Prioritizing sustainability and, in turn, delivering benefits to the people of Hangzhou and China are key elements of the 19th Asian Games, officials said at a news conference at the Main Media Centre on Friday.

This aerial photo taken on June 28, 2023 shows the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

"Benefiting the people has always been one of the main aims of the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee. For instance, in terms of construction, 56 venues were used, with renovation prioritized ahead of new builds, and rentals prioritized over purchases," said Mao Genhong, chief spokesperson of the Hangzhou Games.

"So we only built 12 new venues, and these were built in line with sustainable development practices. In their construction, maintenance and use, we have adopted a green and low-carbon approach, and this even extends to when we dismantle the temporary facilities, taking into account environmental protection," he added.

In terms of how the Games benefit local residents, three major aspects were taken into account, according to Mao.

"We are giving people more places to practice sports and physical exercise. We have also hosted other events and signed contracts for sporting events after the Asian Games," said Mao.

"We have also opened the Asian Games Museum, the only international sports museum that has opened in a host city before the Games begin, and which we hope will popularize the Asian Games and also carry on the legacy of the event."

Public participation levels in sports and fitness activities have increased in Hangzhou as a result of the city hosting the Asian Games, Mao pointed out.

Several co-host cities in Zhejiang province, such as Jinhua, will continue to allow residents to use competition venues after the Games conclude.

"Post-Games, we plan to put the venues to good use. We are introducing high-end sporting and cultural activities, and we will strive to host future national and international sporting competitions, such as football, sepak takraw, surfing and swimming to raise the utilization rate of the city's sporting venues," said Zhuang Lingfei, executive director-in-charge of Jinhua Operation Subcentre.

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