Chengdu Universiade | Beijing Shenzhen Chengdu: The footprint of the Universiade confirms China's pace in the world | China | Chengdu
Chengdu, July 31 (Xinhua) - When the torch of the Universiade ignites the land of Bashu, and when the dreams of youth shine on the majestic China, the 31st Chengdu Summer Universiade is destined to be extraordinary and can be recorded in history.
This is the first time in the vast western part of China that the world's comprehensive sports event has been held, and people can appreciate the myriad aspects of Chinese path to modernization through Chengdu.
This is the fireworks shot at the opening ceremony of the Chengdu Universiade on July 28th. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Jiang Hongjing
This is also the third time that the Summer Universiade has come to the Chinese Mainland. People can follow the footsteps of the Universiade in China, from Beijing to Shenzhen to Chengdu, from point to line, from line to surface, and understand China through the vicissitudes and brilliant achievements.
This is also a grand gathering of friendship under the accelerated evolution of the unprecedented great changes in the world. Young students from all over the world, in the name of movement, with an inclusive mind and a united attitude, jointly write a new chapter to promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.
New Footprints of the Universiade
22 years ago, China was eagerly anticipating hosting the Olympic Games. As a rehearsal and warm-up for the 2008 Olympics, Beijing successfully hosted the 21st World University Summer Games in 2001. This is the first time China has held a world-class comprehensive sports meeting. Just over a month before the opening of the Universiade, Beijing obtained the right to host the 2008 Olympics. The slogan of "welcoming the Universiade to assist in bidding for the Olympics" has become a reality. Through the Beijing Universiade, the world feels the pulse of China's development and believes in China's ability to host comprehensive international competitions.
On August 22, 2001, the large-scale cultural performance "Hello 21" at the opening ceremony of the 21st World University Games. Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Chengselected
Ten years later, the Universiade came to Chinese Mainland for the second time. Because of the reform and opening up, it changed from a small seaside fishing village to Shenzhen, a world metropolis, and became the host of the Universiade. This youthful and flourishing city, with boundless creativity and passion, has built a platform for cultural exchange and friendship promotion for young people from all over the world. Young students set out from here and created a unique and exciting experience at the Shenzhen Universiade. Shenzhen, through the Universiade, has showcased the window image of reform and opening up, the charm of an innovative and dynamic city, and the image of an open and inclusive international city to both domestic and international audiences. Shenzhen and the world have found more answers on this interactive stage.
Hu Kai, the gold medalist in the men's 100m at the 2005 World University Games, is currently the Deputy Director of the Sports Department at Tsinghua University. He believes that the Universiade is of great significance to him throughout his life. At the 2001 Beijing Universiade, he was a freshman at Tsinghua University; In 2011, he became the first torchbearer of the Shenzhen Universiade torch relay.
Hu Kai said, "My personal and professional career started from the Universiade. After watching the Universiade in 2001, I wanted to participate in the Universiade one day as a Chinese college student athlete. Winning the gold medal at the Izmir Universiade in Türkiye in 2005 was a affirmation of my personal career. Although I retired in 2011, I participated in the torch relay of the Shenzhen Universiade as a torchbearer. At that time, I deeply felt that the Universiade from Beijing to Shenzhen, from north to south, was a microcosm of China's development."
On August 12, 2011, the 26th World University Games opened in Shenzhen.
Another ten years later, the Universiade chose Chinese Mainland again. This year's Chengdu Universiade is another international sports event held in China at a time of unprecedented changes in the world, times, and history. Chengdu has achieved its dreams, with a history of over 2300 years of urban construction. Chengdu, which has always maintained economic development and cultural prosperity due to its inclusiveness and inclusiveness, gives back to the world with brilliance.
Zhao Jing, Director of the World Summer Universiade of FIG, has experienced three Summer Universiades in Chinese Mainland. "In the 2001 Beijing Universiade, I was a volunteer; in the 2011 Shenzhen Universiade, I was a staff member of the International Federation of Trade Unions; in this Chengdu Universiade, I became an official of the Universiade." She said, "The Universiade has achieved the dreams of countless people and witnessed my growth."
