As the host of the 17th Guangdong Provincial Games, which will take place in 2026, Maoming is already brimming with enthusiasm for fitness and sports.

The city has already finished building 102 community sports parks and 140 playgrounds where people can play football. The per capita sports venue area has reached 2.46 square meters, forming a network of public sports and fitness facilities at the district, town, administrative village, and natural village levels.

Maoming builds an ecological belt for people to walk and run around. [Photo/WeChat account: maofabu]

In Maoming, a "15-minute fitness circle" in urban areas and a "20-minute fitness circle" in rural communities have both been established. All 274 community fitness facilities in the city are now equipped, and fitness facilities have been built in all 1,628 administrative villages. All public sports facilities are now either free of charge or available to the public at an extremely low cost.

A dragon boat race takes place on Jinjiang River. [Photo/WeChat account: maofabu] 

Maoming has been hosting dragon boat races, a celebratory Maoming Fitness Day, a mass hiking festival, marathons, football matches, and sports dance competitions to attract more people to participate in sports activities.

Boys battle it out during a table tennis match in Maoming. [Photo/WeChat account: maofabu]

Maoming is working to ensure the 17th Guangdong Provincial Games are of a high standard. At the end of last year, the city established a leadership group to prepare for the Games, which are still three years away.

A nationwide project to find the best mascot, emblem, theme song, and slogan for the 17th Guangdong Provincial Games is now in full swing.

People of Maoming are also preparing to welcome the games with passion and enthusiasm as sports are becoming ingrained in their daily lives.