Guangzhou will host the 2018 HSBCBadminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals from Dec 12 to 16 at Tianhe Sports Center, according to the event's official press conference held on Nov 12.

Press conference for the 2018 HSBC BWF World Tour Finals held in Guangzhou on Nov 12. [Photo/gzsports.gov.cn]

This is the first time the event will be held in China after the reform of the BWF tournament system. It also marks another top badminton event that Guangzhou has ushered in after successfully hosting the Thomas & Uber Cup Finals in 2002, the Sudirman Cup in 2009 and the BWF World Championships in 2013.

The opening ceremony of the finals will be held on the evening of Dec 10 and the BWF will unveil six awards including the "Best Male Athlete of the Year" and "Best Female Athlete of the Year." The organizing committee will also organize a variety of sports and cultural performances featuring Lingnan traditional culture and Cantonese cultural elements, presenting Guangzhou's sports and cultural development achievements to athletes and guests from all over the world.

At the press conference, the mascot for the event, Xiaochaoge (meaning brother superman), was also released. The special design stood out among over 400 mascot designs and took inspiration from Guangzhou's city spirit while exhibiting the glamor of sports through its special futuristic design, according to designer Huang Minsi.

The mascot for the event, Xiaochaoge, is released on Nov 12. [Photo/gzsports.gov.cn]

Xiaochaoge, with hair that resembles a badminton ball, represents the glamor of badminton and Guangzhou's city spirit. [Photo/gzsports.gov.cn]