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The Hong Kong leg of the 15th National Games torch relay will take place on November 2, featuring a vibrant route that stretches from the Central Government Offices in Tamar to the Kai Tak Sports Park, the city’s main competition venue for the Games.
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The relay will begin at 9.30am at Tamar, where the first torchbearer will set off amid the Hong Kong skyline.
The flame will pass through Tamar Park, the Central and Wan Chai harbourfront promenade, and Golden Bauhinia Square, before crossing the harbour to Tsim Sha Tsui, where runners will pass the Hong Kong Museum of Art and Cultural Centre along the waterfront.
In a creative nod to Hong Kong’s unique cityscape and transport culture, the relay will combine running, ferry rides and open-top buses, offering both participants and spectators a dynamic experience along Victoria Harbour.
From Tsim Sha Tsui, the flame will continue to Kai Tak Sports Park, where the final torchbearers will tour key landmarks within the complex — including the Youth Sports Ground, Indoor Sports Arena, Sports Avenue, and Main Stadium, where the Games’ opening ceremony will later be held.
According to Yeung Tak-keung, the head of Hong Kong’s National Games Coordination Office, the entire relay will last around two hours, blending sportsmanship and city pride.
A total of 50 torchbearers will take part in the Hong Kong leg, each running 50 to 100 meters, representing a cross-section of the community, including athletes, youth representatives, community leaders, and professionals from various sectors.
The event will take place simultaneously with torch relays in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Macau, forming part of a grand prelude to the opening of the 15th National Games on November 9.
After the four-city relays conclude, the individual flames will be brought back to Guangzhou, where they will be merged at the Guangdong Olympic Centre in a symbolic ceremony before the Games’ opening.
According to the organizers, each city’s route had been designed to highlight both historical heritage and modern vitality.
Guangzhou’s relay will begin at Zhenhai Tower in Yuexiu Park, passing landmarks such as the Five Rams Statue, Tianzi Wharf, Haixinsha Island, and Zhujiang New Town, with performances of Cantonese opera and Lingnan music along the way.
Shenzhen’s route will traverse the Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base and Qianhai International Convention Center, featuring youth choirs, electric hydrofoil displays, and lion and qilin dances.
“The format this year is far more innovative,” said Tang Guohua, Deputy Director of the Guangdong committee. “We’re incorporating new technology such as drones, driverless vehicles, and helicopters to relay the flame between ground segments.”
He noted that Shenzhen’s route spans five kilometres on foot and 40 kilometres by air, with a similar hybrid setup planned in Guangzhou.
The Guangdong leg will also include both individual and group torchbearers, with each team led by a main runner accompanied by up to six supporting runners.
