Mayor Gong Zheng and Vice Chairman of the Olympic Committee Huang Simian delivered speeches, and the Olympic Qualification Series·Shanghai Welcome Ceremony was held
The Olympic Qualification Series·Shanghai Welcome Ceremony was held at 20:00 tonight on the Huangpu Riverside. 464 sports experts from all over the world gathered together to experience the warm atmosphere and unique charm from Shanghai. Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng and International Olympic Committee Vice Chairman Huang Simian delivered speeches. Shanghai Vice Mayor Xie Dong and International Olympic Committee member Watanabe Morinari attended the event.
On behalf of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, Gong Zheng expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the International Olympic Committee for choosing Shanghai as the host city for the Olympic Qualification Series, and extended a warm welcome to athletes, coaches and guests from all over the world. He said that sports demonstrate the comprehensive strength and civilization of a city. The Olympic qualifying series is a key stage leading to the Olympics, and it is also a popular festival that combines sports events with urban culture. It has injected new impetus into Shanghai's acceleration of building a world-famous sports city and improving the city's cultural soft power. We hope that the Olympic Qualification Series will help athletes become Olympic stars. We hope that athletes will demonstrate their talents, express their talents, interpret the Olympic spirit, and stand on the stage they most long for. It is hoped that this event will guide more young people to enjoy the joy of sports, ignite their enthusiasm for sports, and achieve a colorful life with a strong body and a sunny mind. We hope that this event will showcase the beauty of the city to audiences at home and abroad. We hope that the athletes’ vigorous posture will blend with the beautiful scenery on both sides of the Pujiang River, complement each other with colorful cultural elements, and show the vitality and unique charm of Shanghai to the world.
Huang Simian said that this week, China will host the first leg of the first Olympic qualifying series, and it is an honor to be here. Over the next four days, Shanghai will become the epicenter of global urban sports, showcasing the best of freestyle BMX, breakdancing, skateboarding and rock climbing on the banks of the Huangpu River. We will witness this special event together, where athletes from four sports gather in a dreamy city park to compete for a place in the 2024 Paris Olympics in front of an enthusiastic audience. It is a great fusion of sport, friendship and urban sports culture, highlighting joy, competition and interaction between fans and athletes, all part of the City Sports Festival. My heartfelt thanks to the Shanghai Municipal Government, the Chinese Olympic Committee and relevant partners. Good luck to all athletes. Thank you China for organizing this event!
At night, the Huangpu Riverside is filled with brilliant light and shadow, and overflowing with enthusiasm. The opening short film "Shanghai Welcomes You" of the welcome ceremony allows the audience to immerse themselves in the cityscape of Shanghai and the lively atmosphere of welcoming friends from all over the world. In the subsequent program, athletes from the four major events of this Olympic qualifying series took the stage to interact. The performers and the audience felt the charm of Shanghai and the Olympics in the dynamic and exciting melodies and futuristic performances. "Come on! This is Dynamic Shanghai!" At the end of the welcome ceremony, the theme song of this event "Dynamic Shanghai" pushed the atmosphere to a climax. In the song, athletes from all over the world were invited to show off their highest skills on the same stage. Enjoy the excitement of sports.
As a newly established sports event of the International Olympic Games and a festival event integrating urban culture, the "Olympic Qualification Series·Shanghai" will be held in Shanghai from May 16 to 19, including freestyle BMX, skateboard, Four events: rock climbing and break dancing. During the event, the City Sports Festival will launch a series of carnival activities integrating music, art, fashion, hip-hop and other elements.