CHINESE President Xi Jinping declared the 14th National Games open at the Xi’an Olympic Center Stadium yesterday evening. More than 12,000 athletes representing China’s provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions, the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and specific sporting associations compete in this year’s Games, which will run through to Sept. 27. The competitions of diving, artistic swimming and rhythmic gymnastics have already concluded before the official opening ceremony. The Games feature a total of 54 sports and 595 events. Thirty-five sports and 410 events are set for the elite athletes, while the rest are for the grassroots. In line with a focus on the post-Games utilization of the venues, most events are held in Shaanxi Province, while sailing, canoe slalom, surfing, breakdance, fencing and cycling track are staged in other provinces and municipalities. A string of anti-virus measures including vaccination, nucleic acid test, closed-loop management and health monitoring are in place for the safety of each participant, said the organizing committee. Games organizers have vowed to adopt a zero-tolerance stance toward doping, as more than 200 officers will conduct a record number of doping tests during the Games. (Xinhua) | 