The dream of becoming a sports power surges in the Greater Bay Area
——A side note of the opening ceremony of the 15th National Games
The bright moon rises over the bay, and the sky and sea shine together.
On the 9th, in the Yangcheng city of Guangzhou, the lights of the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center were bright, like flying ribbons. Inside the venue, the “concentric circle” water stage sparkles, reflecting the lights of thousands of houses. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is built on water and thrives on water – this is the opening ceremony of the National Games with “water” as its context.
“The prosperity of the country will lead to the prosperity of sports, and the strength of sports will make China strong”, the “Ode to the Spirit of Chinese Sports” was chanted sonorously; the melody of “My Motherland and Me” was melodious, and athletes from 37 delegations across the country entered the venue one after another. When the host phalanx composed of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Macao Special Administrative Region entered the venue side by side, the applause at the scene was particularly warm.
At 20:26, the five-star red flag was raised simultaneously at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center, the Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong, and the Golden Lotus Square in Macau.
At 20:43, President Xi Jinping announced the opening of the 15th Sports Games of the People’s Republic of China! The whole place was buzzing with endless applause and cheers.
In an instant, fireworks burst out, and the two sides of the Pearl River were filled with light. The light of the National Games shone on the Greater Bay Area.
Same root and same origin
Life is endless and the context is long. Civilization evolves from the depths of history.
The lights focused on one side of the venue, and three industrial humanoid robots held double hammers and struck the “Bronze Sentence”. On the holographic projection, a crescent moon gradually becomes complete. The ancient music of Qingyue plays a beautiful melody that has haunted the Lingnan land for more than a hundred years – “Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon”.
This is an ensemble that spans thousands of years. At this moment, history and the future are intertwined.
The prototype of the “Bronze Sentence” was unearthed from the tomb of King Wen of Nanyue in Xianggang Mountain, Yuexiu, Guangzhou. Original sound samples originating from ceremonial instruments in the late Qin and early Han dynasties have been carefully arranged to recreate the legacy of thousands of years.
“The etiquette of thousands of years ago can be heard endlessly for three days.” Shu Nan, the chief music designer of the opening ceremony, said, “Robots at the forefront of science and technology and bronze sentences unearthed thousands of years ago have formed a harmony that spans thousands of years.”
Ancient music travels through time and echoes in the Lingnan night sky.
More than a thousand years ago, the sails of the Maritime Silk Road set sail from here. The blue waves surge and the white dolphins leap for joy; the treasure ship breaks through the waves and connects the world.
In the Song Dynasty, Guangzhou was already the “Oriental Commercial Capital” with “department shops”; today, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is one of the most open and economically dynamic regions in China. In 2024, the container throughput of Guangzhou Port, Shenzhen Port and Hong Kong Port will all rank among the best in the world – the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road has emerged as a world-class port group with global influence.
More than a hundred years ago, the wave of China’s modern progress surged here. On the stage, actors dressed in Chinese tunic suits and student uniforms recreated scenes from the revolutionary era, holding hands and marching forward on the waves.
“Our performance pays tribute to the light chasers of a hundred years ago,” said young dancer Yang Chunying. “As the ancestors said, ‘If there is no torch from now on, I will be the only light.’ They illuminate the way forward with their faith, closely linking their personal destiny with the future of the country.”
Where the blood is surging, a red sun slowly rises into the sky.
More than 40 years ago, the spring tide of reform and opening up surged. Skyscrapers outline a new skyline, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge creates a world engineering miracle, like a rainbow lying on waves and winding across the sea.
“We must anchor the goal of building a dynamic and internationally competitive first-class bay area and a world-class urban agglomeration, work together, proceed steadily, and strive to achieve key breakthroughs and comprehensive advancement.”
On the stage, actors who played haenyeo from a thousand years ago and revolutionary martyrs from a century ago danced with contemporary young people in colorful clothes. Off the stage, working tirelessly in the laboratory, burning the midnight oil in the office building, sweating like rain on the construction site… the take-off of the Greater Bay Area is created by everyone who works hard.
The branches and leaves are sparse and prosperous, and we share the same root and inherit the common struggle.
Same heart and same fate
The long sky is full of hometown. Culture is the home of spirit and emotion.
“The sea laughs, and the tide surges across the Taiwan Strait.” In the center of the stage, the Lingnan painting scene of “rain hitting banana trees” slowly unfolded. The knight in white dances in the air, and 24 giant banana leaves form a lattice, suspended and changing.
Wing Chun, Nanquan…traditional martial arts take turns to appear. Above the water, warriors practice with sticks, and the water splashes. “Lingnan has a tradition of practicing martial arts, and you gain confidence and energy through physical training.” said Xie Miao, who plays the role of the Knight in White.
