On May 13-14, 2023, a top-level athletics competition called the 2023 Guangzhou Open Track and Field Relay and Athletics Division Invitation Competition (Stage 1) will take place at the Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou, which has a rich history in athletics and has produced renowned athletes such as Su Bingtian and Chen Guanfeng in recent years. 

This event is considered to be one of the most prestigious athletics competitions in China. It is noteworthy that this is the first significant athletics event held in Guangzhou since the 2009 Asian Athletics Championships. The Tianhe Stadium is known as a "holy site" for runners, and Guangdong province has a strong tradition of athletics, making it an ideal location for such a competition.

The event aims to integrate the competition into the city, encourage more people to enjoy relay races and bring the niche sport to the mainstream. Following the success of the Guangzhou Marathon, the relay will become another flagship sporting event for the city, expanding its competition system and making a significant contribution to promoting and popularizing track and field, as well as cultivating a fitness culture.

It's worth noting that in 2021, Guangzhou won the bid to host the 2023 World Athletics Relay Championships, marking China's first time hosting the highest-level world athletics relay event. With the championship postponed to 2025, this year's Guangzhou Open Track and Field Relay at the Tianhe Stadium will serve as a valuable opportunity for the city to hone its skills in preparation for the world championships in a few years.

Guangzhou has hosted major events such as the Guangzhou Marathon, FIBA Basketball World Cup, BWF World Tour Finals, and the Asian Athletics Championships, as well as the Asian Games and the National Games, among other comprehensive events. It boasts teams of professionals specializing in managing and operating sports events, having accumulated rich experience in event organization, reception, logistics, transportation, and medical services through a series of major competitions. The concept of hosting major sporting events in Guangzhou is aligned with international standards, with a focus on internationalization, specialization, and individualization.

The 2023 Guangzhou Open Track and Field Relay will take place at the Tianhe Stadium, the first major event held here following the upgrades for the 2025 World Athletics Relay Championships. 

The stadium underwent renovations beginning in November 2021 to meet event requirements, including upgrades to the track, lighting, fire facilities, second-floor waterproofing, and comprehensive maintenance. 

Completed in April 2023, the renovation included more than 100 sets of professional lighting fixtures to meet the requirements of the World Athletics. The exterior of the stadium and roof have been equipped with 1,420 sets of landscape lighting, making this "holy land" of running even more magnificent. The professional athletics track will provide viewers with an even more exceptional viewing experience. The revitalized old venue will once again witness the brilliance of Guangzhou sports. 

“天体”升级首亮相 广州田径接力公开赛本周末举行

2023年5月13-14日，在田径历史底蕴深厚，近年培养出苏炳添、陈冠锋等名将的广东，在被誉为“跑步圣地”的广州天河体育中心将举办一场国内顶尖水平的田径赛——广州田径接力公开赛暨田径分区邀请赛（第1站），这是自2009年田径亚锦赛后，广州再次举办重要的田径赛事。

熊嘉诚拍摄

让赛事融入城市，让百姓爱上接力，让这一小众赛事真正走入大众的生活，这是广州举办接力公开赛的初衷和愿望。继广州马拉松后，接力公开赛将成为广州致力打造的又一品牌赛事，这意味着广州竞赛体系将更加丰富，对于田径运动的推广与普及，全民健身良好氛围的营造，都将产生深远影响。

据了解，广州于2021年成功申办2023世界田联接力赛，这是中国首次举办世界田联接力项目的最高级别赛事。在该项赛事延期至2025年后，今年在天河体育中心体育场举办广州田径接力公开赛，将是对广州承办2025世界田联接力赛一次难得的练兵机会。

广州此前举办过广州马拉松、男篮世界杯、世界羽联总决赛和田径亚锦赛等赛事，并主办过亚运会和全运会等综合性赛事，拥有一批专业过硬的体育管理和运营团队。通过一系列大赛的历练，广州在赛事组织、接待、后勤服务、交通和医疗保障等方面积累了丰富的经验，办赛理念与国际接轨，将以国际化、专业化和个性化的高标准来承办本次接力赛。

据介绍，本次广州接力公开赛将在天河体育中心体育场进行，是“天体”为2025年世界田联接力赛量身升级改造后的首次亮相。

为了举办世界田联接力赛，天河体育中心体育场于2021年11月启动改造工程，严格按照赛事要求对跑道、灯光、消防设施、二层平台防水和综合维修等五个环节进行对标升级，并于2023年4月正式完工。

本次改造“天体”主场新增了100余套专业照明灯具，已满足国际田联照明要求，外墙及顶棚安装了1420套景观灯，让中轴线上的这座“跑步圣地”更加光彩夺目，专业的田径跑道也将为观众提供更为优质的观赛体验。老场馆释放新活力，“天体”将再度见证广州体育的又一次辉煌。

文/羊城晚报全媒体记者 柴智 苏荇
图片 | 视觉中国（除署名外）
翻译 | 刘佳慧