the national development plan," Wang Ping, deputy director of the Sports Equipment Center at the General Administration of Sport of China, said. "Hosting the 15th National Games will strengthen sports exchange and cooperation in the GBA, injecting new vitality into the coordinated, innovative development of the regional sports industry."

Yu Weijian, vice director of the marketing department for the Guangdong division of the Games, presented the market development plan at the conference. He stated that the organizing committee and the provincial executive committee will actively collaborate to create a premier sports business environment. "This will provide enterprises with a platform to showcase their image and enhance brand value, using sports to drive development and exchange across the three regions, thereby boosting the cultural, athletic and socio-economic development of the GBA," he said.

Chen Xuhui, chairman of the Guangdong Sports Development Corporation, discussed market development and operations for the Games, highlighting innovative strategies for the event.

"The Games are the first in National Games history to be co-hosted by the three regions in the GBA, united as a single entity," he remarked. "The event must address the realities of one country, two systems, three customs territories, and three currencies. It is essential to consider the specific needs of the three regions and to innovate the market development model based on the principles of overall management, coordinated uniformity, accommodating differences, flexible development, and rational allocation with standardized usage."

Several representatives from various enterprises hold plaques and pose for a photo as they receive the "Sports+" Industry Outstanding Contribution Award at the fourth China (Guangzhou) Sports Industry Innovation Conference in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, Jan. 14, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Interactive Sports Technology Invention Co., Ltd.]

Bao Mingxiao, a scholar at Beijing Sport University, delivered a keynote speech at the conference, discussing the strategic opportunities for developing the GBA's sports industry. He examined various facets of China's sports industry and outlined new prospects, including the establishment of a global sports equipment and products manufacturing and trade center, the creation of an innovation hub for the digital sports sector, and the promotion of comprehensive integration with related industries. His insights also addressed leveraging digital tools, initiating transformative changes, developing innovative intellectual properties, employing event-driven strategies, enhancing sports for older individuals, and boosting professional athletics.

The conference included presentations from sports officials from Yuexiu district in Guangzhou and Jieshou city in Anhui province, as well as entrepreneurs from leading companies like Unilumin Sports and Double Fish. They shared innovative practices and success stories, highlighted their achievements in developing a local sports industry demonstration base, and exchanged insights on their experiences. During the event, 24 enterprises were honored at the "Sports+" Industry Outstanding Contribution Award ceremony, and several organizations secured strategic partnerships through deal signings facilitated by the conference.

Supported by the Sports Bureau of Guangdong and the Guangzhou Sports Bureau, the fourth China (Guangzhou) Sports Industry Innovation Conference was organized by the Yuexiu District Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau, alongside China Interactive Sports Technology Invention Co., Ltd. The event featured a licensed merchandise exhibition, a sports industry exchange salon, and an activity showcasing new business achievements at the Yuexiu National Sports Industry Demonstration Base.

New merchandise developed for the 15th National Games is displayed at the fourth China (Guangzhou) Sports Industry Innovation Conference in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Jan. 14, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Interactive Sports Technology Invention Co., Ltd.]

Zhang Zhengbiao, deputy chief of Guangzhou's Yuexiu district, described the conference as an important opportunity for various sectors to understand the sports industry and a vital platform for exchanges and cooperation within the sports community. He pledged that Yuexiu district will continue to leverage the opportunity presented by the 15th National Games to explore new development pathways in sports, aiming to integrate sports events with cultural tourism and create new hotspots for sports consumption in the future.