Chairman of the International Association for Sports and Journalism: Sports are an important way for humanity to bridge differences. Sports | China | Activities
Chengdu, August 2 (Xinhua) - Johnny Melo, a 76 year old Italian and president of the International Sports Journalists Association, is a well-known media figure in the international sports news industry. This summer, he came to Chengdu, China for the first time and was busy preparing for the 31st Summer Universiade held here.
"The characteristics of the younger generation are open mindedness and active participation in discussions, representing the future," Merleau said. Although he is already in his twilight years, he not only has a clear mind, but also pays great attention to popular topics and the latest technological developments on social media.
Merleau believes that engaging in sports activities together is an important way for humans to communicate and bridge differences. In history, there have been touching scenes of friendly matches between athletes from conflicting countries in international arenas, including the "ping-pong diplomacy" between China and the United States.
Currently, human society is facing many challenges, such as extreme weather caused by climate change, and controversial issues such as how humans use artificial intelligence technology. Merleau believes that the younger generation should strive to find solutions to these problems. Therefore, it is of great significance to increase the opportunities for face-to-face communication among young people from all over the world through sports events such as the World University Games.
"We are not only looking for sports champions, but also for future leaders in the world," Melo said. China's hosting of the Universiade provides convenience for young people from all over the world to enhance mutual understanding, and also contributes to world peace and development in the future.
Melo has visited China multiple times since 1978, but this is his first time coming to Chengdu. The green scenery in Chengdu left a deep impression on me. The environment here is so beautiful. In his eyes, Chengdu is clean and modern, with flowers, plants, and trees everywhere. Many citizens relax and entertain in parks and green spaces, making him feel the "comfort" of this city.
When Merleau first came to China, she was amazed at how well everything was arranged in such a populous country. He said that for Chengdu, which has a population of over 20 million, the difficulty of organizing the Universiade will naturally far exceed that of some smaller cities in Europe, such as his hometown Milan, Italy. But the organization of the Chengdu Universiade was very meticulous and received praise from participating athletes and sports officials.
Editing: Chen Xiao and Zhang Can