World Video games dazzles audiences in Chengdu

The twelfth World Video games burst onto the worldwide stage on Thursday night time with a gap ceremony that artfully married host metropolis Chengdu’s wealthy cultural legacy with beautiful firework shows, as State Councilor Shen Yiqin declared the occasion open earlier than world audiences.

Dazzling fireworks lit up the sky at moments all through the opening ceremony, amplifying the vitality and pleasure of the spectacle. The pyrotechnics integrated significant symbols, together with a luminous rainbow bridge arching throughout the night time, historic Chinese language seal characters for “Chengdu” — replicating inscriptions first discovered on a bronze weapon courting again over 2,000 years — and 12 floral fireworks symbolizing all of the host cities of The World Video games.

Cai Canhuang, chief designer of the fireworks show, mentioned, “These components characterize Chengdu’s heat welcome to all visitors and athletes, whereas showcasing the host metropolis’s excellent mix of historic heritage and fashionable openness.”

The ceremony unfolded beneath Asia’s largest freestanding wood construction — the 460-meter entrance corridor cover of Tianfu Worldwide Convention Heart. Spectators loved a singular garden seating expertise on the waterfront, the place the present introduced city sports activities tradition by way of breakdancing, frisbee and roller-skating performances, alongside a 50-minute parade of athletes.

Xu Xingguo, vice-mayor of Chengdu, described the ceremony as “a dynamic, multicultural celebration that introduced collectively sport lovers, kids’s enchanting voices, a creatively crafted flame-lighting ritual and breathtaking fireworks — all merging right into a spectacular audiovisual expertise”.

Towards the picturesque setting of lakes, greenery, nightfall and starlight, it grew to become “a globally shared celebration of tradition and sports activities,” in keeping with Xu. “Honoring the true spirit of athletics, the ceremony fantastically captured each the fun of competitors and the enjoyment of public engagement,” he mentioned.

A document 3,942 athletes from 116 international locations and areas will take part within the sporting gala in 256 occasions throughout 34 sports activities together with floorball, cheerleading, flying disc, powerlifting, archery, sport climbing, fistball and squash. The athlete roster spans generations, that includes a 68-year-old archer and a 13-year-old squash prodigy — a testomony to the occasion’s inclusive spirit.

Tom Dielen, vice-president of the Worldwide World Video games Affiliation, mentioned: “The quantity displays not solely the expansion of our video games, but additionally the unimaginable range and expertise that defines The World Video games household.”

Dielen mentioned the Chengdu video games have achieved many “firsts”, noting that Chengdu organized the first-ever torch relay within the historical past of The World Video games on July 26.

The 11-kilometer relay route spanned six cultural landmarks throughout the cities of Chengdu, Deyang and Meishan, connecting main cultural landmarks together with the San-xingdui and Jinsha ruins, the Chengdu Analysis Base of Large Panda Breeding and Meishan San Su Shrine Museum.

Dielen added that the Chengdu video games stand out as essentially the most sustainable version, making use of 27 present and renovated venues, each indoor and outside. “Chengdu has set a brand new customary in internet hosting the video games,” he mentioned.

Jose Perurena, president of the IWGA, mentioned that Chengdu was chosen as host metropolis on account of its organizational capabilities together with top-tier venues and environment friendly transportation methods. He famous that the town’s preparations have surpassed all expectations and are poised to make historical past.

“Chengdu is basically prepared now to prepare one of the best video games,” he mentioned.

China’s B-girl Liu Qingyi, who clinched bronze in breakdancing on the Paris 2024 Olympics, served as one of many IWGA flag bearers for the Chengdu video games’ opening ceremony.

Liu may also compete within the breaking occasion of the Chengdu video games. She expressed enthusiasm about her participation within the occasion. “This high-profile competitors, which gathers high B-boys and B-girls from all around the world, affords an ideal alternative to advertise breaking,” Liu mentioned.

“I intention to reveal the game’s ability, energy and creativity to encourage extra Chinese language youth to dive into it,” she added.

The athlete, identified for her dynamic performances, emphasised the distinctive aggressive nature of breaking. “The battle facet of breaking always drives dancers to enhance,” Liu mentioned. “Cultural exchanges by way of competitions assist our sport progress.”