The 26th Shandong Province Sports Games concludes with flag-handover ceremony

The 26th Shandong Province Sports Games closed at the Linyi Olympic Sports Park Gymnasium on the evening of September 5, with athletes from across the province gathering once more to reflect on days of hard-fought competition and look ahead to the next chapter of Shandong sports.

The brightly lit gymnasium came alive as the closing ceremony opened with the song-and-dance performance "Colorful Yimeng," featuring clear, bright children's voices celebrating the new era of the Mengshan and Yihe region. Delegations from all 16 cities marched in, their young faces carrying the poise and pride of athletes who had given their all on the field. After the parade, all stood for the national anthem of the People's Republic of China.

During the ceremony, the competition results for each delegation and awards including the Sportsmanship Award were announced and presented. As winners took the stage to receive their honors, applause rippled through the venue. A highlight reel titled "Wonderful Moments" was then screened, recapturing the most thrilling scenes from the Games.

The atmosphere reached its peak as the announcement "The 26th Shandong Province Sports Games is now closed" echoed through the gymnasium. The Games flag was handed over to Dezhou and Liaocheng, which will jointly host the 27th edition. A promotional video for the next host cities unfolded on the big screen, extending a sincere invitation for the province to reunite in four years.

The ceremony concluded with the heartfelt musical "Meet in the Future," which revisited the Games' shining moments through song and dance, paid tribute to the volunteers and support staff who worked behind the scenes, and embodied the warm spirit of "Red Yimeng, Splendid Games."

The Games opened on August 26 and spanned 11 days of main competition, with preliminary events extending over seven months. Upholding the principles of "streamlined, safe, and splendid," Linyi deeply integrated the red heritage of Yimeng, the thousand-year cultural legacy of Langya, and modern urban spirit — delivering a sports event that showcased Qilu grandeur, carried forward Yimeng character, and radiated contemporary glory.

Editor：韩蒙蒙