The closing ceremony of China's 15th National Games was held in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province on Friday, featuring a dazzling array of seaside performances and high-tech displays.
One of the ceremony’s major highlights was its integration with the city’s coastal landscape. Shenzhen’s skyline, cross-sea bridges, and ports formed the backdrop, as the event was held not in a traditional stadium but on an open-air seaside real-scene stage.
The event featured a performance in real seawater for the first time, with synchronized swimmers and members of the dragon boat team performing underwater together, forming a four-level human pyramid symbolizing unity and perseverance.
"The deepest water reaches up to eight meters. The synchronized swimmers performed underwater, while dragon boat athletes entered the water carrying their paddles, with each pair holding two paddles, showcasing the spirit of unity," said Shen Chen, chief director of the closing ceremony.
The event also featured high-tech elements, with robotic arms, smart carts, and robots performing alongside human performers in LED-lit costumes, creating a futuristic atmosphere.
"Sixteen unmanned carts moved in formation. The hardest part was achieving full synchronization with music, visuals, and within the formation itself. It took us nearly two months to tackle this single challenge. At the beginning, we even wrapped the machines in foam and let them collide so we could determine their maximum safe distance. Little by little, we finally achieved today's result," said the director.
The emotional highlight came as the Games’ flame was extinguished. Fifteen cellists performed on platforms ranging in height from 30 centimeters to 8 meters. As the music ended, the lights on their instruments dimmed one by one, while spectators illuminated the venue with their mobile phones, turning the arena into a sea of stars.
The ceremony concluded as the stage slowly descended into the water, with performers gathering, embracing and dancing in a final farewell scene.
China's 15th National Games, held from November 9 to 21, was co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, marking the first time the Greater Bay Area has jointly hosted the country's premier multi-sport event. The Games featured 34 sports and 419 events in the competitive program, as well as 23 sports and 166 events in the mass participation program.
The sporting event set eight world records, five world youth records, 13 Asian records, 10 Asian youth records, 14 national records, and seven national youth records across disciplines, including athletics, swimming, shooting, weightlifting, track cycling, and sport climbing.
Notably, athletes in 12 events at the Games delivered performances that exceeded the winning marks at the Paris Olympics, underscoring the growing global competitiveness of Chinese sports.
Shenzhen stages spectacular seaside, high-tech closing ceremony of China’s 15th National Games
Shenzhen stages spectacular seaside, high-tech closing ceremony of China’s 15th National Games
