The 2025 World Games roared to life in Chengdu on Thursday as 10,000 spectators witnessed a historic moment for both China's sporting landscape and international athletic collaboration. Chinese State Councillor Shen Yiqin stood alongside International World Games Association President Jose Perurena and IOC Executive Board Member Li Lingwei to declare open the 11-day event – the first time the Chinese mainland has hosted this prestigious competition of non-Olympic sports.
Against the backdrop of Tianfu Eaves' sweeping architecture, the ceremony reached its symbolic peak when Chinese waterski champions Xu Lu and Alu Xiaobo joined forces to light the main cauldron. The synchronized ignition underscored the games' theme of unity through sport, particularly significant as Chengdu positions itself as a hub for international cultural exchange.
The World Games' arrival in Sichuan Province marks a strategic expansion of China's global sporting footprint, following Beijing's 2022 Winter Olympics success. With 35 sports ranging from drone racing to floorball, the event offers investors fresh insights into emerging athletic trends while providing researchers with data on Asia's evolving sports economy.
