Tom Dielen, vice president of the International World Games Association (IWGA), said at a press conference that he was pleased to see Chengdu host the second edition after the first World Games Series was held in Hong Kong in October 2024. He noted that the series provides a platform for elite athletes worldwide to compete […]
Tom Dielen, vice president of the International World Games Association (IWGA), said at a press conference that he was pleased to see Chengdu host the second edition after the first World Games Series was held in Hong Kong in October 2024. He noted that the series provides a platform for elite athletes worldwide to compete while offering host cities opportunities to showcase their unique cultural and sporting atmosphere.
Qi highlighted that the series served as a test event for the upcoming World Games in August. His team is also expecting to conduct spectator service training, drills, and supervision to ensure smooth operations during the main event and further international sports events.Beyond the competition, a series of cultural and tourism activities were also held under the theme “Travel with TWG,” inviting visitors to explore Chengdu by blending sports with local cuisine and the scenic beauty of the Expo Park.According to a report from people.cn, 2025’s medals captured the cultural essence and sporting spirit of Chengdu. A blooming hibiscus symbolized the athletes’ brilliance, while a panda mascot extended a warm welcome to global participants. The design also paid tribute to Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, highlighting the city’s role as an international hub. Hu Jinfeng, a director from Chengdu World Games Promotion, told the Global Times that the series aims to drive the integration of sports, culture, tourism, and consumption. By combining major sporting events with cultural festivals and economic activities, the goal is to convert event traffic into economic growth and support the integrated development of these sectors.The World Games is a multi-sport event that primarily features competitions not seen in the Olympic Games. Scheduled to run from August 7 to 17, the edition in Chengdu is expected to draw thousands of athletes from around the world to compete in 35 sports.Chinese lifesaving athlete Duan Weihang told the Global Times that Chengdu’s venues were among the best he has experienced as they were spacious and well-equipped, while the city’s warmth and hospitality left a lasting impression. Expressions of gratitude from foreign athletes filled the message boards, with one note reading, “I love the volunteers! They are my favorite.”The torch for The World Games (TWG) 2025 Chengdu, named Zhumeng (lit: Bamboo Dream in Chinese) Photo: VCG”The sporting atmosphere in Chengdu was electric, and the passionate spectators remained undeterred despite the recent drop in temperatures,” Qi Huaiyuan, a spectator services expert overseeing crowd management, told the Global Times on Sunday. He observed that enthusiasm remained high even though many of the events were non-Olympic. At the outdoor boules venue, the crowd’s nonstop cheers echoed throughout the event.
The World Games Series 2025 Chengdu, held from Friday to Sunday at Chengdu Sport University’s Sancha Lake campus in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, brought together 122 athletes from 28 countries and regions, including China, Italy, and Spain. Designed to promote World Games sports and enhance global sports culture, the event served as a trial run for the Chengdu 2025 World Games in August, according to the China News Service.The competition featured three main categories – boules sports, life saving, and underwater sports – across four disciplines – petanque, freediving, finswimming, and pool lifesaving – with 30 gold medals up for grabs. Renowned athletes included world freediving champion Jin Ming of China and world boules champion Nantawan Fueangsanit of Thailand.
