China's 15th National Games will be held from November 9 to 21, marking a historic milestone as the first-ever carbon-neutral National Games. A range of carbon-reduction measures have been implemented across all stages, from venue construction to energy management and event organization.

In the competition zone in south China's Guangdong Province, 89 venues will host various events, with over 90 percent upgraded or renovated from existing facilities.

Among them is Guangzhou's Tianhe Sports Center, an iconic sports landmark that has previously hosted the 6th and 9th National Games as well as the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. This time, the venue will host football, volleyball, table tennis and 3x3 basketball competitions while adopting various measures to minimize carbon emissions.

The center's stadium has installed insulated aluminum alloy window frames with low-emission double-glazed glass, which reflects solar radiation and reduces indoor air-conditioning load. The energy-efficient direct-current inverter air-conditioning system helps cut energy consumption by 11 to 23 percent beyond baseline energy-saving standards.

Meanwhile, all lighting within the venue has been replaced with energy-saving LED fixtures, paired with an intelligent lighting control system that allows for on-demand illumination, reducing energy use by more than 45 percent, said Tan Haiyang, who is in charge of the green and low-carbon renovation design of the Tianhe Sports Center, according to China Media Group (CMG).

The running track has also been upgraded. Made with a domestically developed prefabricated rubber system, it not only offers excellent durability and slip resistance but is also 100 percent recyclable, allowing it to be remade into new tracks after use.

"The entire production process for the track is digitally controlled, minimizing energy consumption and emissions," Chen Chen, one of the developers, told CMG.

Digital technologies have also been deployed to enhance energy and carbon management. The Tianhe Sports Center uses a smart energy-carbon management system that monitors real-time data on electricity, water consumption and carbon emissions. The system sends alerts when energy usage exceeds normal levels, helping ensure resources are used efficiently.

Besides Tianhe Sports Center, the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center has also made strides in renewable energy, with a 550-kW photovoltaic system now fully operational. The solar power system is expected to cut carbon emissions by over 350 tonnes annually, equivalent to planting more than 20,000 trees. Similarly, the Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center Stadium features a rock climbing venue whose rooftop is covered with solar panels, generating enough electricity each year to meet the venue's energy needs for the next decade.

'Zero waste' concept throughout the Games and beyond

The "zero waste" concept has been integrated throughout the venue renovation process.

Ahead of the Games, Guangdong's environmental authorities issued detailed green plans, including the use of recyclable materials in construction, green procurement for event supplies, and the promotion of digital ticketing and online guides to reduce paper waste.

Li Nan, deputy director of the comprehensive division at the Department of Ecology and Environment of Guangdong Province, emphasized the importance of waste reduction and recycling during the event. "We are committed to reducing solid waste as much as possible, and have established a classification system for recyclable materials, with smart waste separation and recycling facilities in place," Li said.

After the Games, the venues will continue to serve public recreation, ensuring that sustainable design and environmental practices benefit the community long after the event.

According to Nie Jun, head of the Tianhe Sports Center renovation project, post-event use has been a key consideration. "In addition to meeting the needs of the National Games, we've considered the citizens' needs after the Games as one of the important factors in the renovation," Nie said.