The Summer FISU World University Games Underway in Chengdu
The 31st summer edition of FISU World University Games opened last Friday (Jul. 28) in Chengdu.
The 31st summer edition of FISU World University Games opened last Friday (Jul. 28) in Chengdu.
FISU World University Games 2023, Chengdu kicked off with great pomp and fervor on July 28 at the Dong’an Lake Sports Park Stadium, while the closing ceremony is scheduled for August 8 at the Chengdu Open Air Music Park.
Chinese President Xi Jinping declared the International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Games in Chengdu open. The Opening Ceremony was directed by Chen Weiya at the Dong’an Lake Sports Park Stadium, and began with fireworks from the Golden Sun Bird, the logo of the host city.
That was followed by the Parade of Nations, featuring athletes from 113 countries, before Xi declared the FISU World University Games open.
FISU Acting President Leonz Eder welcomed athletes to the FISU Games in his remarks at the Opening Ceremony.
This biennial multi-sport extravaganza which was previously known as the Universiade has a rich history dating back to 1959. Originally scheduled for 2021, the event was postponed due to the global pandemic. Now, with proper safety measures in place, the World University Games sees archery and water polo events commencing a day earlier on July 27.
The World University Games, which is the largest global sports event for student-athletes, is organized every two years in different cities around the world by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). To date, it has organised over 60 Summer and Winter World University Games around the
globe.
There are 18 sports on offer, with 269 gold medals to be won by 6,500 athletes from 113 countries and regions. The medals feature the Golden Sun Bird, the emblem of Chengdu, with a design that shows the 5000 years of China’s history from the ancient past to modern times.
FISU World University Games 2023 sports list:
Archery, Artistic Gymnastics, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Diving, Fencing, Judo, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Rowing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Volleyball, Water Polo, and Wushu.
Medals have already been handed out, with no time wasted getting the games underway. China’s Cao Maoyuan won the first gold medal in the Men’s Nanquan of Wushu tournament. . Cao led the men’s nanquan event with 9.770 points, besting Lau Chi Lung of Hong Kong, China, and Shahin Banitalebi of Iran.
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Being one of the three optional sports in Chengdu, wushu made only its second appearance at the FISU Games, after its debut in 2017. The home nation quickly doubled up when Song Cuifang took first place in the Women’s Nandao of Wushu.
Japan, China and the Republic of Korea have already picked up four gold medals each, with India taking three, all Indian medals coming in the shooting. Hong Kong and Indonesia are the other countries to pick up a gold medal in the early going.
Closing Ceremony at Chengdu Open Air Music Park
A new landmark located at the Phoenix Mountain of Jinniu District, the Chengdu Open Air Music Park covers an area of 97.5 acres (equivalent to the size of 55 football fields. Opened in May 2019, it is now a top open-air music performance venue and music-themed urban park in West China. Today, the site’s main stage serves 10,000 people for a half-indoor concert and 5,000 for indoor space. Apart from the main stage, the park also has green landscapes, sport facilities, water features, lighting, and auxiliary structures.
Visit the Chengdu Open Air Music Park introductory video on Chengdu FISU World University Games Facebook page, here.
Watch the Chengdu FISU World University Games 2023 Opening Ceremony here.
Chengdu is the third Chinese city to stage the FISU Games, following on from Beijing 2001 and Shenzhen 2011. It is the first edition held under the FISU Games name, having rebranded from the Universiade since Naples 2019.
In a statement, FISU President Oleg Matytsin said: “Twenty percent of the world’s university students are in China, and the national university sports federation has a clear and proven capability of holding student sports events of the very highest quality, even at relatively short notice.”
“We have no doubt that Chengdu 2021 will prove to be an exceptional World University Games host that will make a lasting and very positive impression both on the participants and on the city itself,” he said.
The 2023 FISU World University Games Winter are scheduled for Lake Placid, while the 2025 hosts are Torino for winter and Rhine-Ruhr for summer.
For Livestream schedule at FISU.tv, click here. Find more information on Chengdu FISU World University Games 2023, here.
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