Hong Kong prepares for National Games with cross border races, new venues and citywide celebrations

November brings 15,000 athletes to a shared stage

Hong Kong will join Guangdong and Macao in hosting the 15th National Games of the People's Republic of China from November 9 to 21, 2025, bringing 419 medal events across 34 sports to the three locations. Around 15,000 athletes are expected at China's highest level sporting competition across multiple sports, which takes place every four years.

The 2025 edition marks the first time the National Games will be hosted jointly across these three Greater Bay Area locations. Hong Kong's role stretches from fencing and rugby sevens to a road cycling race crossing jurisdictional boundaries, while a citywide program connects competition venues with museums, waterfronts, parks and neighborhood attractions.

As of October 31, preparations include phased ticket sales, more than 16,000 selected volunteers and official hotels for athletes and technical officials. Tourism industry estimates suggest more than 100,000 visitors could come to Hong Kong during the games period, bringing business to hotels, restaurants, shops and transport services.

Kai Tak Sports Park, the new complex on the former airport site, will anchor Hong Kong's program. Established venues, including the Hong Kong Velodrome and Hong Kong Coliseum, will also host competitions. Across the three hosting areas, more than 90 percent of competition venues are existing facilities that have been tested and renovated.

Organizers describe their guiding vision as green, inclusive, open and clean. Their preparations combine the reuse of venues with new operational arrangements, especially for races that move between jurisdictions. For visitors, November and December will also bring cultural festivals and seasonal celebrations, extending the experience beyond stadium seats.

Which competitions will Hong Kong host?

Hong Kong's program combines indoor contests, outdoor races and a mass participation event intended to involve the public. The confirmed local events cover a broad range of skills, from precision and tactics in fencing to speed on the cycling track and endurance in triathlon.

• Fencing.
• Basketball for men under 22.
• Track cycling.
• Golf.
• Men's handball.
• Rugby sevens.
• Triathlon.
• Beach volleyball.
• Mass participation bowling.

Hong Kong will also take part in cross border races. The planned men's individual road cycling course covers about 230 kilometers, starting in Zhuhai, looping through northern Macao and crossing the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge to reach Hong Kong Disneyland. Riders will then return to Zhuhai for the final sprint, linking all three hosting locations in one day.

A marathon is also planned across the three areas, with routes designed to connect Hong Kong and neighboring cities. Together, these races make regional cooperation part of the competition itself: athletes will move through different jurisdictions while continuing their event.

Xiyangyang and Lerongrong, the games mascots, will appear in public spaces, visitor centers and countdown displays. Inspired by the Chinese white dolphin, they symbolize joy, harmony and unity. The dolphin is a Grade I National Key Protected Species in China and is often called the national treasure of the sea.

Keeping athletes moving across borders

Organizers and partner agencies have designed a custom clearance system for athletes and technical staff in the cross border races. Document checks will take place in advance. During competition, sensors will scan faces and wristbands at checkpoints along the route to validate identities quickly.

The arrangement aims to keep racing continuous while maintaining security and compliance. Checking documents beforehand shifts part of the border process away from the race itself, while the sensors allow officials to verify who is passing during competition.

Tong Lixin, a vice president of the organizing committee and a vice minister of the General Administration of Sport of China, said a trial had demonstrated how the three areas could coordinate the movement of people and supplies.

We have completed a successful test run of the race. It proved that we can figure out a method for smooth transfer of personnel, materials and supplies across the three areas, not just for this competition, but also for more cultural, tourism and business events in the future.

Chan Kwok ki, Hong Kong's chief secretary for administration and a vice president of the organizing committee, described joint hosting as an opportunity to connect Hong Kong more closely with regional and national development.

Co hosting the 15th National Games has offered Hong Kong a great opportunity to integrate into the development of the Greater Bay Area and the whole country, and to put the one country, two systems policy into action in daily operations.

The torch relay will give that shared hosting arrangement a public expression before the opening ceremony. Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macao will hold simultaneous relay routes, with 200 torchbearers across the four cities. Hong Kong's route will start at the Central Government Offices at Tamar and end at Kai Tak Sports Park, passing scenery along Victoria Harbour.

Kai Tak anchors a network of venues

Kai Tak Sports Park covers 28 hectares on the former airport site. The sports and entertainment complex brings together a modern main stadium, an indoor sports center and a public sports ground, with dining facilities and landscaped spaces where spectators can spend time between sessions.

Rugby sevens is scheduled for the main stadium during the games period, building on Hong Kong's long rugby tradition. The park's combination of competition facilities and places to eat makes it a focal point for visitors planning more than one activity during a day.

