CHENGDU, June 28 (silubaba) -- Chengdu exudes an enchanting aura in early summer, with its abundant vegetation, picturesque lotus ponds and vibrant atmosphere. This year, the city is all the more alive, as global student-athletes count down to 31st FISU World University Games.
After years of meticulous preparation, the city in the southwest of China had just 30 days to go before the grand inauguration of this global sporting extravaganza.
"Chengdu has constructed high-quality venues and facilities and cultivated a rigorous and professional team to run the Games," said Wang Jiayi, vice president of the event's organizing committee. "This is a Universiade that is destined to be splendid."
CHASING DREAMS
At an international competitive training center in Chengdu, Fan Tianrui, a 21-year-old track and field athlete, has been dedicated to his rigorous training schedule. With beads of sweat rolling down his face, Fan relentlessly pushes himself to his limits, striving to improve his skills and achieve greatness in his discipline.
"Running propels me to surpass my own limitations," Fan said.
Wearing the iconic red jersey, Fan made his international debut earlier this year. Crossing the finish line in 47.30 seconds, he secured a bronze medal in the men's 400 meters event at the 10th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships.
As the event approaches, Fan eagerly awaits the opportunity to represent China. "I want to showcase the graceful and poised demeanor of our young athletes," he said.
"I hope all athletes can unleash their full potential and perform at their very best," said Yang Qian, 23, an accomplished student-athlete and Olympic champion in shooting.
UniSport Australia announced that it will send a team of up to 150 athletes to Chengdu. "The World University Games offer a fantastic opportunity for student-athletes to compete at the elite level in a multi-sport event," said Carrie Graf, former Olympic championship-winning coach who will lead the Australian team.
David Knopp, vice head of the U.S. delegation, also expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming event. "We hope to bring two of our best basketball teams from the university level in the United States. They're excited to compete here," Knopp said.
HOME STRETCH
The Games are a momentous flagship event that Chengdu has eagerly awaited for years. However, the journey of preparation has been far from smooth.
Since the successful bid in December 2018, the Games have encountered their fair share of hurdles. The unforeseen impact of the global pandemic, among other factors, has resulted in the event being postponed twice since, presenting challenges for the preparation work. The Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games were due to take place in the summer of 2021, but were postponed to 2022, and finally bumped to this year.
However, Chengdu made the most of the extension period and embarked on a sprint to expedite preparations. The city has completed the construction, renovation and expansion of 49 stadiums, with the functional hardware and service software of these stadiums on a par with international competition standards.
From April to June, the executive committee of the Games, in collaboration with multiple departments, successfully conducted a series of test competitions featuring a total of 367 teams with 5,825 participants, and orchestrating 4,236 competitions.
The upcoming Games will also be the first to feature full 4K production, with all 18 major events, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies, to be broadcast using public TV signals adhering to the "full 4K" ultra-high-definition standard. The track-and-field and tennis events, meanwhile, will make use of 8K ultra-high-definition production.
As the countdown to the Games reaches the 30-day mark, a group of young volunteers also stands prepared to contribute their energy. Since the commencement of the Games' organizing efforts, the number of registered youth volunteers in Chengdu has surged from 670,000 to 1.39 million.
A wave of enthusiasm for sports has engulfed the city, with sporting activity now a fashionable preoccupation in this green urban landscape. With over 1,500 parks and a forest coverage rate of 40.5 percent, Chengdu has fostered an environment conducive to outdoor exercise.
"The Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games is different from previous, due to the pandemic," said Giovanni Merlo, president of the International Sports Press Association. "The preparation work for it has faced unprecedented challenges, which have been postponed and postponed. But I think that you did it the best way," he concluded. ■
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