Kicking off on Aug 8, the 16th Shanxi Provincial Games are set to close on Friday in the city of Datong. The 11-day event is seen by local officials, athletes and audiences as a gala to showcase the province’s recent achievements in athletics and as a promoter of mass sports. The 16th provincial games consist of two categories of athletic sports and mass sports. Professional and amateur athletes are attending 719 contests for 26 athletic sports and 248 competitions for 22 mass sports.