On September 11, a press conference for the 21st Jiangsu Provincial Games was held in Lianyungang. Starting tomorrow, only 30 days remain until the Games officially open on October 12, marking the final sprint and decisive stage of all preparatory work. What unmissable highlights does this grand comprehensive sporting event—the largest and highest-level in the province—have in store? What activities can ordinary citizens take part in? And how will Lianyungang welcome visitors from all directions? Here is the most comprehensive summary from the press conference.

At the upcoming Games, 599 gold medals have already been awarded, and all venues will open to the public after the event. This edition features three major segments: the Youth Division, the University Division, and the Staff Division, with the Youth Division alone encompassing 34 sports and 973 events, expected to yield 1,314 gold medals and attract nearly 30,000 athletes, referees, technical officials, and support staff. So far, 32 preliminary events have been completed, producing 599 gold medals, with the remaining schedule finalized and set to run seamlessly. All competition venues have undergone high-standard upgrades, with lighting, sound, timing, and scoring systems passing professional inspections to meet event standards. Notably, adhering to the principle of "hosting the Games for the people's benefit," all venues will fully open to the public post-event, truly realizing "developing sports through competition, benefiting the entire population." Meanwhile, comprehensive support systems—including security, transportation, accommodation, and medical services—are fully in place, with multiple practical drills conducted to secure a firm safety baseline.

Five major highlights of the opening ceremony will bring the city's cultural heritage to life on stage. The opening and closing ceremonies are the crowning jewels of the Games, serving as key platforms to showcase Jiangsu's sporting spirit and Lianyungang's urban charm. Currently, preparations are advancing as planned, with the opening ceremony performance plan and the closing ceremony stage design and flow finalized. Student volunteers from four universities are intensively rehearsing by segment, utilizing advanced stage technologies such as naked-eye imaging, multi-layer projection, and digitally controlled glowing spheres to craft a visual feast blending cultural depth with technological flair. The opening ceremony, themed around "Mountain-Sea Harbor City," deeply integrates local cultural IP, with five highlights revealed in advance.

First, the cultural prologue unlocks the prehistoric "Oriental Heavenly Script." The opening segment "Clouds: Dawning of the East" brings the prehistoric treasure of General Cliff Rock Paintings onto the stage, using laser line engraving and naked-eye imaging to recreate the rock art totems, accompanied by light-and-shadow performances of elements like the "sun" and "mystical bird," breathing new life into an ancient civilization spanning millennia on a modern stage.

Second, the IP breakout interprets sportsmanship through the hometown of the Great Sage. The first chapter "Mountains: Quest for the West" centers on the city's "Great Sage's Hometown" identity, crafting an immersive "Birth of the Monkey King" visual scene, aligning the adventurous and tenacious spirit of Journey to the West culture with the ethos of athletic competition.

Third, striving toward the sea showcases the Silk Road port's momentum. The second chapter "Sea: A Thousand Sails" leverages Lianyungang's position as a key node city in the Belt and Road Initiative, blending song and imagery to depict the city's open-port, land-sea coordinated development, writing a harbor-city answer to maritime ambition.

Fourth, the enduring charm of Jiangsu links the province's cultural beauty. The third chapter "City: A Harmonious Homeland" uses the classic melody "Jasmine Flower" as a thread, connecting theatrical styles from across Jiangsu to paint a picture of a livable, prosperous, and harmonious home.

Fifth, the rising tide of the future sets sail with a giant ship bearing dreams. In the finale "Tide: Leading the Way," the theme song "We Share the Dream" resonates, and the "Future" giant ship makes its debut, symbolizing a shared journey toward new horizons for provincial sports and urban development.

Over 100 events have been brought to the people's doorstep, with grassroots competitions accounting for 80%. The Provincial Games are not just a stage for professional athletes but a participatory platform for the entire city. Under the theme "With the Provincial Games, a Nationwide Arena," Lianyungang has hosted over 100 mass sports events for all ages and groups. On one hand, it has built a brand event matrix—events like the Mass Ice and Snow Season, Huaguoshan New Year Hiking, and the National "Walk the Grand Canal" fitness walk have gained traction; the Huaguoshan New Year Hiking attracted over 3,000 participants nationwide and received mainstream media coverage from outlets like CCTV, achieving deep integration of sports with Journey to the West cultural tourism. During National Fitness Day on August 8, the city launched 25 "National Fitness Month" series events, pairing traditional sports like martial arts and soft ball with emerging ones like pickleball and table hockey to cater to diverse preferences. On the other hand, it has cultivated "one county, one brand" signature events, strengthening the "Follow the Events to Travel" brand: local IP events such as the Donghai Hailing Lake Half Marathon, Guanyun "Village Ping-Pong" League, Ganyu "Gan Super" Basketball League, Huaguoshan Hiking Race, Yuwan Ferrata Climbing, and Xuyu New District Paddleboarding continue to upgrade, giving every district its own sports hallmark. Currently, grassroots events make up 80% of the total, truly bringing competitions close to the people. In the next 30 days, additional activities like the Double Ninth Festival Senior Sports Series, Street Dance Challenge, and Huaguoshan Autumn Hiking Race will roll out, sustaining the wave of mass enthusiasm for the Games.

With 1,800 volunteers in place, a civilized breeze sweeps the harbor city. For event support, as a dynamic window into urban civility, all 1,800 competition volunteers have been recruited, alongside a reserve pool of 400 to handle contingencies. Through a three-tier training system—"general training, role-specific training, and practical drills"—volunteers have mastered event services, etiquette standards, and emergency first aid, and will provide comprehensive support including check-in guidance, order maintenance, awards assistance, and media services at venues, ceremonies, and supporting carnivals. To present the best urban face, Lianyungang is simultaneously rolling out two major campaigns: "Be a Good Host, Welcome the Provincial Games Civilly" and "National Fitness for the Provincial Games, Civilization First." These initiatives enhance refined urban management across four dimensions—event civility, industry services, transportation, and environmental tidiness. Leveraging the city's Civilizational Practice centers, 83 community fitness and exchange activities will be held from September to October, and on September 19, a city-level "Provincial Games Carnival" will be staged, combining cultural performances, sports interactions, and civilizational practice markets, allowing residents to feel the Games' atmosphere right at their doorstep.

The 30-day countdown serves as both a sprint signal and a gathering call. From meticulous preparations at professional venues to mass participation on every street, from staging millennia-old cultural heritage to a comprehensive facelift of the urban landscape, Lianyungang is going all out to achieve zero-error hosting, zero-fault service, and zero-risk safety, delivering a splendid, distinctive, and heartwarming Provincial Games. On October 12, let us answer the call of mountains and seas to witness the brilliance of the Games.