'Fire and water' facilitate torch lighting for National Games

A grand torch-lighting ceremony for the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games was held on Thursday in Guangzhou's Nansha district, Guangdong province — a key milestone as China's largest comprehensive sports event enters its final preparation stage.

The source flame was created using flammable ice collected from the Haima cold seep in the South China Sea at a depth of 1,522 meters, marking the first time in world history that the catalyst of a "source flame" had been directly obtained from the ocean floor.

"The successful torch-lighting demonstrates a breakthrough in in-situ collection technology for deep-sea flammable ice, enabling the extraction of a 'source flame' from more than 1,500 meters underwater," said Chen Zongheng, an official with the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey.

Chen said scientific researchers aboard a research vessel located cold seep vents and remotely operated a device to collect gas hydrates from the seabed. Through pressure reduction, the hydrates released gas, which was dried and sent to a combustion chamber specially designed for the collection of the primordial flame.

After synthesizing flammable ice, also known as methane hydrate, the team used a pressure reduction device to obtain decomposed gas and relied on electricity from a solar photovoltaic power system to achieve deep-sea ignition, Chen said.

The achievement brought to life the spectacular vision of "fire and water coexisting in harmony", symbolizing the integration of clean energy sources such as flammable ice and solar power with advanced deep-sea exploration technologies and equipment.

It also underscored Guangdong's strategy of "prospering and growing stronger through the ocean", showcasing the technological strength and innovative confidence of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to the world.

The ceremony took place at the scientific research pier of the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, located at the mouth of the Pearl River.

Senior officials from central, provincial and city governments attended the event, including Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Party chief of Guangdong province; Gao Zhidan, director of the General Administration of Sport; Zhou Changkui, chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the China Disabled Persons' Federation; Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu; and Macao Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai.

The flame will travel to Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions for torch relays in November.

The 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games are expected to bring together more than 6,000 athletes from the Chinese mainland and about 3,000 athletes from Hong Kong and Macao.

Guangzhou will host the opening ceremony for the 15th National Games at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center. Shenzhen, which borders Hong Kong, will host the closing ceremony. Competitions will take place from Nov 9 to 21.

The 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games will run from Dec 8 to 15. The opening ceremonies for both will also be held in Guangzhou, and the closing ceremonies in Shenzhen.

This year marks the first time the National Games will be jointly held in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.