While the official opening ceremony of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games is still days away, an important opening did take place on the morning of 22 July, that of the FISU Games Village. Located on the Chengdu University campus, the FISU Games Village is set to welcome upwards of 9,500 athletes and officials who will compete, coach, and support from 28 July to 8 August.

Multiple speakers brought greetings including Mr ZHOU Jinqiang, Vice Minister of the General Administration of Sport of China and Vice President of the Organising Committee of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games, and Mr WANG Fengchao, Mayor of Chengdu Municipal People's Government and Vice President and Secretary General of the Organising Committee of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games.

From FISU, Secretary General and CEO Eric SAINTROND addressed attendees and spoke of reaching this milestone and the importance of the FISU Games Village. "The moment we've all been waiting for has finally arrived," he said. "The Games Village is the soul of the event. All the athletes living together in harmony."

The attending dignitaries officially opened the FISU Games Village which then led into the welcome ceremony for the first delegation entering the village, that of China. The National Flag of the People's Republic of China was raised welcoming their delegation, many of whom were in attendance, to the FISU Games Village. Additional delegations will begin arriving and moving into the village in the coming days, all in the lead-up to the opening ceremony of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Games on 28 July.

Source: FISU

Image Source: Xinhua/Huang Wei

Edited by Zhang Zihan