The 21st Games of Jiangsu Province will open in Lianyungang on October 15, bringing together the province’s largest, highest-specification, and most wide-reaching comprehensive athletic event, local media reported.
Lianyungang Prepares 22 Venues for Provincial Games
Preparation for the multi-sport gathering involves 22 venue construction and renovation projects backed by an estimated total investment of 1.2 billion yuan, according to official reports.
Municipal Sports Center Serves as Main Hub
The Lianyungang Municipal Sports Center stands as the primary venue for the Games, slated to host the opening and closing ceremonies alongside competitions in track and field, football, tennis, swimming, synchronized swimming, judo, and boxing. Renovation work across the 106,700-square-meter footprint covers a main stadium featuring 27,000 seats across 42,000 square meters, a 5,000-seat gymnasium spanning 16,000 square meters, a 3,000-seat natatorium covering 20,000 square meters, and a 20,000-square-meter public fitness hall. Planners have incorporated long-term community utility into the upgrade by enhancing outdoor plazas, landscaping, and parking areas, alongside new elevated platforms and commercial amenities designed to sustain post-event operations.
Regional Sub-Venues Host Specialized Events
Surrounding districts and counties have completed targeted venue upgrades to accommodate specific tournament disciplines. Haizhou District features a newly refreshed sports hub anchored by a lotus-themed main hall for badminton and table tennis, alongside a World Rugby-compliant standard rugby pitch with sand-cultivated natural turf, 800-lux professional lighting, and a 1,006-seat grandstand. Donghai County has prepared its primary gymnasium and the Donghai County Senior High School facility to handle five-player and three-player basketball matches following lighting, roof, and flooring overhauls.
In Lianyungang’s coastal zone, the Liandao beach volleyball venue hosted preliminary tournament matches from September 16 to 21, providing dedicated athlete functional zones, media facilities, and visitor amenities.
Specialized Sites Support Water and Field Disciplines
The city’s economic development zone will host baseball, softball, and youth golf events, utilizing the Huaguoshan International Club golf course alongside a newly built, standard-compliant baseball and softball diamond featuring advanced drainage systems. Meanwhile, Xuwei New District has completed comprehensive course modifications on its waterways to meet strict length, width, and environmental criteria required for rowing and canoeing competitions.
