Photo by Guangzhou Daily

The 15th National Games will kick off at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center this Sunday (9 November). As the venue for the opening ceremony and the main stadium, the Center stands as one of China's most functional sports complexes. It was inaugurated in 2001 to host the 9th National Games and later the 16th Asian Games. Now it has completed a comprehensive revamp in the stadium facilities, landscapes, and smart technology. The renovation turned the venue into a premier fitness destination for citizens and visitors.

With a span of approximately 1 million square meters, the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center provides a capacity of over 80,000 spectators. It features world-class facilities, including a stadium, natatorium, tennis center, hockey field, baseball stadium, shooting range hall, archery field, and equestrian field.

The Center has hosted top-tier international events, including the World Aquatics Diving World Cup, the Guangzhou International Women's Open, and the Davis Cup Tennis.

Photo by 金羊网

Renovation highlighted green and user-friendliness

The Guangdong Olympic Sports Center will host competitions including swimming, diving, women's water polo, and athletics during the 15th National Games. To meet the competition standards, the stadium facilities have undergone a green and sustainable renovation, incorporating smart technology.

Photo by Guangzhou Daily

The Center has retained its signature ribbon-like canopy, featuring dynamic visual effects with modern floodlight projection technology. The seats are painted with four shades of blue colors which simulate the waving sea, complemented by red, purple, and green colors, symbolizing Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao with their representative flowers.

Photo by Guangzhou Daily

Accessibility has been optimized with widened barrier-free pathways, 408 wheelchair-accessible seats (plus companion seats and a dedicated VIP box), and expanded restroom facilities with increased female stalls.

Adopting new eco-friendly materials, solar panels, and greenery, the venue significantly reduces energy consumption and carbon emissions. With a new covered arcade-style walkway and an open fitness platform, it's now more adaptable to Lingnan's rainy and humid climate.

Photo by 广州天河发布

Renovation offers citizens a vibrant fitness destination

The renovation also maximizes its utility for the public after the games. The second-floor area will open 24/7 as a fitness hub, featuring an 800-meter smart track. Runners can easily monitor their real-time exercise data, including pace and distance.

The 8000-square-meter event command center will be applied to 2 basketball courts, 8 badminton courts, 3 squash courts, and table tennis facilities, providing a larger sports space with multiple choices for the public.

In addition to the indoor area, the surrounding area is designed to create a better environment for daily exercises, equipped with a 39,000-square-meter green space, a 3.5-kilometer smart track, and service stations.

Street corners turn into pocket parks, photo by 广州天河发布

Weather monitoring network equipped for better services

The Guangdong Olympic Sports Center has established a comprehensive three-dimensional weather monitoring network. Outdoor automatic stations track conventional elements including temperature, wind, and rainfall, complemented by biometric comfort and UV sensors for health-focused services. Lidar wind profilers enable second-level wind scanning up to 1 km altitude, crucial for low-altitude performance safety during the opening ceremony. Indoors, five micro weather stations capture real-time hyperlocal variations. This integrated system ensures rapid risk response and precise public service support for the Games.

Address: No. 36 Daguan South Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou City

Opening Hours: All day (subject to event scheduling adjustments)

Official Website: https://www.gdatzx.com/

Contacts:

Stadium: +86-20-82169763

Natatorium: +86-20-32091627

Tennis Center: +86-20-32091828

Basketball Court & Football Field: 020-85668826

Competition & Training Department: +86-20-32092009

15th National Games Tickets: Available via the official ticketing website and mini-program

Reporter丨Zhou Jiyin

Editor丨Yin Juewen