BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The torch relay for the 31st FISU World University Games began here on Saturday, kicking off a 48-day countdown to the Games to be held in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province.
The flame will then return to Chengdu and light the main cauldron of the Universiade when it officially opens on July 28.
Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, is the third Chinese mainland city to host the biennial Summer University Games, following Beijing in 2001 and Shenzhen in 2011.
Athletes from universities across the globe are expected to compete for 269 gold medals in 18 sports.
Torch bearer Yu Jing (2nd L) runs with the torch during the torch relay of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Summer World University Games at Peking University in Beijing, capital of China, on June 10, 2023. Officially started here on Saturday, the torch relay is scheduled to run until July 28, when the Universiade opens in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (The Executive Committee of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games/Handout via Xinhua)
Torch bearer Zou Jingyuan (Front) runs with the torch during the torch relay of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Summer World University Games at Peking University in Beijing, capital of China, on June 10, 2023. Officially started here on Saturday, the torch relay is scheduled to run until July 28, when the Universiade opens in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (The Executive Committee of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games/Handout via Xinhua)
Torch bearer Ding Ning (Front, L) and Wang Yanqing (1st R) attend the torch relay of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Summer World University Games at Peking University in Beijing, capital of China, on June 10, 2023. Officially started here on Saturday, the torch relay is scheduled to run until July 28, when the Universiade opens in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (The Executive Committee of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games/Handout via Xinhua)
Torch bearer Deng Yaping (Front, C) runs with the torch during the torch relay of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Summer World University Games at Peking University in Beijing, capital of China, on June 10, 2023. Officially started here on Saturday, the torch relay is scheduled to run until July 28, when the Universiade opens in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (The Executive Committee of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games/Handout via Xinhua)
Torch bearer Yang Ling (R) runs with the torch during the torch relay of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Summer World University Games at Peking University in Beijing, capital of China, on June 10, 2023. Officially started here on Saturday, the torch relay is scheduled to run until July 28, when the Universiade opens in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (The Executive Committee of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games/Handout via Xinhua)
Torch bearer Liu Shiyong (L) runs with the torch during the torch relay of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Summer World University Games at Peking University in Beijing, capital of China, on June 10, 2023. Officially started here on Saturday, the torch relay is scheduled to run until July 28, when the Universiade opens in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (The Executive Committee of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games/Handout via Xinhua)
Torch bearer Tamdrin (2nd L) runs with the torch during the torch relay of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Summer World University Games at Peking University in Beijing, capital of China, on June 10, 2023. Officially started here on Saturday, the torch relay is scheduled to run until July 28, when the Universiade opens in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (The Executive Committee of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games/Handout via Xinhua)
Torch bearer Yang Qian (2nd L) and Deng Yaping (2nd R) attend the torch relay of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Summer World University Games at Peking University in Beijing, capital of China, on June 10, 2023. Officially started here on Saturday, the torch relay is scheduled to run until July 28, when the Universiade opens in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (The Executive Committee of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games/Handout via Xinhua)
Torch bearer Ding Ning (C) runs with the torch during the torch relay of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Summer World University Games at Peking University in Beijing, capital of China, on June 10, 2023. Officially started here on Saturday, the torch relay is scheduled to run until July 28, when the Universiade opens in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (The Executive Committee of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games/Handout via Xinhua)
Torch bearer Xing Yan'an (2nd L) runs with the torch during the torch relay of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Summer World University Games at Peking University in Beijing, capital of China, on June 10, 2023. Officially started here on Saturday, the torch relay is scheduled to run until July 28, when the Universiade opens in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (The Executive Committee of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games/Handout via Xinhua)
Torch bearer Yang Qian (Front) runs with the torch during the torch relay of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Summer World University Games at Peking University in Beijing, capital of China, on June 10, 2023. Officially started here on Saturday, the torch relay is scheduled to run until July 28, when the Universiade opens in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (The Executive Committee of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games/Handout via Xinhua)
Torch bearer Ai Kesen (Front, L) and Yang Qian (Front, R) attend the torch relay of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Summer World University Games at Peking University in Beijing, capital of China, on June 10, 2023. Officially started here on Saturday, the torch relay is scheduled to run until July 28, when the Universiade opens in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (The Executive Committee of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games/Handout via Xinhua)
Torch bearer Ding Ning speaks before the torch relay of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Summer World University Games at Peking University in Beijing, capital of China, on June 10, 2023. Officially started here on Saturday, the torch relay is scheduled to run until July 28, when the Universiade opens in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)
Torch bearer Zou Jingyuan runs with the torch during the torch relay of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Summer World University Games at Peking University in Beijing, capital of China, on June 10, 2023. Officially started here on Saturday, the torch relay is scheduled to run until July 28, when the Universiade opens in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)
Torch bearer Ding Ning (C) runs with the torch during the torch relay of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Summer World University Games at Peking University in Beijing, capital of China, on June 10, 2023. Officially started here on Saturday, the torch relay is scheduled to run until July 28, when the Universiade opens in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)
Torch bearer Ding Ning (front R) runs with the torch during the torch relay of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Summer World University Games at Peking University in Beijing, capital of China, on June 10, 2023. Officially started here on Saturday, the torch relay is scheduled to run until July 28, when the Universiade opens in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)
Students cheer for the torch bearers during the torch relay of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Summer World University Games at Peking University in Beijing, capital of China, on June 10, 2023. Officially started here on Saturday, the torch relay is scheduled to run until July 28, when the Universiade opens in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)
A guard collects flame back to the lantern after Beijng city's torch relay of the Chengdu 2021 FISU Summer World University Games at Peking University in Beijing, capital of China, on June 10, 2023. Officially started here on Saturday, the torch relay is scheduled to run until July 28, when the Universiade opens in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)
