This is the moment for “Striving Youth and Flying Dreams”, as a slogan of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Games said. The Chengdu 2021 FISU Games torch relay was held at Chengdu University (CDU) on July 26. The flame of the Games, which symbolizes perseverance, youth, friendship, and peace, crossed mountains and rivers to return to Chengdu, the Land of Abundance. Amidst the cheers and applause of the crowd, the “Ronghuo” (Chengdu Flame) ignited the flame of youth and sports dreams for the participants.
Present at the ceremony were Wang Pingjiang, Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of Chengdu Municipal People’s Congress and Executive Vice Chairman of the Chengdu Executive Committee for the Chengdu 2021 FISU Games; Liu Qiang, Secretary of the Party Committee of CDU; Wang Qingyuan, President of CDU and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of CDU; Shi Jing, Member of the Education Working Committee of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee and Member of the Party Group of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Education; Cheng Jing, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Physical Education of Sichuan Province; Zhang Ruiqin, Member of the Party Members Group of the Chengdu Executive Committee for the Chengdu 2021 FISU Games, Deputy Secretary of the Party Members Group and Full-time Deputy Minister of the Publicity Department of Opening and Closing Ceremony Department of the Executive Committee; and Li Yang, Deputy Governor of People’s Government of Longquanyi District. Also present at the ceremony were Hu Xiuqiang, Full-time Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of CDU; Li Ke, Member of the Party Committee and Deputy General Manager of Chengdu Media Group; Su Bo, Member of the Standing Committee and Secretary of Discipline Inspection Commission of the Party Committee of CDU; Peng Xiaolin and Liu Ya, Members of the Standing Committee of the CDU Party Committee and Vice Presidents; Jiang Minxia, Deputy Director of the Physical, Health, and Arts Education Division of the Education Department of Sichuan Province, as well as representatives of university teachers, students, and volunteers.
The highlight reel of the torch relay at 25 universities and schools brought excitement to the CDU around 11am. Three escort runners, with the attention of the whole audience, escorted the flame “Ronghuo” to the ignition point. Wang Qingyuan announced that “The Chengdu 2021 FISU Games torch relay at CDU now begins!”. The first torchbearer, Pan Xuefei, a teacher at CDU, took the torch and raised it high. Amidst the song “We Are All Dream Chasers,” the torch relay at CDU began.
The “Ronghuo” torch relay ran for approximately 2km on the CDU campus through Rongcheng Road, Xinkongjian Plaza, Hehuachi Road, and Yingming Lake before finally arriving at Mingde Plaza.
Xu Liaoyuan, the 85th torchbearer: designer of “Ronghuo” and the flame pot for the Chengdu 2021 FISU Games, and Visiting Professor of CDU
Liu Chao, the 80th torchbearer: winner of the Special Award for Poverty Alleviation of Public Institutions in Sichuan Province and Secretary of the Youth League Committee of CDU
Pan Xuefei, the 63rd torchbearer in the Games and the first torchbearer of CDU: Advanced Individual in Social Practice of Sichuan Province, Outstanding Teacher Representative of CDU
Wang Mingke, the 70th torchbearer: coach of the National Training Team of the 2023 U24 World Junior Frisbee Championships, Outstanding Student Representative of CDU
Jin Guanghao, the 93rd torchbearer: Second Prize Winner of the National Undergraduate Life Sciences Contest, Outstanding Student Representative of CDU
During the torch returning ceremony, 100 teachers and students from CDU jointly unfolded a large flag composed of the logos of 25 universities that the “Ronghuo” has passed through, which was printed with the number “31,” representing the 31st FISU World University Games. This event symbolizes the promise of youth, the succession of the spirit of the Games, and the soaring of dreams!
The audience of CDU teachers and students were enthusiastic, shouting “Go, FISU!” and “Go, CDU!” Together, they witnessed many highlighted moments. Lin Heng, a student from the College of Overseas Education at CDU said excitedly, “I am very proud to see the ‘Ronghuo’ being passed on CDU’s campus. As a Chinese university student in the new era, we must rely on what we have learned and use the Games as an opportunity to exchange and learn from students from different countries, embrace the world, and realize our dreams” . Wei Mingming, Deputy Secretary of the CDU Youth League Committee, believed that the fact that the torchbearers ran through the vibrant CDU campus, holding the Rong Flame, is an invitation to the youth all over the world.
Escort runners: Zhu Chengkang and Zhang Ling
The guiding volunteer team at the torch relay handover point
Among the torch runners, there were two young volunteers from CDU, Zhu Chengkang from the School of Architecture and Civil Engineering and Zhang Ling from the College of Teachers, who escorted the torchbearers to complete the relay with smiles all the way. The guiding volunteers at each handover point were also young volunteers from CDU. They demonstrated the spirit of “dedication, friendship, mutual assistance, and progress” with their smiles and services, contributing the youth power of CDU’s young generation to the Chengdu 2021 FISU Games.
Mo Xiaolan, 109th torchbearer: international student of College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts, CDU
It is reported that the flame will return to Dong’an Lake Sports Park to continue the relay after the torch relay at CDU Station for the Chengdu 2021 FISU Games, and will be used to light the main torch at the opening ceremony on the evening of July 28. In the torch relay at Dong’an Lake Sports Park, Mo Xiaolan, an international student from the College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts, CDU, served as the 109th torchbearer at Dong’an Lake.
