The 8th Games of Zhongshan and the 8th Zhongshan Games for the Disabled will last until November. [Photo by Liu Shijue]

August 8 (Thursday) marks the 11th "National Fitness Day". The 8th Games of Zhongshan and the 8th Zhongshan Games for the Disabled will both kicked off that evening at the Zhongshan Stadium.

With the theme of "Passionate Games, Energetic Zhongshan", the 8th Games of Zhongshan has 42 events scheduled and will produce 745 gold medals. Meanwhile, up to 400 athletes will compete in 9 major events of the 8th Zhongshan Games for the Disabled.

The opening ceremony on Thursday night will be performed in 4 sections, namely "Beautiful Zhongshan", "Energetic Zhongshan", "Passionate Zhongshan" and "Chase Dreams in Zhongshan". Sports and cultural elements of Zhongshan will be blended in the performances to present the city image to the world.

Started in March, the 8th Games of Zhongshan and the 8th Zhongshan Games for the Disabled will conclude in November. Athletes compete in three groups, namely Student Group, Adult Group, and Government Department and Public Institution Group. As of August 8, twenty-one events of Town and District Student Group have begun.

Events of the Adult Group and Government Department and Public Institution Group will be launched one after the other after the opening ceremony.

The 8th Zhongshan Games for the Disabled will last from August 21 to August 23.

The closing ceremony is scheduled for November 1.