Tianhe district of Guangzhou city recently hosted a curtain raiser event for the upcoming 15th National Games of China – combining a table tennis-themed celebration with a public quiz competition.

Guangdong province, with Guangzhou as its capital city, will host the Games in collaboration with Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.

The event – using table tennis as a medium – combined cultural practices and sportsmanship to create a vibrant atmosphere for the 15th National Games, showcasing Tianhe district's role as the main competition area and its urban charm.

It marked the initiation of the first mass sports event in the Guangzhou competition area.

A display board is set up at the event. [Photo/WeChat account: tianhefabu]

A special segment titled "Champion Classroom: Glory of the National Sport" featured Xiong Ke, a former member of the Chinese national table tennis team and current head coach of the Guangzhou International Table Tennis Center.

Xiong, the 1994 National Games men's singles champion, national men's singles champion, and runner-up in the Asian Cup singles, shared his stories and highlighted the exciting aspects of the table tennis events at the upcoming 15th National Games.

Amateur players, young talents, and foreign friends attending the event took turns competing with Xiong, showcasing the spirit of table tennis and the charm of sports without borders.

The highlight of the event, the knowledge quiz competition, attracted eight teams in the district. The competition focused on the history of the National Games, sports knowledge, and etiquette.

It also featured mandatory questions, buzzer rounds, and risky questions, creating a competitive and enthusiastic atmosphere.