The 31st Summer Universiade opens in Chengdu

Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony and announced the opening of the Universiade

Cai Qidingxue XiangLeaders and dignitaries from around the world attended

On the evening of July 28, the opening ceremony of the 31st Summer Universiade was held in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. This is President Xi Jinping waving to everyone on the podium. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ju Peng

Xinhua News Agency, Chengdu, July 28. Sharing the grand event of the Universiade, a youth chapter. The 31st Summer Universiade opened in Chengdu, Sichuan Province on the evening of the 28th. President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony and announced the opening of the Universiade.

Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, as well as leaders and distinguished guests from all over the world attended the opening ceremony.

On the evening of July 28, the opening ceremony of the 31st Summer Universiade was held in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Xi Jinping, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and other party and state leaders attended the opening ceremony. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xie Huanchi

At night, the main stadium of Dongan Lake Sports Park is brightly lit and colorful. Before the opening ceremony, college students from Chengdu presented energetic performances, which set off the atmosphere of the scene very warmly.

At 19:58, in the music of "Peace-Community of Destiny", Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan, together with Ed, acting chairman of the International University Sports Federation, stepped into the rostrum and waved to the audience. There was a long round of applause.

On the evening of July 28, the 31st Summer Universiade was solemnly opened in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. This is President Xi Jinping waving to everyone on the podium. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Bin

In the center of the venue, the Chinese cultural heritage symbol "Sun God Bird" is spinning and twelve golden mans are shining. Fireworks burst into the air with the countdown numbers, the whole audience shouted with the numbers. In a cheers, gorgeous fireworks bloom in the night sky. Chengdu Universiade opening ceremony officially began.

With the children of Daliang Mountain singing "the national flag is really beautiful" and the youth of 56 ethnic groups singing "singing about the motherland", eight honor guards walked into the scene with firm steps to protect the the People's Republic of China national flag. All stood up and sang the the People's Republic of China national anthem. The five-star red flag is rising and fluttering in the wind.

At 20:07, the athletes' entrance ceremony began. College student sports delegations from 113 countries and regions entered the stadium one after another along the "Splendid Road" paved with Shu brocade patterns, and were warmly welcomed by the audience. The host Chinese delegation finally entered the stadium. Xi Jinping got up and waved. The audience was full of joy, applause and cheers. The Chinese delegation has a total of more than 700 people, including 411 athletes, who will participate in all 18 major events of the Universiade.

Huai Jinpeng, chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Chengdu Universiade, delivered a speech. On behalf of the Organizing Committee of the Chengdu Universiade, he extended a warm welcome to athletes, coaches, technical officials and guests from all countries and regions in the world. I wish them to carry forward the spirit of sports, show their youthful demeanor and forge unity and friendship.

In his speech, the Acting Chairman of the International Sports Federation, Ed, expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Chinese government, Sichuan Province, Chengdu City and all participants for jointly creating a sports event that lives up to expectations, and sent best wishes to the participating athletes.

At 21:16, the opening ceremony ushered in an exciting moment. President Xi Jinping announced the opening of the thirty-first World University Summer Games in Chengdu! Suddenly, the audience was boiling, and bright fireworks rose into the sky, blooming the words "welcome" in both Chinese and English.

Eight Chinese outstanding young athletes and volunteers entered the stadium holding the flag of the International University Sports Federation. With the song of the International Sports Federation, the flag of the International Sports Federation rose slowly and fluttered high with the five-star red flag.

Athlete Tang Ziting and referee Liu Jiang took the oath on behalf of all participating athletes and technical officials.

Subsequently, the stylistic performance "Youth Dream" wonderful presentation. The performance is divided into three parts: "Light of Youth", "Youth Vitality" and "Youth Friendship. "The Light of Youth" shows the eternal pursuit of young people to explore and fly to the light with vigorous climbing; "Youth Vitality" presents the scene of young college students running hard and energetic, expressing the joy and passion brought by sports; In the chapter of "Youth Friendship", young college students and the cute "Friendship Messenger Giant Panda" dance in cheerful music and reap friendship in youth gathering.

At 21:40, the main torch lighting ceremony began. In the past month or so, the Universiade torch from Turin, Italy, has been passed through many universities in Beijing, Harbin, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Yibin and Chengdu, and finally arrived at the main stadium of Dong'an Lake Sports Park.

In the center of the venue, the sacred fire plate with the pattern of "sun god bird" slowly rises. Astronaut Ye Guangfu and other 31 torchbearers held the torch high and entered the venue. Under the attention of the public, the torchbearer ran to the front of the sacred flame plate, formed a circle, and lit the "Sun God Bird" with the torch in his hand. In an instant, he was radiant. The sacred flame of the Universiade is burning, conveying the best wishes of college students all over the world as bright as the sun.

"Illuminate the world, hear the singing of life" "Illuminate the future, look at the beautiful distance" ...... Young college students gathered under the torch to sing the opening ceremony theme song "Achieve Dreams", and the entire stadium turned into a sea of joy.

The international dignitaries attending the opening ceremony were President Joko and his wife Iliana of Indonesia, President Ghazwani of Mauritania, President Ndaismiye of Burundi, President Ali of Guyana and Prime Minister Garibashvili of Georgia.

Wang Yi, Li Ganjie, Wang Xiaohong and Chen Yiqin attended the opening ceremony.

The main executive committee of the International Sports Federation also attended the opening ceremony.