Author(s): ZHOU, L., CHEN, X., Institution: GUANGZHOU SPORT UNIVERSITY, Country: CHINA, Abstract-ID: 2355

Introduction:Major sporting events are increasingly recognized as catalysts for social change, yet their potential to foster regional integration within multi-jurisdictional contexts remains under-explored. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA)—a unique amalgamation of two Special Administrative Regions and nine mainland Chinese cities—presents a distinctive laboratory for examining how mega-events can bridge socio-political divides. The 15th National Games, jointly hosted across these three jurisdictions in November 2025, provide an unprecedented opportunity. This study investigates whether and how this collaborative sporting platform contributes to social integration among GBA residents.
Methods:This study employed a questionnaire survey method. The instrument comprised five demographic items and five core variables: perception of social attitudes, residents' social interaction, evaluation of the social environment, self-identity, and participation in public affairs. A total of 536 valid questionnaires were collected from GBA residents (336 males, 200 females). Youth (19–45 years) constituted the largest proportion (73.1%), and highly educated respondents (postgraduate degree or above) accounted for 38.1% of the sample. Income distribution was balanced.
Results:Scores across all five social integration dimensions were relatively high. Residents of Guangzhou and Dongguan recorded the highest mean scores. However, Hong Kong and Macao residents reported lower scores than their Guangdong counterparts; within Guangdong, Shenzhen residents scored lower. Males held more positive attitudes than females across all dimensions, with the largest disparity in social interaction (Δ=0.31). While all age groups scored above 4.00, younger residents demonstrated more positive attitudes than older residents. Farmers and undergraduate students showed highly positive attitudes, whereas retirees and postgraduate-degree holders were more negative. Discussion:The 2025 National Games have emerged as a significant catalyst for GBA social integration, particularly strengthening self-identity as a foundation for regional collective identity. However, integrative effects vary markedly across groups, associated with geographical, demographic, and socio-economic attributes.