Fireworks are seen during the opening ceremony of the Chengdu Universiade, southwest China's Sichuan Province on July 28, 2023. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)
"Chengdu has truly made all dreams come true," said FISU acting president Leonz Eder.
CHENGDU, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- "Congratulate the authorities who have prepared the fantastic venues and great facilities on hosting the Games. We have hospitable people and the best volunteers here," said Leonz Eder, acting president of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), on Tuesday.
"All the services were great and perfect," Eder added. "Nothing to add, just big thanks."
Gold medalist H. Von Der Schulenburg (2nd L) of Switzerland, silver medalist Kasidit Samrej (1st L) of Thailand, bronze medalists Jang Yunseok (2nd R) of South Korea and Sergey Fomin of Uzbekistan pose during the awarding ceremony for tennis men's singles at the Chengdu Universiade on Aug. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)
Over the past 10 days, around 6,500 athletes from 113 countries and regions participated in the Universiade, creating lasting memories. "The athletes compete at the highest level and communicate with each other to gain a deeper understanding of different cultures. That's the magic of FISU Games," Eder commented.
The cultural events at the Chengdu Universiade Village and the city tours left a lasting memory on the acting president. "Chengdu is a modern city with deep historical roots. Chengdu has truly made all dreams come true," he remarked.
Juan Miguel Gomez (L) of Spanish delegation learns to play shadow puppets with the help of Zhao Hong, a representative successor of intangible cultural heritage Chengdu Shadow Puppets, at the Village of the Chengdu Universiade on Aug. 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)
With the closing ceremony set for Tuesday night, Eric Saintrond, FISU Secretary General-CEO, expressed his belief that Chengdu has established a benchmark for future Universiade Games.
"We've had a remarkable experience here in Chengdu. That's why we're profoundly grateful for this extraordinary event," Saintrond said.
Earlier on Tuesday, two students from Chengdu Shishi High School wrote a bilingual letter, in Chinese and English, to FISU officials. They detailed their experiences during the Universiade. In response, Saintrond gave his advice, saying: "The youth represent the future. Never give up chasing the dream." ■
