The country's top comprehensive sport gala, inaugurated in 1959, serves as an important occasion for athletes to test their mettle for the upcoming 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and to nurture future stars.

The Games have become a battlefield for the country's Olympic heroes to guard their honor and pride, as well as for young talents to show off their full potential in front of the whole nation.

The 38 delegations taking part here represent almost all of China's provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions, the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, the People's Liberation Army, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and various sporting associations of trades such as railways and coal mining.

Medal-winning swimmers, divers, badminton players and track and field athletes who have just returned from their respective world championships, namely multi-title holder Sun Yang, star shuttler Chen Long and newly-crowned shot putter Gong Lijiao will compete under the flags of their provincial sports authorities.

In an uNPRecedented move, the 13th National Games adapted the innovative concept of allowing all Chinese people the chance to participate in sports, reopening the door to amateur athletes after 30 years and allowing overseas Chinese athletes to compete as well.

22 overseas athletes of Chinese heritage had applied for participation in the Tianjin Games. Eight of them reached the bar and were permitted to enter finals in equestrian, shooting, athletics and swimming.

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