On October 9th, the torch collection ceremony for the 15th National Games and the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and 9th Special Olympics (referred to as the “15th National Games and Special Olympics”) was held in Guangzhou.

The torch collection event included two main segments: “source fire” collection and “sacred flame” ignition. At the event site, the “source fire” collected from the deep sea was unveiled for the first time. Representatives from the fire collection technical team walked onto the stage holding the “source fire” box, officially presenting this cluster of “source fire” from combustible ice extracted from 1,522 meters deep in the South China Sea.

15th National Games

The 15th National Games is a major multi-sport event in China, first held in 1959 to promote national sports development and identify athletic talent. The upcoming 15th edition in 2025 will be uniquely co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau, marking the first time the games are organized across multiple regions. This collaboration symbolizes deeper integration and cooperation within the Greater Bay Area.

12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities

The 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities was a major multi-sport event held in China, dedicated to athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities. It continued the tradition of the national games, which were first held in 1984, to promote sports for people with disabilities and showcase their athletic achievements. The event serves to foster greater social inclusion and raise awareness about the capabilities of persons with disabilities.

9th Special Olympics

The 9th Special Olympics refers to the 9th Special Olympics World Games, a major international multi-sport event held in 1991 in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. This event brought together thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities, continuing the movement’s mission, founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968, to promote inclusion, acceptance, and respect through athletic competition.

National Games

The National Games of China is the country’s premier domestic multi-sport event, first held in 1959 to promote athletic development and identify elite talent. Modeled after the Olympic Games, it brings together thousands of athletes from provinces, municipalities, and regions to compete, and it is typically held every four years.

National Games for Persons with Disabilities

The National Games for Persons with Disabilities is a major multi-sport event in China, first held in 1984. It was established to promote competitive sports and social inclusion for athletes with disabilities, serving as a key platform for talent development and selection for the Paralympic Games.

Special Olympics

The Special Olympics is a global movement and sporting event founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. It aims to promote inclusion, acceptance, and respect while transforming communities through the power of sport. Today, millions of athletes from over 190 countries participate in the Special Olympics, which continues to champion dignity and unity worldwide.

South China Sea

The South China Sea is a major marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean, bordered by several Southeast Asian nations. Historically, it has been a critical maritime trade route for centuries, connecting East Asia with the Indian Ocean and beyond. In the modern era, it is the center of significant geopolitical disputes over sovereignty and control of its strategically important waterways and potential natural resources.