A great chivalrous person serves the country and the people. The chivalrous spirit of punishing evil and promoting good and upholding justice is a value shared by the Chinese people. From “the world’s most powerful people come out of my own generation” to “when things are over, I leave my clothes and hide my identity and fame”, from the Jianghu described by Jin Yong to the fists and kicks of Wong Fei Hung and Ip Man, people in this hot land have always respected the spirit of spirit and chivalry.
Tenderness can be seen deep in the blood. The Cantonese opera version of “Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon” played softly, and the stage on the water gradually lit up – the design inspiration was taken from Yongqingfang in Guangzhou, like a lantern and a pavilion. The top of the pavilion slowly rises, and Cantonese opera artists from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao dance with their sleeves and the Cantonese charm. Plum blossoms, bougainvillea, phoenix flowers and other Lingnan flowers bloom on the holographic screen.
“Lingnan people love flowers and place their love of life on landscapes, flowers and trees, forming the aesthetic quality of ‘pure beauty in richness’.” Art director Qi Zhe explained.
As the audience marveled, the giant turtle held by the actors “swam” into the sky above the stadium. In the noisy atmosphere of gongs and drums, dancing lions and singing, a lively atmosphere filled the entire venue.
Qiao Wei, the chief writer of the opening ceremony, said that the festival is a concentrated expression of nostalgia, hometown accent, nostalgia and nostalgia.
Every festive season, lions wake up to pick green flowers to receive blessings, and dragon boats race against the waves. These traditional cultures that have lasted for thousands of years are like the tide in the blood, flowing as scheduled every year. The common memory of the Bay Area weaves the eternal spiritual home and the deepest cultural identity in the hearts of tourists.
The mountains and the sea are connected, the branches are connected by the same energy, and we share the same heart and destiny and guard the same homeland.
Same dreams and same dreams
The tide rises in Lingnan and the Bay Area symphonizes. Rivers meet and all streams merge into one.
The water stage is shimmering with light, and a small boat sails into the venue. On the boat, the sound of flutes and pianos resonated. The stage turned into a pool of spring water, and ballet dancers dressed in costumes with elements of “lotus” and “lotus” danced gracefully. Musicians from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao performed symphonic movements together.
The rhythm changes suddenly and brightly, and sports elements such as football, basketball, volleyball, and cycling appear on the stage. The song “Long Teng Ling Ding Yang” pushed the atmosphere to a climax. The running flying man and the leaping laser race, and the water athletes sprinting in the waves show the integration of technology and sports.
Vibrant and prosperous, dreams come true. Through AR (augmented reality) technology, the hot air balloon on the screen floats across the lights of thousands of houses and across the Lingding Ocean that Wen Tianxiang once lamented.
“From the directing team to the performance lineup, there is deep collaboration between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.” Chief Director Lang Kun specifically mentioned the cooperation with Hong Kong director Liu Weiqiang. “We sometimes are indecisive. If you want to know which Cantonese song everyone likes the most, he (Liu Weiqiang) will immediately say “Broad Sea and Sky”; if you want to know which song can inspire the audience the most, he will immediately tell you – it is “The Chinese”.”
When the melody of “Boundless Sea and Sky” sounded, tens of thousands of people in the audience spontaneously lit up their mobile phones and sang in unison. Fifteen giant kapok flowers, symbolizing the 15th National Games, were lifted into the sky. Hong Kong artist Andy Lau sang “Chinese” as his lead, and the audience was excited.
“People’s consensus, empathy and resonance with the cultural life and social development of this land are the emotional foundation for the bright development prospects of the Greater Bay Area.” Qiao Wei said.
A month ago, flammable ice taken from a depth of 1,522 meters in the South China Sea ignited the “blooming” of the 15th National Games torch. At this moment, on the stairs on one side of the venue, the main torch of the 15th National Games is about to be lit.
“Asian flying man” Su Bingtian from Guangdong, fencing Olympic champion Zhang Jialang from Hong Kong, and martial arts Asian Games champion Li Yi from Macau stepped on the waves and climbed up the stairs.
At 21:21, the main torch tower was lit up by athletes from three places. The lights were bright and the applause was thunderous.
Welcome the light of the sky, burn the fire of the sea, and join hands to go to the future together.
“As you merge into the sea, we will know each other and sing together…” The theme song “Heaven and Sea One Heart” sounded, and the ceremony was coming to an end.
When a crescent moon merges into the galaxy, it becomes the vast night sky; when a drop of water merges into the ocean, it becomes clear that there are vast expanse of blue waves.
Sports are the harbingers of the times and convey hopes and dreams. In the next 12 days, more than 14,000 athletes from all over the country will interpret the meaning of sportsmanship with every leap and sprint in this hot land of the Bay Area, and show the true brightness of human nature with sweat and smiles.
Wherever the tide rises, everyone is of the same mind; between the sky and the sea, there is a bright path.
(Xinhua News Agency, Guangzhou, November 9, reporters Gao Meng, Wang Haoming, Sun Shaolong)
