While athletes took centre stage at the 15th National Games of China, behind the scenes, a student from City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) was playing his own part in making this mega-event happen.

XU Yang, a postgraduate student in Engineering Management, spent 187 days working with the Liaison Department, Comprehensive Division, Guangdong Executive Committee of the 15th National Games – an experience he describes as "a soul-stirring experience".

From the internship in early summer to the final ceremony in late autumn, Xu was involved in the intricate details that kept the event running: coordinating six opening ceremony rehearsals, assisting with four press conferences, handling hundreds of official documents, and managing daily communications between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau.

"It was my first time being so closely involved in a national-level event," Xu recalls. "What made it even more special was that this was the first National Games jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau."

Based in the Liaison Department, Comprehensive Division, Guangdong Executive Committee of the 15th National Games, Xu served as a crucial link between different committees and regions. His responsibilities ranged from coordinating with the Shantou Division to assisting with media research – work that was often behind the scenes, but vital to the Games' success.

"At first, I didn't even know the proper format for official documents," he admits. "But through guidance from experienced colleagues and late nights perfecting every detail, I grew into the role."

The most demanding period came during the opening and closing ceremonies, when weekends disappeared from his calendar. Yet watching the events unfold smoothly made every challenging moment worthwhile.

"Seeing the Hong Kong delegation enter the stadium during the opening ceremony, knowing I had helped make that moment possible – that was incredibly moving," Xu reflects. "All the pressure and fatigue suddenly felt worth it."

His work took him across the Greater Bay Area – studying in Dongguan, working in Guangzhou, coordinating with Hong Kong and Macau, and occasionally travelling to Shantou. This cross-border mobility, supported by dedicated Games channels and streamlined procedures, gave him firsthand experience of regional cooperation within the Greater Bay Area.

"The efficiency was remarkable," he notes. "We truly felt like one integrated region working together."

As the Games concluded with tonight's closing ceremony in Shenzhen, Xu looks back on his 187-day journey with pride. "Major events are built from countless small details," he reflects. "I was just one small part, but it was an honour to contribute to this national celebration."

"These six months," he concludes, "have been absolutely worthwhile."