Shaanxi begins one-year countdown to 14th National Games

China's 14th National Games, scheduled to open in mid-September next year in Shaanxi province, will be the first national sports event to be held in the central and western regions, and also the first large-scale sports competition after the country's fight against COVID-19, a senior official with the Games Organizing Committee said.

Preparations for the upcoming 14th National Games should be in line with international standards and maintain high quality, said Wang Hao, Party chief of Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province, at a meeting held in the city on Monday.

Wang, also director of the city's Games organizing committee, said the sporting extravaganza should also be well-organized to ensure the best viewing experience for spectators.

Construction of 42 stadiums has been completed, and another 11 venues will be finished on time, according to the organizing committee of the National Games in an earlier news conference on Thursday.