The renovation of 23 sports venues in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province in southern China, has been completed in preparation for the 15th National Games, which are set to take place from November 9 to 21, 2024. This information was reported by official channels on Monday.

Guangzhou is responsible for the majority of venues, with 23 of the total 30 in its designated competition zone.

All construction work on these venues has been completed as of March 31, with the exception of a temporary structure that will be constructed ahead of the Games.

Final inspections have passed for 20 venues, including notable locations such as the Tianhe Sports Center, Guangdong Provincial People's Stadium, and Guangdong Olympic Sports Center, all of which have adhered to their construction timelines.

The Tianhe Stadium has undergone significant upgrades, including the enhancement of its 1,000-meter outdoor track to comply with World Athletics certification standards.

This renovation aims to create a modern urban sports landmark by integrating professional sports facilities with public fitness and cultural tourism.

The stadium's track system has been designed to connect with nearby accessible facilities and includes customized signage and equipment tailored to meet competition standards alongside public fitness requirements.

Further improvements have been made at the Guangzhou University Town Stadium, which has invested in advanced infrastructure and athlete and staff facilities to bolster its service capacity during major events.

The design of the stadium incorporates Lingnan garden elements, utilizing native plants that thrive in the local climate, thereby promoting sustainability and creating a low-carbon sporting environment.

More than 90 percent of the venues utilized for the National Games have been renovated from existing facilities, with only five newly constructed venues.

Additionally, 22 of these venues will serve a dual purpose, accommodating events for both the National Games and the Para Games, an effort aimed at maximizing resource utilization.

Cui Jian, the head of the Sports Bureau of Guangdong Province, emphasized at a recent countdown event that sustainability was a priority throughout the preparation process.

Energy-efficient and environmentally friendly practices have been implemented in venue construction, event operations, and plans for post-Games usage, with many venues undergoing green upgrades to enhance their energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

Planning for long-term use of the facilities has been integral to their design, ensuring that the venues not only cater to the competition's immediate needs but also support future operational and public fitness activities.

The National Games will see the participation of a broad array of competitive sports, with 34 events planned alongside 23 mass sports activities.

Guangdong will host the majority of these events, while Macao will feature four competitive events including table tennis and women's 3x3 basketball.

Hong Kong is set to showcase eight competitive sports events, encompassing men's basketball, track cycling, and fencing.

Notably, this edition of the National Games marks the first instance of co-hosting by Hong Kong and Macao for this significant national multi-sports event since its inception in 1959. The National Games are held every four years, representing the highest level of national sporting competition, with the previous edition in 2021 drawing over 12,000 athletes in Shaanxi Province.