As the 15th National Games approach with the 100-day countdown having arrived on Aug 1, the Guangdong Provincial Archives has sorted out more than 11,000 archival materials regarding the 6th and 9th National Games held in South China's Guangdong province.

These were open to the public from July 31 at its premises at 138 Longkou Middle Road, in Tianhe district of Guangzhou, the province's capital.

A total of 218 items that epitomize the innovative spirit of Guangdong during these two editions of the National Games were selected, including documents, photos, and physical archives.

This marks the first systematic and substantial release of these archives to the public.

A postcard commemorates the completion of the Tianhe Sports Center as the main venue of the 6th National Games in 1987. [Photo/WeChat account: tianhefabu]

The 6th and 9th National Games, held in 1987 and 2001 respectively, had a profound impact on the urban development of Guangzhou – especially in venue construction, effectively expanding and improving the city layout and pioneering the practice of "using sports to promote urban development".

The 6th National Games marked Guangdong's initial attempt to introduce commercial mechanisms into sports competitions. It laid the groundwork for new market development and operational models for future National Games, an important step towards the industrialization of Chinese sports.

This photo depicts the opening ceremony of the 9th National Games. [Photo/WeChat account: tianhefabu]

The 9th National Games commercialized the trading and development of television broadcasting rights for the first time. It significantly enhanced the event's operational efficiency and the level of commercialization, achieving both social and economic benefits.

The upcoming 15th National Games will be jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao special administrative regions. It promises to demonstrate international standards in hosting sports events and the allure of the Greater Bay Area.