Chengdu Universiade | Opening Ceremony Exclusive Secrets 3: 31 "Last Torchbearers" Insert | Ignite | Universiade
One person igniting the fire? Two people igniting the fire? No, 31 people!
Chen Weiya, Chief Director of the Opening Ceremony of the Chengdu Universiade:
Usually in large-scale events, the torch is passed to the last person or two to complete the ignition, such as Li Ning's aerial leap ignition in the 2008 Olympics and the insertion ignition in the 2022 Winter Olympics. The moment of ignition this time is not called the "last stick", but the "last thirty-one sticks". As it was the 31st Universiade, 31 torchbearers were chosen to light the torch tower together.
Leading Torchbearer: "The person closest to the sun"
Li Jianping, Chief Director of the Opening Ceremony of the Chengdu Universiade:
Among the 31 torchbearers, the leader is Ye Guangfu, an astronaut from Chengdu, Sichuan. At the beginning of the creative planning for the opening ceremony, we first thought of him. As a Chinese astronaut, Ye Guangfu not only symbolizes the achievements of China's aerospace technology, but also symbolizes the lofty aspirations of the Chinese people. It can be said that astronauts are the closest people to the sun. We take the sunlight and turn it into fire, igniting the main torch tower of the Universiade.
![Chengdu Universiade | Opening Ceremony Exclusive Secrets 3: 31 "Last Torchbearers" Insert | Ignite | Universiade](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/7367e6cd1022def4929258eafbb52302.gif)
What other creative ideas are there during the ignition process?
Wang Ruixiang, Chief Producer of the Opening Ceremony of the Chengdu Universiade:
At the opening ceremony, there was a raised and lowered torch tray, which looked very simple. In fact, the torch tray needed to control the lifting time and complete the interaction between LED and fireworks to present the best visual effect of igniting the holy flame.
Chief Fireworks Designer for the Opening Ceremony of the Chengdu Universiade, Cai Canhuang:
After 31 torchbearers completed the ignition together, the Sun God Bird ignition disc shone brightly and spiraled upwards, igniting the aerial fireworks symbolizing the 12 golden rays of the Sun God Bird. Fireworks spread, divine birds spread their wings, and finally ignited the torch tower outside the venue.
Producer: Yuan Bingzhong
![Chengdu Universiade | Opening Ceremony Exclusive Secrets 3: 31 "Last Torchbearers" Insert | Ignite | Universiade](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/7f07dc093c0c50ca6f13b30b90f715f6.gif)
Producers: Sun Chengbin, Li Zhengyu
Producers: Li Jun, Yu Xiaozhong, Wang Ding, Xu Jiren
Planning: Chang Ailing, Qi Huijie, Zhou Jie, Zhou Ning, Ling Weijia, Yang Sanjun
Overall planning: Zhang Shuqi, Zhang Rongfeng, Ji Ye, Ye Hanyong, Xue Yubin
Clip: Lian Qida
Reporters: Zhou Ning, Zhang Hailei, Liu Kun, Xiao Yonghang, Xue Chen, Yin Heng, Long Lingyu, Cao Yibo, Zhang Zewei, Yang Fan, Zhao Jiantong, Yuan Qiuyue, Dong Xiaohong
![Chengdu Universiade | Opening Ceremony Exclusive Secrets 3: 31 "Last Torchbearers" Insert | Ignite | Universiade](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/d3c079210783a3548fc3bac133349899.gif)
Editors: Mu Xiaoxiang, Wu Jinfu, Cui Yingxin, Xu An, Zhang Yifei, Zheng Zhi
Photographs: Ji Jiadong, Wu Bowen, Yu Sihui
Photograph: Lin Yi Photography Team
Reporter: Chen Juwei, Yue Yang