Shenzhen holds full rehearsal for closing ceremony of 15th National Games

A full rehearsal of the closing ceremony of the 15th National Games was held in Shenzhen City, south China's Guangdong Province, on Sunday.

This marks the first time that the National Games will feature a closing ceremony with a water-stage design set against a backdrop of cityscape.

The closing ceremony consists of six chapters, showcasing traditional elements including local intangible cultural heritage and Lingnan culture, alongside modern elements like cutting-edge technology and the integration of cultures from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Talents from Guangdong Province, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ( HKSAR) and the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR) have worked closely, seeking to demonstrate the culture and sense of unity of the Greater Bay Area with their performances.

"The highlight of the closing ceremony is the breathtaking scenery where the sea and sky merge into one. The entire stage resembles a canvas, creating stunning visual effects during the performance that displays the rich culture of Shenzhen, the Greater Bay Area, and China," said Shen Chen, chief director of the closing ceremony.

Shen said that the closing ceremony aims to surprise its audience with innovative athlete participation while display the beauty of sports, speed, and power through the integration of sports and art.

"[For example,] in the fourth chapter, the stage will unexpectedly vanish, allowing the performance to take place on the water's surface. Children will perform artistic swimming and boys who row dragon boats will dance. The performance will culminate in the creation of a four-tier human ladder, symbolizing the spirit of unity," Shen added.

The National Games is China's largest multi-sport event. The 15th National Games are being hosted for the first time by Guangdong Province, the HKSAR), and the Macao SAR. Running from Nov 9 to 21, the Games have attracted over 14,000 elite athletes from across the nation.

Shenzhen holds full rehearsal for closing ceremony of 15th National Games

Shenzhen holds full rehearsal for closing ceremony of 15th National Games

Shenzhen holds full rehearsal for closing ceremony of 15th National Games

Shenzhen holds full rehearsal for closing ceremony of 15th National Games

Shenzhen holds full process, full-element rehearsal for closing ceremony of 15th National Games

Deliberately targeting civilian service institutions in Iran by the United States and Israel is the biggest operational challenge facing humanitarian workers, according to Pir Hossein Kolivand, head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

The United States and Israel on Saturday launched strikes against Iran, plunging the war-torn Middle East into a new round of violent conflicts. Iran has retaliated with a series of counterattacks against Israel and U.S. targets across the region.

A large-scale offensive jointly conducted by Washington and Tel Aviv on Saturday struck a girls' elementary school in southern Iran's Minab, home to a military base of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and killed over 160 pupils.

"The first attack targeted a girls' primary school in the city of Minab. It was a brutal and sad incident that was unprecedented in the history of humanity. More than 168 children aged 7, 8, and at most 9 and a half years old were martyred. The school was attacked in two phases, and unconventional weapons were used in this assault," Kolivand said.

At least seven hospitals and emergency stations in Iran, including Tehran's Gandhi Hospital, were struck by U.S. and Israeli attacks on Sunday night, causing widespread destruction and casualties.

The Iranian official framed these attacks as a fundamental violation of international laws.

"Our challenges are these direct attacks on the service providers. Just today, five of my colleagues were injured. And this is against humanitarian law, against the basic principles of the Geneva Conventions and against all international laws. One of our challenges is that international institutions are almost ineffective and we do not see any trace of it. That is, we do not feel any vital signs of it. These are our main challenges. We have no internal challenges," he said.

Iranian Red Crescent chief decries US-Israeli attacks on service institutions