The Tianhe Sports Center and Guangzhou Sports Arena have become the first venues in China to receive a three-star accessibility certification, the highest level of recognition for barrier-free facilities. The certification was formally awarded on November 26 at a ceremony in Guangzhou, as the city prepares to host the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games in December.
The two venues will serve as key competition sites during the Games, which open on December 8.
An aerial view of the Guangzhou Sports and Cultural Exchange Center for Persons with Disabilities (Guangzhou Sports Arena for Persons with Disabilities).
The concept extends beyond wheelchair ramps and tactile paving. At the Tianhe Sports Center, the main entrance staircase has been replaced with a gentle slope, facilitating access not only for wheelchair users but also for elderly visitors, parents with strollers, and individuals facing temporary mobility challenges. Inside, facilities include low-positioned elevator buttons that can be activated with a foot touch, braille signage, and auditory cueing systems for visually impaired visitors.
Some of the technical documents on barrier-free design from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao.
Across 30 competition venues in the Guangzhou sector, crews have installed or upgraded 1,649 wheelchair-accessible seats, 148 accessible restrooms, 43 barrier-free elevators, and 112 dedicated parking spaces for persons with disabilities. Additionally, 16.6 kilometers of tactile guiding paths have been laid.
The drive for accessibility extends beyond the sporting arenas. The city has launched a "Beautiful Block" improvement program, refurbishing 28,400 square meters of sidewalks around the venues to create barrier-free pathways that integrate with the wider urban environment. The aim, officials say, is to ensure the Games leave a lasting legacy of a more inclusive built environment.
Tactile paving on a spectator pathway at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center Stadium.
A visitor experiences a braille tactile map at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center Stadium.
The upcoming Games will be the third major disability sports event hosted by Guangzhou, following the 1992 National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 2010 Asian Para Games. Each event has spurred a new phase of accessibility improvements in the city's infrastructure.
A representative from Hong Kong tests a wheelchair seating space at a Guangzhou sports venue.
A representative from Hangzhou tests an accessible smart service terminal at the Tianhe Sports Center.
Author | Feng Huiting
Photo | Venue Construction Department for the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games
Editor | Huang Qini, James Campion, Shen He
