For the first time in the National Games' history, China's 15th National Games are co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. On the evening of November 9th, 2025, the national anthem echoed across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) as the national flags were raised simultaneously in Hong Kong, Macao, and Guangzhou. The 46 seconds at the opening ceremony became a vivid testament to diversity and inclusiveness under the "one country, two systems" policy.

Fang Zhou, research director of the Hong Kong-based One Country Two Systems Research Institute, noted that the opening ceremony's creative team brought together talents from all three regions, demonstrating the possibilities for the integration of cultural resources and institutional collaboration among them. Such cooperation is a genuine reflection of diversity and inclusiveness under the "one country, two systems" policy.

During preparations, the team proposed a plan of "simultaneous lighting across three regions with three torch towers." However, the idea proved unfeasible due to cultural differences and varied operational procedures. Ultimately, the team finalized a synchronized flag-raising ceremony across all three regions. This design vividly highlights the wisdom of the "one country, two systems" practice—respecting differences while seeking common ground and preserving diversity, upholding the foundation of "one country," and skillfully leveraging the strengths of "two systems."

After more than a year of coordination, the opening ceremony kicked off at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center. Delegations from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao paraded together, followed by the presentation of three chapters—"Shared Roots," "Shared Bonds," and "Shared Dreams." Lingnan culture, water elements, and cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence were deeply integrated to create an immersive "dialogue between past and present," with every detail resonating with the collective memories shared across the GBA.

During the event, over 6,000 participants from the Chinese mainland traveled to Hong Kong and Macao, while more than 3,000 athletes from Hong Kong and Macao joined competitions on the mainland, both record highs. Hong Kong and Macao's involvement in co-hosting this national-level sports event underscores the institutional inclusiveness under the "one country" principle. At the same time, the National Games served as a pilot platform for the three regions to overcome institutional barriers and achieve coordinated development, deepening the integration of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao through practical collaboration.

全运会 46 秒升旗礼背后，看“一国两制”的故事”

十五运会是全运会历史上首次由粤港澳三地联合承办的赛事。2025年11月9日晚，国歌响彻大湾区，香港、澳门、广州三地同步升国旗，十五运会开幕式这四十六秒，成为“一国两制”下多元共融的生动注脚。

香港“一国两制”研究中心研究总监方舟指出，开幕式主创团队融合三地人才，体现了三地文化资源的整合与制度协作的可能性。这种合作是“一国两制”下多元共融的真实写照。

筹备中，团队曾提出“三地共同点火、设置三个火炬塔”的方案，但因三地文化差异与操作流程不同，该方案难以落地。最终，团队确定了“三地同步升国旗、唱国歌”的环节。这一细节恰恰揭示出“一国两制”的实践智慧：尊重差异、求同存异，坚守“一国”之本、善用“两制”之利。

历经一年多磨合，开幕式在广东奥体中心的同心圆空间拉开帷幕。粤港澳代表团同时入场，“同根同源、同心同缘、同梦同圆”三大篇章依次铺展，岭南文化、水元素与人工智能等前沿科技深度融合，打造沉浸式“古今对话”，细节中满是大湾区人的集体记忆。

赛事期间，6000多名内地人员赴港澳、3000多名港澳人员来内地参赛，创历史新高。此次港澳参与承办全国性体育赛事，彰显了“一国”之下的制度包容。同时，全运会为三地突破制度性障碍、实现协同发展提供了先行先试的平台，让粤港澳融合在实践中不断深化。

总统筹｜孙璇 胡泉
统筹｜林洁 董柳
文字｜记者 李焕坤
翻译｜盛嘉
审校｜洪婷