AS the 30-day countdown to the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games commenced, a flurry of vibrant celebratory activities ignited the host city of Chengdu in Southwest China on Wednesday. At the Dong’an Lake Sports Park in Chengdu, countdown activities included cultural performances, women’s basketball competitions and a soccer game. The game was played by a team composed of well-known actors and singers from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and a local team with members being Olympic champions, literary and art figures and volunteers. Athletes from universities across the globe will compete for 269 gold medals in 18 sports. The Chinese delegation is expected to number more than 800, including around 500 athletes competing in all 18 events. The Universiade has suffered two postponements due to several factors, with the COVID-19 pandemic being a significant hurdle that posed substantial challenges for the preparatory work. Nevertheless, over the past three years, Chengdu has successfully overseen the construction, renovation, and expansion of 49 stadiums and gyms. These facilities pride themselves on top-tier hardware and service software, adhering to international competition standards. Starting from April, 18 test events have concluded, involving 5,825 participants from 367 teams. Alan Shaw, a Universiade expert, voiced his confidence in the games’ success after concluding a test event for rhythmic gymnastics at the Chengdu Sport University’s gymnastics hall. At the training ground of Chengdu Tianfu International Competitive Training Center, Fan Tianrui trains diligently every day. The 21-year-old recently marked his international debut and clinched the bronze medal in the men’s 400m race in 47.30 seconds at the Asian Indoor Track and Field Championships. “We strive to showcase the grace and skill of our youthful athletes through the Universiade,” Fan declared. The FISU amended the registration rules to ensure that university students do not lose their eligibility due to the postponement. Consequently, college athletes who met the qualifications in 2021 are still eligible to participate in the Chengdu Universiade.(SD-Xinhua) | 