Cauldron is lit during the opening ceremony of the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province on July 28, 2023. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)
31 torchbearers jointly lit the cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Chengdu Universiade, conveying a sense of togetherness and unity.
CHENGDU, July 29 (Xinhua) -- When the spectators were guessing who would lit the cauldron at the opening ceremony of Chengdu Universiade on Friday night, they mostly missed the right answer, as the main cauldron turned out to be lit by 31 torchbearers together, a big surprise of the show.
31, the number of torchbearers, represents the 31st FISU World University Games, and all torchbearers share the feeling of pride.
Led by Taikonaut Ye Guangfu, a Chengdu local who took on China's Shenzhou-13 crewed mission, Tokyo Olympic shooting champion Yang Qian and other torchbearers ran into the stadium.
This is the second time Yang has carried the torch after she participated in the first stop of the torch relay in Beijing.
"It was very exciting to light the cauldron with my 30 fellows," Yang told Xinhua. "I hope to show the vitality of Chinese young people at the opening ceremony."
Yang won the first gold medal of the Tokyo Olympics in the women's 10m air rifle, and then grabbed another gold in the 10m air rifle mixed team, thus becoming China's first twice Olympic gold medalist born after 2000.
Yang sent her blessings to the Universiade participants. "I wish that athletes from all over the world can show their strength to achieve satisfactory results. Meanwhile, I hope they can make friends here," she said.
Cauldron is lit during the opening ceremony of the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province on July 28, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)
Ivan Pavlovic, a torchbearer from Germany, expressed eagerness to share his joy with friends far away at hometown. "I will tell them what has happened is amazing. What I learned here and what I have got here is something I never experienced," said Pavlovic.
Pavlovic and other torchbearers conducted a lot of practice to ensure the whole lighting process will go smooth. "I was really a little bit nervous. I have to keep reminding myself to do everything right. When I turned around and saw the fireworks, it was amazing," he said.
"I felt excited and deeply touched," said torchbearer Jiang Qingsong, a village cadre from Shizhong Town, Jianyang City of Sichuan. "It is a precious opportunity and an extraordinary experience for me to participate in a world sports event."
"I want to bring what I have learned at the Universiade back to my village. I will keep working hard to make our countryside more beautiful," he added.
Torchbearer Liu Xian, a native Sichuan girl, volunteered to deliver free meals to medical staff during the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province.
"In Wuhan, I witnessed the great unity of the Chinese people to overcome difficulties. Despite of the delays the tournament has experienced, we once again feel the power of unity," said Liu.
"In my heart, at that moment, not only the flame of the Universiade was ignited, the flame of dream and unity around the world was either," she noted. ■
