A robot races against the two mascots of China's 15th National Games in Guangzhou on November 17, 2025. Photo: IC

At the opening ceremony of China's 15th National Games in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, a 174-meter digital scroll in an oil-painting style drew particular attention. Blending technology with art, it showcased the magnificent landscapes of Lingnan with breathtaking splendor.

Unlike traditional production techniques, this scroll was fully and autonomously generated by more than 2,000 AI agents. 

"It's hard to believe this stunning painting wasn't painted with real pigments but created by AI. It doesn't have that usual 'techy' or mechanical feel - instead, it captures the softness and delicate beauty of real art," Chen Xingyi, a 26-year-old sports fan who watched the opening ceremony on site, told the Global Times.

This wasn't the only thing that amazed Chen. In the following days of watching the Games, she found besides the visual appeal, other technological application brought her an unprecedented convenience, such as easy navigation to destinations, undergoing fast security checks.

Chen's experience is one of countless examples showing how China's 15th National Games is leveraging cutting-edge technology to upgrade the experience of ordinary spectators.

In October, the National Development and Reform Commission, together with other relevant departments jointly issued a notice on an action plan, aimed at deepening the development of smart cities and promoting comprehensive digital transformation. The document proposes to create new digital lifestyle scenarios such as digital-empowered cultural tourism, sports and accelerating the digital transformation of cultural and sports facilities, including stadiums and gymnasiums.

This aligns with the digital sports development goals outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan for Sports Development (2021-25) released in 2021, which requires applying digital technologies to promote sports development, including digital governance in the sports sector and digitalization of sports competitions.

Based on the experience of individuals and companies that have either benefited from or provided technological support for the 15th National Games, the Global Times reveals how innovative technologies are unlocking new avenues for the public to engage deeply with sports culture, while also demonstrating their potential to deliver intelligent "urban services" that integrate technological benefits into all aspects of public life.

Cheap tickets, awesome views

During her years studying abroad, whenever Chen wanted to attend one of her favorite sporting events - whether football, tennis, or something else - she often found herself caught in a dilemma: Should she pay for a better seat, or save money and settle for a less ideal view?

With limited budget, almost every time Chen would end up sitting high up in the stands or off to the side in cheaper tickers - craning her neck, squinting her eyes and relying on the overhead screens or her phone's zoom function to follow the game. 

"It's exciting to see my favorite players or a great match," she recalled, "but by the end, my eyes would ache and my body would feel tired. Sometimes I'd even miss the most thrilling moments."

This year's National Games, however, completely changed her perception of what a live sports experience can offer. For the first time, she said, even with an affordable "mountain-top ticket," she could sit back and still have a clear, immersive view of the action - no awkward postures and no external devices.

"There were four enormous HD screens arranged as a giant cube hanging in the center of the stadium," Chen told the Global Times. "Even from the back, the view was so clear that I could see the players' expressions and feel fully immersed in the game's electric energy."

The cube-shaped display Chen described is China's first "retractable roof integrated with a movable cube display" system. The Global Times learned from its developer - Shanghai Sansi Technology Corp that it operates in sync with the venue's retractable roof and intelligent adjustable lighting systems, enabling rapid reconfiguration of the arena to meet the needs of different events.

A spectator surnamed Zhang told the Global Times that what delighted him most about attending the Games was being able to livestream and share the excitement of the matches with his family in real time.

According to Shenzhen Special Zone Daily, the Shenzhen Sports Center - one of the main venues - has been equipped with more than 4,200 signal antennas and nearly 1,800 Wi-Fi access points to ensure full coverage with dual-gigabit networks.

"My grandparents are big sports fans, but too old to travel far," Zhang said.  "Thanks to the stable Wi-Fi in the stadium, I could video-call them - chatting while showing them the live atmosphere and the matches in real time."

A digitally-enhanced spectacular performance is presented during the opening ceremony of China's 15th National Games in Guangzhou on November 9, 2025. Photo: VCG

Smarter operations

Beyond creating a superior viewing experience for audiences, technological assistance also provides comprehensive, intelligent services throughout the spectator journey, ensuring efficiency and accuracy even beyond the venue.

Chen said she often got lost in maze-like stadium corridors in the past. But this year, all those problems disappeared. As long as she opened the "I Shenzhen Sports" mini-program, a clear AR arrow would appear on her screen, guiding her directly to her seat, or any other place without annoying detours.

