The 17th Hebei Provincial Games grandly opened in Tangshan
According to the Hebei Provincial Sports Bureau, the 17th Hebei Sports Games kicked off grandly at 8 PM on October 16 at the Tangshan New Sports Center.
This edition of the Provincial Games is hosted by the Hebei Provincial People's Government, organized by the Hebei Provincial Sports Bureau and the Tangshan Municipal People's Government, with the theme 'Exciting Provincial Games, Striving in the New Era.' It aims to fully review the achievements of sports development across the province and showcase the spirited demeanor of Yanzhao people striving to be the best in the new era.
The opening ceremony of this Provincial Games included warm-up performances, ceremonial procedures, cultural and sports showcases, and the torch lighting, with each segment flowing smoothly in order, simple yet grand. The cultural and sports showcase was made up of the prologue 'Tracing the East·Rings of the Era,' the first part 'A Century of Foundation·City Transformation,' the second part 'Setting Sail in Bohai·Strengthening the Sea,' and the torch lighting chapter 'Phoenix Leads the Way·Igniting the Future.' The entire program closely followed the main theme of the province's sports development, highlighting vivid scenes of athletes chasing their dreams in competitions and the thriving national fitness movement. It connected the heritage of Yanzhao culture, the transformation of Tangshan city, the legacy of the Winter Olympics, the upgrade of science and technology, and the drive to strengthen the sea, deeply blending the region's rich cultural foundation, Tangshan city’s characteristics, and the sports spirit of striving upwards. The stage visuals were full and three-dimensional, with a highly engaging sports atmosphere.
The scene of the 17th Hebei Provincial Games (Photo 1)
The opening ceremony of this Provincial Games was full of highlights. Seventeen Olympic and world champions from Hebei paired up with seventeen provincial youth champions in the same sports to pass the torch together and light it, showcasing the spirit of sports being passed down in Hebei and forming the strongest champion lineup in the history of the Provincial Games. During the team entrances, 40-second background clips played in rotation, highlighting the sports development of all 17 participating cities and districts. The Malan Flower Children's Choir once again performed the 'Olympic Hymn,' looking back on the extraordinary journey of hosting, building, and promoting the Olympics, vividly showing how our province has revitalized the Winter Olympics legacy and delivered China's solutions for post-Games venue usage.
This year's Provincial Games have two categories: the Youth Group and the Mass Sports Group. The Youth Group includes 36 major events and 1,160 sub-events, with a total of 11,271 athletes competing in the finals. For the Youth Winter events, there are 4 major events and 246 sub-events, which concluded on April 11, with over 1,160 athletes participating in the finals. The Summer events include 32 major events and 914 sub-events, with 10,111 athletes in the finals. So far, 27 events have finished, and the remaining finals for track and field, swimming, soccer, basketball, and wrestling will take place during the opening and closing ceremonies. The Mass Sports Group has already completed all its events.
The closing ceremony of this year's Provincial Games will be held in Tangshan on October 24.
The 17th Hebei Provincial Games venue (Photo 2)
The 17th Hebei Provincial Games venue (Photo 3)
The 17th Hebei Provincial Games venue (Photo 4)
The 17th Hebei Provincial Games venue (Photo 5)
The 17th Hebei Games venue (photo 6)
The 17th Hebei Provincial Games venue (Photo 7)