Asian Beach Games Photo: VCG

Embracing a record-breaking lineup of 1,790 athletes from across Asia, the 6th Asian Beach Games in 2026 is entering its final stretch of preparations, with highlights including the unveiling of the opening ceremony and the torch relay. The Games will officially open on April 22 in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province.

With the theme of "a sky-ocean meeting," the opening ceremony of the Games will highlight the fusion of technology with Hainan's cultural elements. The ceremony will feature "high-tech presentations including intelligent robots and aerial stunts," alongside performances showcasing "ethnic minority crafts and musical instruments from the Li and Miao ethnic cultures," Zhang Dongxin, one of the chief directors of the Games' opening and closing ceremonies, told the Global Times. 

The spatial stage design draws inspiration from "the sunrise from the sea," and the creative team is currently polishing the final details through multiple rehearsals. Both the opening and closing ceremonies will be held at Sanya's Yasha Park. 

The torch relay will officially kick off on March 30 and cover a distance of 11 kilometers. In addition to adding a sense of ceremony to the sporting event, the relay route is designed to pass through iconic landmarks in Sanya such as Sanya Bay and Phoenix Island. They aim to showcase the city's iconic tropical coastal charm and free and welcoming spirit as a hub for international trade. 

The design of the torch itself also draws from local culture, with its top modeled after the bougainvillea, Sanya's city flower. Its predominant red hue embodies the city's inclusive and warm spirit, while its smooth, flowing lines evoke the movement of ocean waves.

The Chinese delegation consists of 174 athletes. Other large delegations include Thailand, the Philippines, India and China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 

The Games feature 14 sports, among which beach handball, dragon boat racing, beach athletics, ju-jitsu and more have the highest number of participants. Among them, dragon boat racing is "a key gold medal opportunity for the Chinese team," Wei Wei, a dragon boat racing professional who will serve as both a referee and a technical analyst during the Games, told the Global Times.

Since Saturday, both the Chinese men's and women's dragon boat teams have begun intensive training to adapt to the "unique" environment of the Sanya Games, Wei revealed. "Compared with previous competitions held in calm waters, the venue this time, the Sanya River, is more challenging, especially due to its relatively complex tidal conditions." 

So far, the nine key areas of the Games, including venue construction, event organization, safety and security, and service support, have entered the final sprint stage. Among them, the service support for athletes has been particularly meticulous. 

In the Athletes' Village, in addition to standard facilities such as "self-service laundry, mobile restrooms," and a fitness center, "distinctive Chinese services such as a traditional Chinese medicine clinic have also been added," Fu Wan, deputy director of the Executive Committee of the Asian Beach Games and head of the Logistics Support Department, told the Global Times. 

Meanwhile, to better ensure services during the Games, more than 4,700 volunteers have completed training and begun taking up their posts.

A total of eight competition venue clusters and one training venue have been arranged around Sanya Bay and other areas. All venues have been completed and have passed inspection. Following the principle of "renovate rather than build, rent rather than buy," the construction emphasized sustainable post-Games utilization and integration with public services.

A total of 62 gold medals will be awarded at the 6th Asian Beach Games. The finals will peak on April 24, 28, and 29, with these three days accounting for around 60 percent of all gold medals up for grabs. Notably, April 29 will be a key day, as 16 gold medals will be awarded in events such as water polo, 3x3 basketball, beach soccer, rock climbing, beach volleyball, and more.

First held in Bali, Indonesia, in 2008, the Asian Beach Games are organized by the Olympic Council of Asia. It is one of the five major comprehensive sports events in Asia, alongside the Asian Games, and is also the largest multi-sport beach event in the region. 

Including the upcoming host city Sanya, China has hosted the Asian Beach Games twice. In 2012, the Games were held in Haiyang, Shandong Province, where the Chinese delegation claimed 14 gold medals, finishing top of both the gold medal and overall medal standings.