Cover News | Leveraging the Power of Universiade Chengdu to Achieve High Standards on the International Stage

On this summer day, watching an international competition, drinking a bottle of cool beer, roaring with Sichuan style grandeur... Amidst the constant cheers and cheers, the word "Chengdu" has already been heard by the world.

On July 26th, a welcome banquet was held in Chengdu, where 45 foreign embassies and consular officials from 34 countries gathered in China.

On July 27th, nearly 60 representatives of embassies and consulates from 37 countries visited the Universiade Village to offer condolences to their country's participating teams in the Universiade competition. "Through the Universiade, Chengdu has gained a greater international reputation." As Lee Kuang ho, the Consul General of South Korea in Chengdu, said, with the Universiade as a link, Chengdu is making a strong comeback on the international stage.

The future belongs to youth. When the world's youth rush to Chengdu, when a group of international young forces meet Chengdu, Chengdu, with a thousand year history, changes into sportswear and presents them with a new business card: a rising "world sports city".

Luxembourg Ambassador to China Yu Bosheng and Chengdu Universiade mascot "Rongbao" take a group photo

A cultural exchange between China and foreign countries

On July 24th, Chengdu people's social circle became "boiling".

Spokesperson Hua Chunying of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the same day that Xi Jinping, the President of China will attend the opening ceremony of the 31st Summer Universiade in Chengdu from July 27th to 28th, and hold a welcome banquet and related bilateral activities for foreign leaders who are attending and visiting China.

At the same time, this competition also attracted high-level political figures from multiple countries. Foreign leaders who came to China to attend the opening ceremony and visit were: President Joko of the Republic of Indonesia, President Ghazvani of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, President Ndayishmiye of the Republic of Burundi, President Ali of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and Prime Minister Garibashvili of Georgia.

On July 26th, a warm welcome banquet was held in Chengdu, where 45 foreign embassies and consular officials from 34 countries gathered in China. This is the largest foreign diplomatic mission visited by Chengdu in the past three years. They appeared in Chengdu two days in advance, all with the same goal: to watch the opening ceremony of the Chengdu Universiade on July 28th.

Beyond the intense competition, this is a dialogue among different civilizations in the world and a cultural exchange between China and foreign countries. Foreign embassies and consular officials attending the opening ceremony of the Chengdu Universiade in Chengdu not only visit participating athletes, but also visit the Chengdu Planning Museum to learn about urban development plans, and visit the Jinsha Site Museum to experience the profound historical heritage of Bashu culture

The Cooperative Republic of Guyana not only has the President arrived, but also brought a delegation of businesses. Entrepreneurs in the country are experiencing the rise of a new city by Xinglong Lake in Tianfu New Area; Understand urban planning and the efforts made by builders for sustainable development at the First Sewage Treatment Plant in Tianfu New Area.

At the welcome banquet held for ambassadors and consular officials from various countries attending the opening ceremony of the Chengdu Universiade, Bao Hui, Director of the Standing Committee of the Chengdu Municipal People's Congress, said that Chengdu is firmly promoting high-level opening up to the outside world and has established friendly cities or cooperative relationships with 107 foreign cities. Opening up has brought broad development prospects to Chengdu.

Due to this sports event, Chengdu has once again emerged from the spotlight with high standards, welcoming the world's attention.

An unforgettable mark of hard work

The future belongs to youth. Chengdu sets the stage for the Universiade, with the protagonists being young people from around the world.

"We are full of expectations for the city of (Chengdu), and many team members, like me, have never been to China before. We are curious about the scenery of this city," said Italian university male volleyball player Francesco Rechinet.

"Chengdu provides a stage for all college athletes. I believe that the Chengdu Universiade can make their dreams come true, and it will be a wonderful event," said Türkiye shooter Ileida Talhan.

In the life histories of these young athletes from around the world, Chengdu will leave an unforgettable mark. In these marks, perhaps there is the sound of them speeding past on the track, or perhaps there are waves of sound left behind by the sound of "rising"; There is also the excitement and excitement of winning medals, the regret and regret of missing out on a good opportunity, and the stunning sight of Chengdu as one strolls through the streets

Due to this international competition, Chengdu has exerted the strength of the whole city to build a competitive platform for young people around the world to strive and build dreams with a new attitude.

A strong "east wind"

When giant pandas become global fans, Sichuan opera stunnes all four, and the spicy and fresh aroma of Sichuan restaurants floats on the world's dining tables... After these well-known IPs become known worldwide, Chengdu presents a new business card: a world-renowned city for sports events.

On the road to building a world-renowned city for sports events, although Chengdu has just started, its enthusiasm is very strong. At the third press conference of the Chengdu Universiade City Promotion Series - "Welcoming the Universiade and Moving Chengdu with Vitality", Zhu Jiangli, Deputy Director of the Chengdu Sports Bureau, stated that Chengdu will host 22 international events and 36 national events this year, including the comprehensive restart of ATP250 Chengdu Open, World Sports Dance Festival, Triathlon World Cup, International Internet Federation World Tour Youth Finals, and FIBA 3-on-3 World Tour Masters.

"Holding international and national high-level sports events is the core of building a world-renowned city for sports events," Zhu Jiangli said. Currently, Chengdu's strategy is to use events to benefit the people and promote the city through sports events.

For Chengdu, this is a new goal, and for the world, it is a new international business card presented by Chengdu with the opportunity of the Universiade, adding a new identity to the city.

Leveraging the great fortune, it brings the strongest "east wind" to the development of the sports industry. Li Xinjian, Executive Director of the Capital Culture and Tourism Development Research Institute of Beijing Second Foreign Languages University, believes that Chengdu is one of the first national sports consumption pilot cities. The existing sports parks and ecological parks in Chengdu should actively strive for brands such as sports tourism demonstration zones, sports consumption demonstration bases, and nighttime cultural and tourism consumption clusters, in order to drive the spatial cognition and supply capacity of social consumption through these brands.

"The hosting of the Chengdu Universiade has expanded the spatial pattern of Chengdu's urban development and laid a solid foundation for its future development for a long period of time." Wang Xueli, director of the Sports Industry Development Research Center at Tsinghua University, believes that with the setting and implementation of the goal of becoming a famous city for sports events, Chengdu is on a double spiral of promoting sports and urban development.