The successful hosting of the National Games: a microcosm of the coordinated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

In November 2025 , the 15th National Games of the People’s Republic of China were jointly held in the Guangdong – Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. As one of the largest and most influential comprehensive sports events in China, the successful hosting of the National Games was not only a grand event in the sports field, but also provided a vivid practical example for the coordinated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The preparation and hosting of the National Games clearly demonstrated the achievements of the Greater Bay Area in regional coordination, resource sharing , and complementary advantages, while also revealing the broad prospects and potential for coordinated development within the Greater Bay Area.

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a national strategy of China, is a comprehensive economic development region encompassing Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. Its goal is to create a world-class bay area economy by enhancing the synergistic effects among the cities within the region. During the organization and preparation of the National Games, Guangdong Province, as the host, coordinated resources across its cities and strengthened ties with Hong Kong and Macao, ensuring the smooth running of the event. The development of transportation infrastructure within the Greater Bay Area provided strong support for the successful hosting of the National Games. The seamless high-speed rail and highway connections from Hong Kong and Macao to Guangdong not only made transportation more convenient for athletes and staff but also allowed spectators to participate more easily.

The successful hosting of the National Games embodies the concept of resource sharing and complementary advantages among the regions of the Greater Bay Area. In hosting this National Games, Guangdong Province, Hong Kong, and Macao fully leveraged their respective strengths, collaboratively providing strong support. Guangdong Province possesses abundant sports infrastructure, strong event hosting capabilities, and experience, while Hong Kong and Macao have unique advantages in international event organization and an international perspective . Organizers in Hong Kong and Macao injected new vitality into the international elements of the event, such as by introducing internationally professional event management and volunteer teams, making the National Games more internationally oriented. Meanwhile, Guangdong Province’s vast industrial chain, innovative technology, and modern urban development provided comprehensive facilities and resources for the National Games. This complementary cooperation model among the three regions enabled the National Games to be successfully hosted efficiently and professionally, demonstrating the enormous potential of the coordinated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The National Games is not only a stage for sporting competitions, but also a grand event for cultural exchange among various regions. Through the collaborative efforts of the Greater Bay Area, the large-scale cross-regional personnel movement during the Games promoted cultural exchange and mutual trust among the people of the three regions, further advancing the cultural integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area . Athletes from Hong Kong and Macao competed alongside Guangdong athletes, showcasing their athletic prowess in their respective fields and allowing spectators to experience the diversity and integration of the three cultures.

The successful hosting of the National Games has demonstrated the immense potential and achievements of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in coordinated development. Through this grand event, the three regions not only achieved a high degree of cooperation in the field of sports but also laid the foundation for deeper integration in multiple areas such as economy, culture , and society . The future opportunities for coordinated development in the Greater Bay Area will be even broader. Guided by national strategy, the Greater Bay Area is expected to become one of the world’s important engines of economic growth, providing a new model for regional cooperation in China and even globally.