Zhong Bingshu, former president of Capital Sports Institute, said that the development and progress of sports for college students in China can be seen from the three Universiades: the first athletes were basically professional athletes trained by sports schools; The second time was when the number of athletes in universities began to gradually increase; This time can be said to be a review of our achievements in practicing the concept of integrating sports and education.
On July 28th, the Chinese college student sports delegation entered the opening ceremony. That evening, the opening ceremony of the 31st Summer Universiade was held at the main stadium of Dong'an Lake Sports Park in Chengdu. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Jia Haocheng
Yi Jiandong, an Olympic research expert and professor at Wenzhou University, believes that Chengdu, as a city in western China, is able to independently host events of the same scale as the World University Games, which reflects the tremendous progress made by this city and the whole of China in various aspects. From Beijing to Shenzhen and then to Chengdu, it is not only a change in the location of the Universiade, but also a footnote to China's rapid development in the first decade of the new century and high-quality development in the new era. It is also a vivid evidence of China's deepening reform and opening up, regional coordinated development, promoting common prosperity, and national prosperity and strength.
Chengdu's "New Meteorology"
The Universiade is both a witness and a promoter.
Just as the 2001 Universiade was to Beijing and the 2011 Universiade was to Shenzhen, the impact of the 31st Summer Universiade on Chengdu is undoubtedly enormous.
The 49 newly built and expanded venues in Chengdu for hosting the Universiade will be the most direct wealth of the city. This not only meets the needs of citizens for fitness venues, but also provides a solid guarantee for Chengdu's future hosting of large-scale events and high-quality development of sports industry. During the preparation and hosting of the Universiade, Chengdu also trained a large number of technical backbone with international perspectives and professional abilities, as well as talents in event operation, management, and service.
On July 16th, people rode in the Guixi Ecological Park of Chengdu High tech Zone. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Xi
The Universiade has significantly enhanced Chengdu's "sports genes" and "athletic temperament". Every morning or evening, whether in parks, communities, under overpasses, or on rooftops, one can always see Chengdu citizens engaging in various fitness activities. According to the relevant person in charge of the Chengdu Sports Bureau, under the promotion of the Universiade, Chengdu had 64100 sports venues and facilities by the end of 2022, and sports and fitness have become a lifestyle and way of life for Chengdu people. When national fitness becomes a trend, a healthy China will no longer be far away.
Chengdu is also becoming a "volunteer city" due to the Universiade. Not only do 20000 competition volunteers from 35 universities serve competition venues, Universiade villages, and main media centers, but since the preparation for the Chengdu Universiade, the number of registered young volunteers in Chengdu has increased from 670000 to 1.39 million, showcasing their volunteer spirit in the streets and alleys of Chengdu.
Luo Jingyu, a volunteer for the Universiade who is about to pursue a master's degree at Chongqing University, said, "Every sports event, volunteers are a beautiful business card. I will work hard to leverage my foreign language expertise at the Universiade and contribute my youth to enhancing friendship between China and foreign countries."
On July 15th, at the Volunteer Home in Dayun Village, a volunteer was working. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Xi
Organize a good meeting and elevate a city. Zhao Wen, Director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports, stated that Beijing has forged the "City of the Two Olympics", which illuminates the city's brand, promotes Beijing's development, and benefits thousands of people. The Universiade will also be a landmark milestone for Chengdu to achieve leapfrog development.
Saixing City has become an important track for Chengdu's urban transformation. Longquanyi District is the location of the main sports stadium and the Universiade Village. Over the past three years, 39 key projects and supporting projects have been constructed here, with a concentrated layout of "one venue, three pavilions", libraries, art centers, theaters, and other facilities. The district also has diversified urban functions such as headquarters economy, innovative research and development, and cultural and sports.
