Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, sports are deeply woven into daily life, from hiking city trails and coastal peaks to regular fitness routines. For Chan Yuen-tung, project manager at the Hong Kong think tank One Country, Two Systems Youth Forum, this sports culture offers a window into how young people connect and interact across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Around the time of the 15th National Games, held in November, she organized two youth sports exchange programs, bringing together sports-loving youth from across the region to experience signature disciplines from different host cities. "The National Games are not just about competition. They also carry strong social and cultural significance,"Chan said.

During the programs, sports became a universal language. Through shared training and friendly competition, the participants built connections that extended beyond regional identities. Some teams even continued to meet and train together after the events ended.

Chan hopes that sports-based exchanges can foster more sustained and meaningful interactions among youth in the Greater Bay Area, grounded in regular participation rather than one-off events.