Chengdu stop of 2025 World Games Tour gets underway

The Chengdu stop of 2025 World Games Tour got underway on Friday at Chengdu Sport University's Sancha Lake Campus in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The event serves as a precursor to this year's Chengdu World Games, scheduled for August 7-17, integrating cultural tourism and culinary experiences to engage the public.

On Saturday and Sunday, the Chengdu stop will host competitions across three disciplines and four sub-disciplines: underwater sports (finswimming and freediving), lifesaving (pool) and boules sports (petanque). A total of 122 athletes from 28 countries and regions will vie for 30 gold medals.

The Opening Ceremony at World Expo Park featured breakdancing and martial arts performances blending tradition and modernity. The athletes entered the venue to drumbeats, greeted by cheers from the crowd.

Adhering to World Games standards, the event will also act as a trial run for venue operations ahead of this year's competition. Organizers renovated swimming pools and boules courts, reusing 80 percent of materials through leasing and recycling to align with eco-friendly practices.

This stop of the World Games Tour also highlights Chengdu's cultural offerings, including World Expo Park visits, local cuisine tastings, and sports culture exhibits. The initiative aims to boost tourism spending while also fostering synergy between the city's cultural, athletic and travel sectors.