The 2016 World Youth Gothia Cup kicked off at Shenyang Olympic Sports Center in Shenyang City, Liaoning province, on Aug 13, the first time the event has been held outside Europe. In another first, this year’s event also features the largest football pitch in the world.

The World Youth Gothia Cup, which is the largest and most influential football event for young people, was founded in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1975. Up until now, the event has been hosted 42 times, with some 10,000 youth football organizations from more than 150 countries and regions taking part.

According to the match committee, around 5,000 participantsrepresenting 260 teams from 29 countries will take part during the event, of which foreign teams will account for 63, with 197 teams coming from China.Some of the world's top football clubs such as Chelsea FC Soccer School, Iceland Breidablik, and Albirex Niigata FC (Singapore) are taking part.

Audiences cheer for their teams during the 2016 World Youth Gothia Cup held in Shenyang, Liaoning province. [Photo/Xinhua]

The event consists of an opening ceremony, a seven-day competition and other themed activities such as a football carnival, an international food festival and a party for the managers of the teams.

Although the competition has previously only been held in Europe, Chinese culture has been incorporated into this year’s events with kung fu martial arts and a royal etiquette performance from the Qing Dynasty, as well as other performances featuring aspects of traditional Chinese culture.

The event is a good platform for young people around the world to share experiences and a good way to enhance cultural communication between China and other countries.