While the competition inside the arena was intense, a quieter and equally powerful story unfolded just outside the court during the National Games for Persons with Disabilities and Special Olympics (Three-on-Three Basketball for the Deaf), held in Dongguan.

Athletes and coaches from 20 teams across China began leaving handwritten thank-you notes in their hotel rooms, small slips of paper that quickly caught the public's attention online.

"Everything was so well thought out. Thumbs up for your care!"

"I felt truly safe and supported here."

These were just some of the sincere messages left by deaf athletes and their coaches, written in simple language but filled with deep warmth and gratitude.

Thoughtful Details, Silent Care

To meet the athletes' special needs, the Dongguan organizing committee worked closely with hotels to ensure every detail was covered, from comfort to communication.

Hotel rooms were equipped with flashing doorbells and emergency call buttons by the bed and in the bathroom. On the athletes' floors, service stations provided free daily necessities such as drinking water, disinfecting wipes, and bandages. A medical room was set up inside the hotel to ensure fast and accessible care.

To further bridge communication gaps, professional sign language interpreters were stationed in the hotel and made available both online and offline. Hotel staff were also trained in basic sign language and encouraged to carry notepads to write down messages when needed.

The attention to detail didn't go unnoticed. Fujian women's team athlete Weng Huizhu wrote on a hotel notepad: "Thank you so much for quickly changing the bedsheets when I asked. I really appreciate your hard work!"

Other handwritten notes praised everything from the hotel's cleanliness to the medical response after injuries. 

A coach from Shandong appreciated how clean the room was, saying the attentive housekeeping made his stay truly comfortable. 

A female athlete from the Fujian team praised Dongguan's responsive medical care, which ensured she received prompt treatment after an injury. 

A Guangdong team leader shared that the staff's kind attitude gave him, as a deaf person, a strong sense of security.

The warmth didn't stop at the hotel doors. Each team was assigned dedicated volunteers to assist with daily needs, from meals and transportation to competition logistics. On July 18, when two athletes celebrated birthdays, hotel staff surprised them with birthday cakes. "I'm so happy and touched. Dongguan is incredibly warm," signed Jiangsu athlete Wang Ziyue, smiling as she received her surprise.

What unfolded in Dongguan wasn't just about accommodation or logistics, it was a citywide embrace of inclusion, empathy, and respect. This mutual care between city and athlete is what made this event not only inclusive, but unforgettable.