National Games an embodiment of China's strength, unity and progress: China Daily editorial

The 15th National Games, jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, opened on Sunday. The event comes at a crucial moment — as the main goals of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) near completion and the recommendations of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for the next five-year plan have been made public.

The Games are not merely a celebration of athletic excellence, but also a rallying call for the Chinese people to pursue the goal of a Healthy China through participation in sporting activities, and make concerted efforts to advance the country's modernization.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC Central Committee has placed the development of sports in a strategic position — as a vital part of national rejuvenation. Under this guidance, China has accelerated sports reform, promoted the coordinated development of mass and competitive sports, and made sports an integral part of people's all-round development.

From the successful hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the Hangzhou Asian Games and the Harbin Asian Winter Games, to the best-ever results achieved by Chinese athletes in overseas competitions at the Paris Olympics, China's progress in sports mirrors the achievements of the country's modernization. It reflects the strength, confidence and vitality of China in the new era, showcasing the Chinese spirit and contributing to China's international sporting profile.

China's rise as a major sporting nation has been made possible by its solid economic foundation, advances in science and technology, and the steady enhancement of its comprehensive national strength under the leadership of the CPC.

But sports are not only a measure of national strength but also a cornerstone of public health and happiness. In recent years, China has focused on improving the physical fitness and quality of life of its people. From expanding access to winter sports and promoting events such as the grassroots amateur soccer and basketball leagues to improving physical education in schools, the country has cultivated a strong culture of sports participation. The growing enthusiasm for fitness among the public reflects a broader commitment to healthy living and shared well-being.

As China's highest-level, largest-scale and most influential comprehensive sports event, the National Games serve as a major platform for discovering and nurturing athletic talent, spreading the spirit of sportsmanship and uniting people through competitive sports. The 15th National Games will further energize the national fitness movement and as more people embrace sports as part of their lives, they gain not only better fitness but also greater joy and a deeper sense of fulfillment.

National health is inseparable from the country's modernization. At its fourth plenary session the 20th CPC Central Committee made strategic plans underlining the importance of integrating sports development into the broader framework of national modernization.

The 15th National Games are the first large-scale sporting event held in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In his meeting with International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry and Honorary President for Life Thomas Bach in Guangzhou on Sunday, President Xi Jinping expressed confidence that this year's National Games will showcase not only China's new sporting achievements in the new era, but also the remarkable progress of Chinese modernization in the Greater Bay Area.

Turning the grand vision of modernization into reality requires the unity and effort of the entire nation. The Games once again demonstrate the vitality of "one country, two systems" framework, and showcase how sports can serve as a bridge linking hearts within the nation, strengthening unity.