"With these smart helpers, we can greatly save our energy for cheering in the stands instead of wasting it on aimless wandering," Chen said.

Beyond intelligent upgrades to the stadium facilities, a number of distinctive figures - humanoid robots and robot dogs of various shapes and functions - have become the "capillaries" of the entire service network, extending its reach to every individual.

On November 2, robot Kuavo already made its debut as the world's first 5G-advanced-equipped humanoid torchbearer in Shenzhen, carried a 1.6-kilogram torch and completed a 100-meter stretch in a human-like running posture.

During the Games, robots played a larger role in security and public services. Liu, a spectator, who went to the Guangdong Province Olympic Sports Center for the diving events, told the Global Times that along the way to the venue - at security checkpoints, stairways, and passageways - he frequently saw robots carrying out their duties in an orderly manner.

Among those robots, one was the fourth-generation embodied humanoid robot GoMateMini. According to its developer, Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC Group), which spoke to Guangzhou Daily, the humanoid robot features a variable wheel-leg design for stable movement from corridors to stairs. When detecting unusual situations such as someone falling or moving against the flow, it can proactively intervene to ensure on-site safety.

Besides humanoid robots, there are also robot dogs available around venues, mainly functioning in autonomous patrol and safety control, deeply integrating advanced technologies such as AI recognition and embodied intelligence. When the AI system detects a potential threat, like someone holding a knife, the robot dog can deploy its smart net launcher, thereby enabling security personnel to respond quickly and safely.

Off duty, these robot dogs also showcased their friendly and puppy-like charm. Xue, a mother who took her child to the Games, told the Global Times that the robot dogs are not scary at all, very popular among children and sometimes even surrounded by visitors eager to take photos.

A robot dog and a volunteer stand on the track and field venue of China's 15th National Games in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province on November 17, 2025. Photo: VCG

From digital sport to intelligent city governance

While most people are enjoying the upgraded experience brought by digital assistance, some innovations also provide people with disabilities new ways to experience public events on equal terms, highlighting both the human-centered warmth and the inclusiveness of the digitalized development, Jiang Qiping, a deputy director of the China Management Science Society, told the Global Times.

A university student volunteer told the Global Times that he had participated in several large-scale events before, but with the introduction of various digital aids, he noticed a significant decrease in the number of visitors asking for directions, with most of those seeking help being elderly people less familiar with digital devices. This, in turn, allowed volunteers to devote more attention to emergency response and to providing customized services for groups with special needs.

For visually impaired people, the Guangzhou venue introduced a six-legged guide robot, providing thoughtful navigation assistance. According to Guangzhou Daily, citing words from experts from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the six-legged robot supports both voice and force interactions, allowing visually impaired users to issue commands via bone-conduction headphones and adjust robot's walking speed by pushing a guiding cane. 

"It is estimated that this robot can increase the sense of travel safety of the visually impaired people by 60 percent and mobility efficiency by more than 50 percent," said the expert.

For other impaired people, Guangzhou launches a sign language translation service. Users call professional sign language volunteers with a single click through the mini-program to receive real-time online translation support. Several venues in Shenzhen are equipped with intelligent stair-climbing electric wheelchairs, which can automatically detect the incline of different staircases and adjust their angle accordingly, thereby enabling spectators to enjoy the events on site.

Notably, many of the public services used during the Games will remain in place afterward. The accessible service system adopted in Guangzhou venues will be transferred to other public service scenarios such as the exhibition center and civil service hall. According to the Shenzhen Economic Daily, the venues-upgrading project for the Games followed the "comprehensive venues + specialized facilities" and "permanent + temporary facilities" model, ensuring that infrastructure serves both elite competitions and public sports development.

"The National Games serve as a proving ground for technological achievements," said GAC Group to the Global Times, noting that many technological applications debuting this time had previously undergone rigorous testing in other sporting event settings. The company plans to promote the transition of autonomous driving and low-altitude mobility from "event applications" to "urban services."

In August, Guangzhou released a list of proposed technology applications for the Games, many of which could also be used to serve daily public needs, such as smart fitness facilities in public spaces and AI-assisted traditional Chinese medicine wellness experiences.

"More than 130 outcomes have been applied for the Games. Integrating technology with sporting events is not just about building a stage to showcase the city's strength," Jiang told the Global Times. "It represents a comprehensive upgrade of the entire city's service philosophy and efficiency. These technological achievements, first applied to event services, will ultimately become part of the city's fabric, creating lasting convenience for every citizen."

Tech in Sports