100 days to go until university games start

After four years of preparation, Chengdu is ready to host a safe and splendid International University Sports Federation Summer World University Games, the organizing committee said on Wednesday, starting the 100-day countdown.

A store for official games merchandise was inaugurated at the National Stadium in Beijing to mark the countdown, while Dong'an Lake Sports Park in Chengdu, Sichuan province, hosted sports events and concerts.

The 31st World University Games will be held from July 28 to Aug 8 after being deferred twice due to COVID-19. The city will be the third on the Chinese mainland to host the biennial Summer Universiade, following Beijing in 2001 and Shenzhen, Guangdong province, in 2011.

University athletes from across the globe are expected to compete for 269 gold medals in 18 sports, the organizing committee said at a news conference held at the State Council Information Office.

Wang Jiayi, vice-minister of the Education Ministry, said the organizing committee spent a lot of money and manpower to overcome difficulties and prepare for the event.

The games will be a significant event, greatly contributing to building a platform of competition, strengthening understanding and friendship, and promoting people-to-people exchanges, he said.

Chengdu has built high-quality venues, trained professional organizers and planned various educational, cultural and sports activities, Wang said, adding that university athletes from across the world will not only realize their sporting dreams but also enjoy the charm of the city and China.

To boost deep interaction among young people from all over the world, there will be an art exhibition themed on Chengdu city park at the games village, an intangible cultural heritage exhibition, and music, dancing and Sichuan Opera, as well as events such as visits to the panda sanctuary and local museums, according to Wang.

The Chinese delegation is expected to comprise more than 800 members, including around 500 athletes competing in all 18 sports, he said.

"The team has trained very hard in order to achieve the best possible outcome, and we also have zero tolerance for doping," the vice-minister said, adding that they are looking forward to good and clean performances.

Zhou Jinqiang, deputy director of the State General Administration of Sport, said the organizing committee has paid great attention to anti-doping measures. It will strengthen inspections during the games, Zhou said.

Chengdu has built 13 new venues and renovated 36 existing ones for the games. All the facilities, including the Dong'an Lake Sports Park where the opening ceremony will be held, were put into use by April 2021.

Mayor Wang Fengchao said hosting the games will help promote the image of the city and boost the enthusiasm of its citizens for sports. He said that 9.4 million out of 21 million Chengdu residents regularly participate in sports.

Tickets for the games will be sold from early June and detailed information will be published on official channels, the mayor added.