The 13th Chinese National Games closed in the northern port city of Tianjin on Friday evening, after two weeks featuring a splendid show of life and passion.

Three athletes and one team created a total of four new world records and two competitors were able to set an Asian record. Long-lasting health was also a focus during the final proceedings, with senior members of society taking to the stage to show off their athletic ability in their later years.

Some of the Chinese athletes made a huge impact in their chosen fields and celebrated by performing. During the quadrennial sports gala, four world records, three Asian marks as well as 11 national and three national junior ones have been shattered in shooting, weightlifting, cycling, athletics and swimming. The 4x100-meter relay team and female swimmer Fu Yuanhui were some of those who showed their theatrical, as well as sporting ability.

The National Games, which were first held in 1959, was for decades the main way for the government to appraise the work of provincial sports authorities. In the past, winning a national title can be as important as, if not more important than, winning an Olympic gold to local officials. But with the stakes so high, the National Games were overshadowed by a string of doping and match fixing scandals in recent years.

In a bid to root out the obsession with finishing first, the State General Administration of Sports no longer ranks localities for the medals or performance of their athletes in the National Games. It seems to have worked, as no allegations of fraud have been reported so far in this year's edition of the Games.

And a nationwide fitness initiative was launched as part of a "national strategy" to encourage citizens to be active on a daily basis. This also meant China had to make improvements by providing facilities to make this possible.

"For Chinese people it is more important that we increase our physical spirit. The National Games' purpose is to benefit people. You can see a large number of seniors who are active, and exercise anywhere," said local citizen Bai Xinkai.

The National Games flame was extinguished and Tianjin handed over of the duties to northwestern Shaanxi Province, the host of the next version the games in four years’ time.