Citizens take photos with the humanoid robot torchbearer

Humanoid robot torchbearer in the torch relay

On November 9, 2025, the 15th National Games of the People's Republic of China commenced at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center. This is the first Chinese sporting spectacle in history to be jointly hosted by Guangdong Province and the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao. Athletes from across China gathered in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to compete. With sustainability, sharing, openness, and integrity incorporated into the organization, the Games have utilized smart technologies, practiced an eco-friendly concept, and embraced public engagement. The Games are not just sports events, but a vivid window on the GBA's integrated development.

Smart technologies light up the Games

14 innovative technologies have been deployed in the Games, enhancing wayfinding, accessibility, and safety for spectators. As spectators entered the opening ceremony venue, Guangdong Olympic Sports Center, the technologies brought them a brand-new experience. A navigation system powered by augmented reality (AR) and Bluetooth positioning helped solve the longstanding difficulty of finding a seat in a massive arena. With just a tap or voice command on a smartphone, spectators could access directions to their seats, along with schedules and live updates. The AI-driven digital assistant "Lerongrong" offers 24-hour online consultation and a six-legged guide robot is deployed to carve out secure pathways for visually impaired spectators.

Technologies have been reinforcing safety and efficiency behind the scenes. During the 2025 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Road Cycling Race, as athletes raced across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge at around 40 km/h, facial recognition and pre-clearance systems enabled six uninterrupted boundary crossings. As for power supply, the world's first AI-powered system for detecting wire faults provided real-time monitoring, and a lightning hazard simulation for the opening ceremony venue mitigated weather risks to ensure smooth operations.

Smart features have even extended to everyday conveniences: The AR-enabled digital yuan visual hard wallet made payments secure and convenient, while the "Metaverse Cloud National Games Village" allowed global audiences to immerse themselves in the event online.