Game of tag

The smooth running of the race involved close cross-boundary coordination and technological innovation.

Min Yuntong, executive deputy director of the Zhuhai executive committee for the National Games, said the most challenging part was to ensure the accuracy and completeness of data. All support vehicles and equipment underwent clearance before the race, Min said.

Radio Frequency Identification readers, connected to the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, were installed at checkpoints to instantly record athletes' wristband signals via RFID tags. With riders passing through at speeds exceeding 40 km/h, the system guaranteed an uninterrupted race.

Min said the rapid transmission and processing of data meant there were no race delays. "It can handle nearly 200 people passing simultaneously with an upload delay of less than 100 milliseconds. It has ensured the cyclists can pass the checkpoints with zero delay, zero contact and zero waiting time."

The idea of using the radio-frequency identification technology during the race was inspired by clearing private vehicles from Hong Kong and Macao fitted with RFID tags traveling to Guangdong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. The method ensures the uniqueness and security of access credentials.

Hong Kong team representative Tommy Wu Chun-yin was impressed with the method used for the race. Having registered the athletes' personal information before the race, teams were issued with exclusive wristbands and helmets fitted with multiple RFID tags. Following identity verification through facial recognition and fingerprint checks, participants entered a closed-loop management system for the event.

"Having the tags placed in various locations meant if one scanner missed a tag, another would pick it up, which I found very important. The wristband is also comfortable and doesn't feel restrictive at all," Wu said.

On Saturday, 103 athletes, along with their bicycles, completed inspection and clearance procedures and put on their wristbands. With the inclusion of support staff, a total of 257 people and 68 support vehicles smoothly went through the process.