Youth team on stage, the delegation has arrived for the Universiade | Chengdu | Universiade

Liu Yinheng, intern journalist of China Youth Daily and China Youth Network

In recent days, Wang Jin, the captain of the Sichuan Entry Exit Border Inspection Station duty team on duty at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, felt the atmosphere of the grand event approaching from the increasing influx of inbound people.

"From July 25th to 27th, nearly a thousand participants entered from Tianfu Airport every day, and during peak hours, all six dedicated channels for the Universiade were fully opened," said Wang Jin.

Tonight, the 31st Chengdu Summer Universiade will grandly open at Dong'anhu Sports Park, and athletes from all over the world will embark on their youth journey.

At this moment, some people have been waiting for a long time. "The long-awaited moment has finally arrived, and Chengdu will become the world university youth capital," said Eric Senchao, Secretary General of the International University Sports Federation, excitedly at the opening ceremony of the Universiade Village on July 22.

"A very important starting point"

On the evening of July 17th, some members of the Brazilian delegation to the Chengdu Universiade arrived at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport on flight ET636. These were the first batch of Chengdu Universiade delegation members to arrive in Chengdu.

"The Chengdu Universiade will be a very important starting point in the sports career of participating athletes, and the first step towards a larger stage." Brazilian delegation media liaison Kelly introduced that at this Universiade, the Brazilian delegation will participate in 11 major events including athletics, swimming, tennis, etc. They are full of expectations for the upcoming competition. "Our most important task here is of course to win a gold medal."

In fact, many athletes have emerged from the Universiade, and now many celebrities with outstanding achievements in Chinese sports have achieved impressive results at the Universiade.

"Representing China and representing the school, I have great confidence in myself." On July 26th, after receiving the "Rong Fire" from the baton, the torchbearer of the Chengdu Universiade, Cao Maoyuan, immediately stood up, clenched his fists, tied his horse steps, and performed a set of starting preparations with Chinese martial arts characteristics.

In 2021, Cao Maoyuan won the championship of Nanquan at the Chinese University Martial Arts Routine Championships. Now, he will make his debut on the field of the Universiade, participating in the competition of martial arts routine events such as Nanquan and Nancudgel. The Nanquan project will generate the first prize money for the Chengdu Universiade on July 29th.

Although "very confident", this young player dare not underestimate the enemy at all. Even the day before the torch relay, he was still training at the North City Sports Center. This coaching team has specially designed Nan Quan movements based on its characteristics and style, which are calm, powerful, and plain. After completing each set of movements, he only takes a short break before returning to the field and practicing from scratch, striving to achieve perfection. "The closer I get to the game, the more nervous and excited I feel," he said.

In the men's 100m final of the 2021 National Athletics Championships, Chen Guanfeng, a sprinter born in the 2000s, won the championship with a time of 10.6 seconds. Praise flooded in, and some even called him "Little Su Bingtian".

"A time of around 10 seconds is good." As Chen Guanfeng has just joined Su Bingtian's team this year and made many technical adjustments, he maintains his usual calm and low-key demeanor. "Although the result may not be outstanding, I will do my best.".

"Chengdu is fascinating"

In March of this year, Reno Ed, the acting president of the International University of Sport Federation, was delighted to discover that athletes in Chengdu will gain more than just a unique competitive experience. "The education and research activities of the Universiade and the urban culture of Chengdu are both fascinating," he said

"Da" is the first impression that Chengdu left on the male volleyball team members of the German delegation. A few days ago, they went to the Chengdu Global Center. "This is the largest single building in the world, just like its location in Chengdu, which is also a metropolis with a population of 20 million.". In the eyes of these team members, Chengdu has both a bustling urban atmosphere and a peaceful rural life, and they have fallen in love with Chengdu.

There are a lot of delicious food in the athletes' restaurant of the Universiade Village - cute bean buns in the shape of pandas, delicious and spicy Long Wonton, Zhong dumplings, smooth and soft glutinous Lai Tangyuan The Norwegian delegation, which had just arrived in Chengdu on the morning of July 26th, was captured by Sichuan cuisine in just one day. Media liaison Alice told China Youth Daily and China Youth Network reporters that although Sichuan cuisine is "hotter than Norwegian food, it is really delicious!"

Cultural exchange is happening unconsciously in this special field. According to the relevant person in charge of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the Long Wonton, Zhong Dumplings, Lai Tangyuan, etc. mentioned by Alice, are all featured intangible cultural heritage food produced by many inheritors of intangible cultural heritage.

The Universiade Village has set up an intangible cultural heritage experience center, so athletes from all over the world can experience the intangible cultural heritage projects such as Xinjin rope weaving, Chengdu shadow puppet, Pengzhou Paper Cuttings, Qingshen bamboo weaving, and feel the excellent traditional Chinese culture.

"Unforeseeable, but definitely exciting"

As the opening ceremony approaches, the competition venue is already bustling.

Zhang Yufei, Zhang Jiaqi, Li Bingjie, Zou Jingyuan In the list of Chinese delegations for the Chengdu Universiade, there are not only several athletes who have participated in the Olympics, but also four champions of the Tokyo Olympics.

On July 26th, Liu Zhenqing, the deputy leader of the Chinese university swimming team, stated in an interview that Zhang Yufei, Li Bingjie, and Qin Haiyang, who won multiple gold medals at the Fukuoka Swimming World Championships, will arrive in Chengdu after the Fukuoka Swimming World Championships. In addition to their athletic performance, they hope that athletes can demonstrate a good spirit and tell the stories of Chinese athletes well.

"Peng Huidi from the swimming team is a hearing-impaired person who will participate in the women's 400m medley and 1500m freestyle." Liu Zhenqing specifically mentioned that her "extraordinary willpower and spirit of transcending oneself" are worth learning from.

Outside the arena, the "Rong Fire" is constantly thriving. Renowned artist Xu Liaoyuan is a citizen of Chengdu, who was responsible for the design of the torch "Ronghuo" for the Chengdu Universiade. "We hope to express local culture through the language of modern art."

According to Li Mingwei, the Deputy Director of the Human Resources Department of the Chengdu Universiade Executive Committee, during the event, 20000 Universiade volunteers will participate in the event services. At that time, 1000 urban volunteer service stations will be set up in areas with high traffic and display, such as the vicinity of the Universiade venues, along the event routes, parks and greenways, transportation hubs, commercial districts and scenic spots. Volunteer service teams will be deployed to focus on urban volunteer services such as city promotion, event promotion, and convenient services. "We will showcase Chengdu's enthusiasm and culture to the world."

In Xu Liaoyuan's view, "there is an aesthetic called Chengdu." "In Chengdu, all struggle is for a more poetic dwelling. The Universiade is not only a sports event, but also a cultural event. The spread of Chengdu's aesthetics will help paint a more youthful China."

The world's attention has gathered in Chengdu, and the "Rong Fire" is about to light up the main torch tower. When asked about his expectations for the Universiade, Xu Liaoyuan smiled and said, "Unforeseeable, but definitely exciting."