A Gala of Youth, Solidarity, and Friendship

The 31st International University Sports Federation (FISU) Summer World University Games that concluded on August 8 in southwest China’s Chengdu City, left behind fond memories of solidarity and friendship.
With 269 gold medals decided, the Chengdu Universiade drew to a close on August 8 in its host city Chengdu, capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province. Though the Universiade’s flame is not alight here anymore, the bond international athletes forged with the city as well as solidarity they showed during the Chengdu Universiade will become a cherished part of the city’s Universiade legacy.

Flag and placard bearers parade during the closing ceremony of the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on August 8, 2023.

“China has committed itself to organizing a streamlined, safe, and splendid games,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the welcoming banquet of the Chengdu FISU World University Games on July 28. The promise was fulfilled. While providing a stage for 6,500 student-athletes from 113 countries and regions to demonstrate their excellence, the Chengdu Universiade saw 22 FISU records being broken.

"Chengdu has truly made our dreams come true," said Leonz Eder, acting president of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), on August 8. "Congratulate the authorities who have prepared the fantastic venues and great facilities on hosting the Games. We have hospitable people and the best volunteers here," said Eder in an interview with Xinhua. "All the services were great and perfect," Eder added. "Nothing to add, just big thanks."

"China is one of the countries with the highest level of hosting events in the world, possessing high-quality sports venues and infrastructure, as well as passionate and professional volunteers," said Emiliano Ojea, founding president of the Argentinian University Sport Federation.

Since its inception, the World University Games has always been a celebration of youth, solidarity, and friendship, as President Xi mentioned in his speech, which is exactly what the Chengdu Universiade has accomplished. Besides that, the first-hand China experience, involving so many facets of Chinese society and culture such as traditional Chinese medicine, the face-changing feat in Sichuan Drama, Chengdu cuisine, and giant pandas, all left indelible marks on the athletes’ Universiade memory.

Friendship Flourishes

“While the key to state-to-state relations lies in close bonds between peoples, efforts to this end must start from the youth,” President Xi pointed out in his speech. The younger generation motivated by ideals and responsibilities are the future of mankind as well as the hope of the lofty pursuit of peace and development, Xi added.

The many touching moments at the Universiade testify the saying that medals are not all that matters. The Chengdu Universiade proved to be a platform for both sportsmanship and friendship. Indian shooter Valarivan Elavenil was greatly moved at the awarding ceremony by an unexpected scene on August 2, when the entire audience started to sing "Happy Birthday" to her together. "It felt incredibly heartwarming, and I want to thank everyone," said the 24-year-old.

Wang Zhengxing (L) presents a racket to Amos Muyanja of Uganda during the badminton men's singles round of 64 match at the Chengdu Universiade on August 4, 2023.

Another heart-warming moment came from the badminton venue, where Chinese shuttler Tan Qiang presented a pair of new sneakers as a gift to his opponent Welton Juvenal Menezes after finding the Brazilian's shoes were worn. "He traveled so far to compete with such shoes. This shows how much love he has for playing badminton, so I gave him a pair of new ones, letting him feel the hospitality from a Chinese peer," Tan said, noting that he learned a lot from the Brazilian's passion and spirit.

Meanwhile, Ugandan badminton player Amos Muyanja was impressed by his opponent’s help. When his only racket suffered a string breakage during the men's singles competition, his Chinese counterpart Wang Zhengxing kindly offered him a new one to enable the 23-year-old to finish his game.

International camaraderie was also demonstrated in the gymnastics arena when Sri Lanka's first ever artistic gymnast Amaya Kalukottage was on the field alone in women’s qualifications on August 3. The Turkish coach reached out to protect her on the uneven bars, and the Austrian coach greeted and encouraged her. "She came to the games without a coach; she's really great and brave to compete here alone," said the Turkish team's coach, Ozgur Gumuslu. "We are very happy to help the lovely girl. We are rivals, but we cherish the friendship at the Universiade."

Strong friendships were forged among the athletes, according to Turkish table tennis player Ozge Yilmaz. "Every time we met athletes from different countries and regions, we exchanged pins. Sometimes we exchange T-shirts. It is a great occasion to make global friends."

Firsthand Experience with Chinese Culture

China was committed to “make the Chengdu Games a grand sports event that will present the charms of China, the vibe of our times and the beauty of youth, and facilitate mutual understanding among young people from around the world, so as to provide new impetus for the progress of mankind,” as President Xi indicated in his speech.

Juan Miguel Gomez (L) of Spanish delegation learns to play shadow puppets with the help of Zhao Hong, a representative successor of intangible cultural heritage Chengdu Shadow Puppets, at the Village of the Chengdu Universiade on August 2, 2023.

