The 12th Guangzhou Friendship Games kicks off at Tianhe Sports Center

The Foreign Affairs Office of Guangzhou (Guangzhou FAO) held the 12th Guangzhou Friendship Games in Tianhe Sports Center from May 20 to 21.

About 500 competitors from more than 70 countries and regions participated in the games. The event aims to promote exchanges and friendship among Guangzhou residents and expats who live and work in Guangzhou.

The participants include officials of foreign consulates general in Guangzhou and their families, representatives of foreign organizations in Guangzhou and their families, foreign experts, overseas students, foreign investors, as well as representatives of Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR enterprises in Guangzhou.

Zhan Decun, director of Guangzhou FAO, introduced that 11 sessions of the Guangzhou Friendship Games have been successfully held since 1998, and these have built a bridge of friendship for Chinese and foreign friends. He hoped that all participants can enjoy this event, make friends and know Guangzhou better.

Jiraporn Sudanich, Consul General of the Kingdom of Thailand in Guangzhou (Photo: Clarice)

Jiraporn Sudanich, Consul General of the Kingdom of Thailand in Guangzhou (Photo: Clarice)

Jiraporn Sudanich, Consul General of the Kingdom of Thailand in Guangzhou, participated in the Women’s Bowling Game.“I had taken part in a lot of bowling friendship games in other cities, but this was my first time in Guangzhou. Through the event, there is a great chance to connect with people from many other nations while also strengthening ties with Guangzhou FAO. I would love to attend the next session of the Guangzhou Friendship Games.”

Peiris Chandula Praveen from the tennis team of Sun Yet-sen University (Team SYSU) (Photo: Clarice)

Seevaratnam Thapovarsan from Team SYSU (Photo: Clarice)

Peiris Chandula Praveen and Seevaratnam Thapovarsan are Sri Lankan students in the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programs of Sun Yat-sen University. Praveen said, ”We have lived in Guangzhou for five years, and it is our third time playing tennis in the Guangzhou Friendship Games. We do not set goals because competing with people from other countries is the most enjoyable part of the game. We attended the Guangzhou Friendship Game in 2019, so it is exciting to return to this court in 2023.”  

Team SYSU (Photo: Clarice) 

Foreign competitors from Team SYSU chats with Chinese competitors from Team GAC Motor in the middle of the game. (Photo: Clarice)

Nurul Adriana binti Adnan is the youngest player from the Team Consulate General of Malaysia in Guangzhou (Team Malaysia) in the Women’s table tennis game. Although she is only 14 years old, she shows talent in table tennis and won the British School of Guangzhou championship.

“Guangzhou Friendship Game allows me to challenge myself and compete with adults. I won the top 4! I am proud of myself,” she said. 

Nurul Adriana binti Adnan in the semi-final of the Women’s table tennis game (Photo: Clarice)

Nurul Adriana binti Adnan (L1) wins the top 4 in the Women’s table tennis game. (Photo: Clarice)

Team Malaysia in Guangzhou (Photo provided to GDToday)

Sabuj Md Ashikur Rahman from Team South China University of Technology (Team SCUT) is showing his football jersey to GDToday (Photo: Clarice)

Team SCUT vs Team Southern Medical University (Team SMU) (Photo: Clarice)

Team SCUT vs Team SMU (Photo: Clarice)

The football team of SMU is celebrating their championship (Photo provided to GDToday)

Author | Clarice

Editor | Wing, Steven, Jasmine, James