Track cycling will take place at the Hong Kong Velodrome in Tseung Kwan O. Basketball for men under 22 is scheduled for the Hong Kong Coliseum. Triathlon will use Victoria Harbour as an urban race setting, combining an open water swim with cycling and running loops along the waterfront.

Beach volleyball will bring competition to a waterside setting. Fencing, golf and handball will use venues across the city, with arrangements balancing athlete needs, seating capacity and transport access.

The wider hosting plan relies mainly on established facilities. More than 90 percent of competition venues across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao already exist, with testing and renovation preparing them for the games. Organizers' reuse approach reduces construction time and keeps attention on athletes, crowd movement and spectator services.

Tickets and travel need to work together

National Games ticketing uses a single platform for Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. Buyers must complete registration using their real names before purchasing tickets for events in any of the three locations. Identity documents will be checked at entry.

Sales are taking place in phases. Hong Kong releases began on August 28 and are continuing by sport. Prices vary by event and session, ranging broadly from around RMB 50 to RMB 500 for sessions in high demand. Where available, passes covering half a day or a full day allow spectators to follow several sessions at one venue.

Schedules, news and updates about Hong Kong's program are available through the National Games Coordination Office. Details of registration and ticket purchases are posted on the integrated ticketing platform.

Most venues are within short walks of MTR stations, making rail the simplest option on competition days. Spectators should allow time for security screening and crowds, particularly before medal sessions, popular sports and evening finals.

Kowloon East accommodation offers quick access to Kai Tak Sports Park by rail or taxi. The Velodrome connects with the Tseung Kwan O line, while the Hong Kong Coliseum in Hung Hom connects to several lines and services across the harbour. Victoria Harbour has viewing points on both sides for triathlon, with designated spectator areas to be announced closer to race day.

• Check the daily schedule before purchasing tickets and group sessions by venue to reduce travel time.
• Leave extra time for security checks and crowds, especially before evening finals.
• Consider accommodation in Kowloon East or along the Tseung Kwan O line for access to Kai Tak Sports Park and the Velodrome.
• Bring a refillable water bottle where permitted; many venues have hydration stations.
• Keep mobile data available for electronic tickets and transport updates.

Volunteers and hotels prepare for arrivals

Hong Kong has selected more than 16,000 volunteers from tens of thousands of applicants, assembling one of the city's largest volunteer teams for a sports event. Students and retirees are among those taking part.

Their assignments include helping with arrivals and departures at border checkpoints and the airport, supporting hotel reception, guiding spectators at venues, assisting with awards ceremonies and helping with anti doping controls. Their presence will support visitors finding their way around the city as well as athletes and officials moving between accommodation and competition sites.

Organizers selected official hotels for teams and technical officials through an open tender covering the November and December events. The selection criteria included hotel category and capacity, facilities, management plans, experience with previous events, green certification, security and distance from competition venues.

Eight properties are serving the National Games. Four hotels are designated for the National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the National Special Olympic Games. The arrangements connect accommodation planning with the different competition calendars.

Nina Hotel Tsuen Wan West is hosting delegates for para table tennis and Special Olympics table tennis. Several hundred rooms will be serviced daily for athletes, coaches, judges and support staff, illustrating the scale of the hospitality work behind the competitions.

Eight routes connect sport with the city

Hong Kong's visitor program links the games with places beyond the venues. Themed routes combine parks, waterfronts, heritage clusters and modern museums within an easy ride of competition sites, with food and shopping areas included to balance time watching sport with time in local streets and markets.

The National Games GOAL n GO experience adds an augmented reality game across eight distinct routes. Augmented reality places digital features alongside the real surroundings a visitor is exploring. The experience uses checkpoints and mini challenges to connect city walks with sports icons, cultural stops and places for selfies.

Travelers can unlock badges and small surprises as they move through the routes. The program gives visitors a way to explore between competition sessions rather than treating sightseeing and sport as separate trips.

Three geographic clusters help organize the routes. On Hong Kong Island, green spaces and heritage sites near Central and Sheung Wan reveal different layers of the city, with transport connections to Victoria Harbour viewing points.

In Kowloon, modern stadiums are close to historic parks and waterfront promenades. In the New Territories, museums, long waterfronts and mountain backdrops offer quieter walks and cycling paths. Together, the routes connect stadium visits with galleries, gardens and photo views without requiring long transfers.

• Spend the morning at Kai Tak Sports Park, have lunch along the Kowloon waterfront and attend an evening session at the Hong Kong Coliseum.
• Watch triathlon by the harbour, take a ferry ride and visit an art destination in West Kowloon Cultural District during the afternoon.
• Cycle on community bike paths in Tseung Kwan O, stop for coffee and attend track cycling at the Velodrome at night.

