Officials detail the preparation work for the 16th Zhejiang Provincial Games at a news conference in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Aug 13. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

The 16th Zhejiang Provincial Games will open in Huzhou city Sep 16, officials announced at a news conference Aug 13.

They explained that this year's edition will offer 912 gold medals for 769 disciplines in 26 sports, and over 12,000 athletes from around the province have registered to participate.

The arrangement of competition items is adjusted according to those of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and the 2017 Tianjin National Games. Five new sports – fencing, rock climbing, karate, equestrianism and golf – will be added to this year's event. There will be football matches for young people as well.

To stress the importance of athletes' comprehensive quality, those who failed literacy tests are ineligible for competitions. So far, 110 of 6,261 student participants have been removed from the list after three tests.

The organization of the provincial games centers on the "green, cultural and intelligent" concept. Preparations by Huzhou have entered the final stage.

Officials said 23 venues have been completed and over 1,600 volunteers are ready to work at the event.

Zhou Suhong, a former China volleyball player, is the first torch bearer for the 16th Zhejiang Provincial Games. The torch relay begins in Huzhou, the host city, Aug 8. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]