From "competition" to "economy", sports are empowering Chengdu's transformation and development. In Wenjiang District, the Lujiatan Chao Play Sports Park, which covers an area of 142 acres, was put into trial operation in March this year and has become a popular spot for checking in sports; In Xindu District, we are building a "Chengbei Fashion Sports Shinkansen" that integrates consumption spaces such as dry snow, equestrian, football, roller skating, and curling; In Xinjin District, we are using Tianfu Mushan Digital New City, Tianfu Functional Manufacturing Industrial Park, Tianfu Agricultural Expo Park, and Lihuaxi Cultural Tourism Zone as our focus to explore digital empowerment of new cities, new manufacturing, and new villages.
On July 18th, Dong'an Lake Sports Park was filmed under the night sky in Longquanyi District, Chengdu. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Wei
With a long history, comfortable environment, comfortable lifestyle, and impressive economy, Chengdu, known as the "City of the Great Games", is welcoming its own development "Great Games".
China's "New Contributions"
After the opening ceremony, when talking about the three Universiades in Chinese Mainland, the Acting President of the FISU, Reno Eide, said: "China has always held the Universiade with great enthusiasm and achieved great success. Therefore, no matter which Chinese Universiade host city we return to, we will be very happy."
On July 28th, Reno Ed, Acting President of the International Federation of Sports Federations, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. Photo by Yang Qing, journalist from Xinhua News Agency
"China is one of the countries with the highest level of tournament hosting in the world, with high-quality sports venues and infrastructure, as well as enthusiastic and professional event volunteers," said Emiliano Ochia, President of the Argentine Sports Federation.
The Universiade provides a stage and opportunities for China. China contributes Chinese wisdom and strength to the Universiade, working hand in hand and achieving mutual success.
The preparation work for large-scale sports events has always been arduous and tedious, and the Chengdu Universiade has been postponed twice due to the epidemic, which has put all parties involved in it to the test. The promise of a great country is worth a thousand gold. China has fulfilled its solemn commitment and completed all preparations for the Chengdu Universiade with high standards and quality.
On July 29th, the 31st Youth In Time World University Summer Games Athlete Celebration was held at the Grand Theater of the Chengdu Universiade Art Center. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Duan
Liu Xin, Vice Dean of the School of Education at Beijing Sport University, believes that the strong ability to organize competitions demonstrates the institutional advantage of concentrating efforts to accomplish great things in socialism with Chinese characteristics. At the same time, China actively organizes various international competitions, which also indicates that China has taken on more and more responsibilities and missions.
During the bidding, preparation, and hosting of the competition, China has inherited tradition, developed its unique features, and contributed more and more Chinese solutions and wisdom. The highlights of this Chengdu Universiade are numerous, with low-carbon and environmental protection concepts running through all aspects of the competition. High technology and new technology sports are widely used in venue construction, operation management, service guarantee, and other fields.
Professor Zou Xinxian from Beijing Sport University believes that the new concept and plan of the Chengdu Universiade not only demonstrate China's strong innovation ability and cultural confidence, but also indicate that China's role in participating in international competitions has changed from being a follower to a leader.
Collaborating with the international community and deeply participating in international sports competitions is a microcosm and portrayal of China's reform and innovation, openness and inclusiveness, peaceful development, and benefiting the world. Today, China, which has embarked on a new journey of building a socialist modernized country, emphasizes mutual benefit and win-win cooperation with countries around the world, promotes the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, and strives to contribute to human peace and development.
This is the fireworks shot at the opening ceremony of the Chengdu Universiade on July 28th. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Cai Xiangxin
Reno Ed said at the opening ceremony, "We live in a world full of uncertainty, facing an uncertain future. Everyone came here to cheer for each other in a peaceful way, which has pointed the way for the future."
Reno Ed's words received a response from experts. Yi Jiandong said, "Now the competitive color of the Universiade itself is also fading, and the meaning of the World Youth Festival is becoming stronger, more reflected in the values of peace, friendship, unity, and celebration. This is very consistent with the goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind."
On the banks of Dong'an Lake, the blazing flame of the Universiade reflects the youthful dreams of students and illuminates the bright future of the world's youth working together to build a community with a shared future for mankind.
Writing participation