November and December cultural festivals and seasonal celebrations will add to this calendar. Visitors following competitions can combine those events with neighborhood visits, while mascot displays at festive events and visitor centers will help promote the games across the city.

What the games could bring to local businesses

Tourism industry projections put expected visitors to Hong Kong during the games period at more than 100,000. That estimate includes fans following local competitions and travelers planning visits lasting several days that also take in Macao and Guangdong cities.

Hotels, restaurants, retailers and transport operators are expected to benefit from the extra spending. The hotel sector prepared early, working with the organizing office on capacity near venues and arrangements for groups of athletes, officials and spectators.

The event weeks will also create seasonal work in guest services, logistics and event operations. For businesses serving visitors, the practical demands range from handling team arrivals to accommodating spectators moving between sessions and sightseeing stops.

Tourism boards and travel agents have an opportunity to combine tickets with short regional tours. Joint hosting makes weekend trips covering more than one city a possible package, and the integrated ticketing platform is designed to support those arrangements.

Promotion through official channels and visitor centers will help connect the competitions with Hong Kong's wider attractions. The city is using its transport links and event facilities to attract sports fans and travelers looking for a festive atmosphere.

Business events and incentive travel are also likely to benefit from the attention on Hong Kong's infrastructure. International delegations will see venues operating during competition, commuter routes carrying event crowds and hospitality teams serving large groups. Those experiences can help planners assess the city for future conferences and tournaments.

December extends the sporting calendar

The 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games will take place from December 8 to 15. Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao will again coordinate hosting, extending the shared sports program beyond November.

Hong Kong will stage four events: boccia, wheelchair fencing, para table tennis in the TT11 classification and Special Olympics table tennis. A large scale wheelchair dance event will also invite public participation.

Boccia is a precision ball sport played on a flat court and designed for athletes with severe physical disabilities. In para table tennis, TT11 is the classification for athletes with intellectual impairment. Understanding the sport and classification helps spectators follow the competition and appreciate the skills being tested.

Volunteer training and venue planning include accessibility needs. Preparations cover routes without steps and seating that accommodates wheelchair users and companions. Public transport lines serving event sites offer access without barriers at station gates and platforms.

The December events also explain why hotel and volunteer planning spans two months. Official accommodation, trained helpers and accessible routes are part of the support required for both the National Games and the competitions that follow.

An early gold and the dates to follow

Some National Games competitions have taken place before the main November window. Sailing has already delivered an early success for Hong Kong, with Nicholas Bezy Halliday winning the city's first gold medal of the games in the men's ILCA 7 event.

Rosanna Law, Hong Kong's secretary for culture, sports and tourism, congratulated Halliday and described the achievement as a source of pride for the host city.

I am very glad that Nicholas Bezy Halliday, with persistence and effort, overcame challenges to win Hong Kong's first gold medal at the 15th National Games. This achievement makes people across Hong Kong proud.

Hong Kong's preparations now lead into the main competition period, followed by the December events. The key dates bring ticketing, elite competition and disability sport into a single calendar:

• August 28, 2025: phased ticket releases began for Hong Kong competitions, continuing by sport.
• Before the November opening ceremony: simultaneous torch relays are planned in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macao.
• November 9 to 21, 2025: the 15th National Games take place across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.
• December 8 to 15, 2025: the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games take place.

For Hong Kong, the program combines hosting duties with opportunities for residents and visitors to participate. Elite contests, mass participation bowling, wheelchair dance and the eight visitor routes give the city several ways to engage with the games, while the races across borders put cooperation between the three hosts into daily operation.

Key Points

• The National Games run from November 9 to 21, 2025, with 419 medal events across 34 sports and around 15,000 athletes expected.
• Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao are hosting jointly for the first time.
• Hong Kong will host eight competition sports and mass participation bowling, alongside involvement in cross border races.
• The planned men's road cycling course covers about 230 kilometers through Zhuhai, Macao and Hong Kong.
• Kai Tak Sports Park anchors Hong Kong's program; more than 90 percent of competition venues across the three hosts are existing facilities.
• Tickets require registration using real names, with prices broadly ranging from around RMB 50 to RMB 500.
• More than 16,000 volunteers have been selected, and tourism industry projections exceed 100,000 visitors.
• Eight themed routes and the GOAL n GO augmented reality experience connect sport with sightseeing.
• The December games run from December 8 to 15, with Hong Kong hosting four events and a public wheelchair dance event.
• Nicholas Bezy Halliday has already won Hong Kong's first gold medal in the men's ILCA 7 sailing event.