“Chengdu is a green, modern and well-prepared host city, and the World Games 2025 will be a great trampoline for the city with global roots,” said Jose Perurena, president of the International World Games Association (IWGA), in an interview with Xinhua at the ongoing 31st FISU World University Games.
In May 2019, Chengdu, the capital city of southwest China’s Sichuan province, won the bid to host the 2025 World Games, a multi-sport event staged by the IWGA under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
“At the Chengdu World Games, more than 5,000 athletes from 100 to 110 countries and regions are estimated to participate in 35 sports, mainly non-Olympic events, over a period of 11 days,” introduced IWGA CEO Joachim Gossow.
“The World Games represents the trendy sports of the world, including squash, water skiing, dance sport and cheerleading,” Gossow added. “Some sports may be well-known in China, but some may not be. The Games is a chance to introduce them to the Chinese people, which are attractive to the youth in particular.”
As the Olympics also aims to develop the Games in a future-oriented way, some events of the World Games have already been incorporated into the Olympics, such as break dancing for Paris 2024. “We are very satisfied that the IOC incorporates our disciplines into its games,” Perurena said.
“We lost some of our sports, like rugby sevens in 2016, which is a very important sport for us,” Gossow said. “But looking into the future, we still have sport climbing, Wushu, and many other huge sports for the youth worldwide.”
During the Universiade, the IWGA officials visited the venues and experienced the local culture. “Chengdu is amicable, tranquil and very ecological. There are parks everywhere. The quality of the facilities is magnificent,” Perurena noted. “I feel assured that our Games will be hosted here in 2025.”
Both officials believed that Chengdu has adequate capabilities for hosting the World Games.
“It is in our DNA that we use existing venues or that we just have non-permanent venues in place. We do not ask for new ones,” Gossow said. “Honestly, Chengdu has enough venues. So, it is just the case that we have to compile the units in a way that the spectators can enjoy it best.”
Cultural exchanges represent a vital part of the Universiade, which is the same as the World Games. “The events attract family, friends and club members from different places to boost tourism, and they will share the experiences with others when they return to their own countries and regions,” Perurena said.
Gossow added, “We are planning to build up a World Games plaza where the athletes and citizens can come together and enjoy the food here to share good moments with each other.” ■
