TAIYUAN - 5G technology was implemented for the first time in broadcasting a major sports event in China as the second Youth Games of the People's Republic of China kicked off Thursday in Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi Province, allowing viewers to see the event's opening ceremony via their phones and television sets, according to the organizer.

A total of 489 5G stations were set up to ensure the broadcasting service at 58 stadiums during the event in Taiyuan, said Liu Jiabao with the organizing committee, adding that China's two telecom giants China Mobile and China Unicom jointly built the stations.

The time delay of 5G broadcasting is less than a second, so viewers can keep up to date with the games more efficiently, said Wang Wenyan with ZTE, another telecom giant in China who sponsored the event's 5G service.

ZTE is also preparing the implementation of 5G technology for the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022, said Wang.