CHENGDU (Xinhua): With one month to go until the opening of the 12th World Games, Chengdu, capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, is entering the final stages of preparation for the premier global event for non-Olympic sports. Venue readiness, volunteer training and public engagement are all progressing steadily.
At the Chengdu Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Public Fitness Gymnasium – the venue for squash and racquetball competitions – the installation of temporary seating and lighting is nearly complete.
“The venue renovation is relying on existing facilities and the way of rental is also introduced down the stretch,” said Huang Gang, head of operations at a local construction company.
According to organizers, all 27 competition venues are finished and undergoing final inspections. Eighteen are existing facilities, while nine were temporarily constructed in parks and lakeside areas to keep costs down.
In line with a frugal approach, Chengdu 2025 will not feature a dedicated Athletes’ Village. Instead, athletes will be accommodated in hotels near their competition venues.
Nearly 10,000 volunteers have been recruited for the Games, supported by more than 500 urban service stations to assist athletes and visitors.
“We are ready to welcome guests with full enthusiasm and showcase the energy of young students,” said Hu Ke, a volunteer trainee from Sichuan University. “Keeping a smile is part of the training,” she added. “We’re doing our best to prepare for guests from around the world.”
All competition schedules and event programs have been finalized. Technical teams are stationed at venues, full-scale rehearsals are underway, and 24 test events across 20 sports have already been held.
For the first time in World Games history, a torch relay will be held on July 26. The relay will pass through Chengdu, Deyang and Meishan, covering 11 kilometers and featuring 120 torchbearers. The route includes landmarks such as the Jinsha Site Museum and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
Since November 2024, Chengdu has rolled out a range of community programs to promote the Games and boost local involvement. Sports such as flying disc and archery have been introduced in residential neighborhoods, reaching over 600 communities and attracting more than 120,000 participants.
“I never thought I could try archery in my neighborhood,” said a local resident surnamed Li. “It’s harder than I imagined but really fun.”
In March, a campus outreach initiative introduced sports like parkour, lacrosse and flying disc to 120 schools. Thirty “urban mini-sites” have also been set up across the city, offering interactive experiences and event information.
The Games are also providing a lift to the local economy. In 2024, Chengdu’s sports industry reached a market size of 130 billion yuan (about 18 billion U.S. dollars), with sports-related consumption growing by 13 percent year-on-year to 75 billion yuan.
To enhance the visitor experience, the city has launched six themed cultural and tourism programs, encouraging exploration beyond the sports venues.
Scheduled for Aug. 7-17, the 12th World Games will feature 255 events across 60 disciplines and 34 sports. It will be the first global sporting event held in western China since the 2023 Chengdu Universiade.
Anticipation is growing both at home and abroad.
“We are extremely impressed by the professionalism and commitment demonstrated by the Chengdu LOC,” said International World Games Association (IWGA) vice president Tom Dielen during the fifth Coordination Committee meeting in June.
“The preparations are progressing with remarkable efficiency and attention to detail. We are confident that Chengdu is ready to deliver an unforgettable edition of the World Games,” he added.
Around 5,000 athletes from an estimated 110 countries and regions are expected to take part, including approximately 330 Chinese athletes – the country’s largest-ever delegation to the World Games.
For Muay Thai athlete Laura Burgos, representing Mexico at the event is an unexpected honor. “I’m excited to prove myself in Chengdu,” she noted.
Daria Chernegova, an international student in Chengdu, said she’s especially looking forward to the flying disc and cheerleading competitions.
“I’ve played flying disc and worked as a cheerleader. These are sports not seen at the Olympics or Universiade, so I’m excited to watch them live,” she said.
