The venues for the 15th National Games and the 9th National Special Olympic Games have undergone changes to achieve barrier-free construction standards, and plans are in place to develop facilities that meet the diverse needs of athletes, according to a senior organizer of the events.

Chen Xuejun, deputy secretary general of the 9th National Special Olympic Games, detailed the changes at a news conference on Thursday in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province. Among the planned changes are widened access ramps and accessible restrooms for athletes in wheelchairs, widened tactile paving and a voice prompt system for visually-impaired athletes, and a sign language translation system and flashing doorbells for hearing-impaired athletes.

During the Games, athletes and spectators will be able to travel smoothly from the parking lots to the venues, from the rest areas to the auditoriums, from one venue to another, and from one city to another, Chen said.

"Disabled people can use wheelchairs to travel back and forth between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, watch events, enjoy delicious food, and admire the scenery," he said, adding that the sign language translation system, flashing doorbell, and graphic signage at the Nanhai Sports Center make it easy for hearing-impaired athletes to understand at a glance.

The Braille menu, switches, and specialized guide maps at the Zhuhai Resort Hotel are easily accessible to visually-impaired athletes, he said.

"Every attention to detail is a respect for equality," said Chen, who is also chairman of the Guangdong Disabled Persons' Federation.

Meanwhile, advanced science and technology and AI tools will also be introduced to provide support for the daily training and post-competition recovery of athletes, making the rehabilitation process more efficient and accurate, Chen said.

The 9th National Special Olympic Games will be held from Dec 8 to 15, and the 15th National Games will take place from Nov 9 to 21 in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao.

More than 8,900 athletes from around the country will compete and achieve their dreams in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Chen said. The 36 competition venues in Guangdong will have 2,398 accessible and caring seats and 305 accessible toilets.

Wu Jianglinzi contributed to this story.

Contact the writer at zhengcaixiong@chinadaily.com.cn