Chinese cultural elements permeated the Chengdu Universiade, be it the competition venues, Athletes Village, and the opening and closing ceremonies. Images of the Sun and Immortal Birds Gold Ornament, a design connotating harmony, inclusiveness, and pursuit of brightness in Chinese culture, were embedded both into the final countdown segment and upon the Universiade torch. At the Athletes Village, cultural exchanges thrived with a host of cultural activities and facilities provided to allow international athletes to immerse themselves in Chinese culture. Chinese calligraphy practicing, shadow puppet drawing, Chinese knot tying, paper cutting, bamboo weaving, embroidery, and even Sichuan opera facial makeup were all available for hands-on experience.

In the village, traditional Chinese medicine, for its special charm, attracted much attention from foreign athletes. From exploring ancient Chinese medical books, to receiving pulse diagnosis and rehabilitation services, they reveled in the wisdom of China’s ancient healing practices. They also got the opportunity to examine specimens of traditional Chinese medicine, handpick different Chinese herbal medicines, and even create their own sachets. Meanwhile, athletes also benefited from traditional Chinese medicine rehabilitation services. Feeling some pains in the hamstring and calf muscles, Bangladeshi athlete Rayhan Mohammade Jahir came to the medicine center. After some massage and rehabilitation exercises, he felt much better, marveling at the magical effect of traditional Chinese massage.

Hungarian athlete Anna Poltz (L) and her teammate learn about traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) health care tool at the FISU Games Village in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, on August 2, 2023.

For Polish athlete Aleksandra Jeglinska, valuable cultural insight was gained while touring the Chengdu Biennale, an art gala featuring artworks from home and abroad, which is to break stereotypes and explore new perspectives. She was captivated by an art work comprising of English letters shaped to resemble the strokes of the Chinese characters. In the room where the work was displayed, audiences were encouraged to write Chinese characters with the brush. Jeglinska wrote down the Chinese character for "rabbit" on the paper. "I just learned that I was born in the Year of Rabbit in Chinese zodiac and this year is my zodiac year," she enthused.

“Civilizations take different forms, making the world colorful and diverse. Young people are full of vitality. They can and should be able to view diversity from an equal, inclusive, and friendly perspective, and see different cultures with an attitude of mutual appreciation and mutual learning,” Xi observed in his speech.

Going Green and Smart

“I encourage you to tour the city, to experience and share firsthand the multifaceted manifestations of the Chinese path to modernization,” Xi indicated in his speech at the beginning of the sports event. At the Chengdu Universiade, innovative green and smart technologies wowed international attendees, allowing them a peek into Chinese modernization.

This photo taken on August 2, 2023 shows student-athletes from South Africa signing on the self-driving bus in the Village of the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

At the Athletes Village, an array of fascinating innovations delighted athletes. An interactive machine known as the "Low-Carbon Magic Cube," can print out a receipt with "carbon credits," indicating the amount of carbon saved by depositing plastic bottles within it for recycling. And then with those accrued credits, souvenirs could be purchased.

At restaurants, robots were spotted cooking Chinese delicacies and preparing beverages in light of customers' preferences and serving them with precision. "You could actually have a conversation with it," Samet Ak, a Turkish archer, said. "It is truly fascinating to me."

Meanwhile, the self-driving bus at the Athletes Village became a star attraction among international athletes, who vied to experience a driverless bus ride and take pictures of it. "The whole experience is pretty awesome, and this is a great opportunity to feel China's advanced technologies," said Ian Skirkey, a U.S. gymnast.

The green development concept was embodied in various aspects of the sports event. With a total of 1,340 new energy buses and over 1,000 clean energy cars put in transportation services during the Chengdu FISU Games, around 90 percent of the traffic between the Athletes Village and venues in the central area of Chengdu were fueled by clean energy. The delegation services center at the Village sets a great example as a green building for its architectural design that allows air circulation, with the inflow of fresh, cool air and the outflow of hot, humid air. In addition, glass made from a special type of metal was installed at the ceiling of the hotel accommodating athletes at the Village, transforming light into electricity for the daily use of the residents.

A dining center staff member dressed as the mascot Rongbao celebrates the birthday of South Korea's players in the 31st FISU Summer World University Games Village in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 30, 2023.

Those applications of green and cutting-edge technologies were telling signs of China's dedication to reducing carbon emissions and commitment to improving people's lives. "China has done a tremendous job in terms of the progress towards transitioning into a green economy, and a green environment," said Raymund Chao, chairman of PwC Asia Pacific and China, an official supplier of the FISU Games.