On July 17, the 3-on-3 Deaf Basketball Tournament of the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD), and 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG) officially tipped off in Dongguan. 

More than just a sporting competition, it marked the beginning of Dongguan's role as host city for five major events across the National Games and the 2025 NGD and NSOG, fusing inclusive city design, cutting-edge tech, and the city's signature basketball culture into one unforgettable showcase.

Held at the Dongguan Disabled Sports Training Center, the tournament welcomed 20 teams from across China, with Guangdong fielding both men's and women's squads. Over four intense days of competition, athletes demonstrated resilience, teamwork, and the power of sport in transcending limits.

But what truly sets Dongguan apart isn't just the gameplay, it's the seamless integration of smart solutions for accessibility.

Innovation that listens

Alongside the games, a "Tech for Inclusion" showcase drew widespread attention. Two themed zones demonstrated local companies' innovations designed for people with disabilities.

In the Information Accessibility Zone, local tech giant vivo unveiled tools tailored for hearing and vision-impaired users. The "vivo Voice-to-Text Assistant" converts speech to text (in 11 dialects), ideal for noisy environments or low connectivity. The "vivo Sign Language Interpreter" uses AI avatars and gesture recognition to translate spoken Mandarin into real-time sign language, building communication bridges between deaf and hearing communities.

In the Rehabilitation Tech Zone, Dongguan startups presented next-gen recovery tools. Highlights included:

·Bionic hands for amputees that respond to muscle intent

·Hand & ankle rehab trainers designed to restore motion

·AI-powered physical therapy systems to make recovery more interactive and independent

Athletes were invited to try the devices themselves. "Competing here in Dongguan has been an amazing experience. The accessibility facilities are outstanding, and these tech innovations really show Dongguan's strength in technology and the warmth of the city," Guangdong athlete Zeng Zhehao sincerely expressed through sign language.