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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
CHENGDU, China, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) — The 12th Chengdu World Games are bringing people from all over the world together, from the opening ceremony that blended cultural heritage and modern performances to the diversity of Sichuan cuisine.
One of the highlights of the opening ceremony on Thursday was the Friendship Tree fireworks display, inspired by ancient tree root relics found in Jinsha in Chengdu and the pigeon tree native to Sichuan Province, symbolizing peace, progress and friendship.
Croatian archer Amanda Mlinaric said the tree-shaped fireworks were the “best” she had ever seen and that the opening ceremony itself left a lasting impression on her. “I think it’s definitely worthy of the Olympics, not just the World Games,” she said.
Czech wushu artist Jan Hoffmann was also impressed by the torch lighting. Two water skiers swam through the waves to light the torch, which was shaped like a jet of water rising from a lake.
“This is just crazy,” J. Hoffmann shared enthusiastically. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
Held under the theme of “Unlimited Sports, Countless Wonders,” the 12th Chengdu World Games not only offers fierce competitions but also a host of cultural activities, from Chinese language classes and Sichuan Opera mask-changing performances to calligraphy and Sichuan embroidery workshops and visits to local attractions.
“I love pandas, they are so cute,” Estonian archer Meeri-Marita Paas told Xinhua during a tour of the Chengdu Research and Breeding Base for Giant Pandas on Friday. She added that she had never seen a panda before, so she thought Chengdu was an ideal place to visit.
After the competition, the Estonian athlete plans to try the famous spicy cuisine of Chengdu and get to know the province better, namely visiting the giant Buddha statue in Leshan and Mount Emei.
“What I really like about archery is that I can become friends with my competitors,” added Croatian archer A. Mlinarić, who is also a friend of M.-M. Paas. “We don’t look at each other with hostility – it’s just my arrows against their arrows. After the competition, we remain friends. We can go for a coffee or have fun together. It’s great.”
The Croatian athlete will also remember the 12th World Games for another reason: she celebrated her 24th birthday on the opening day. Her archery friends and volunteers from the Athletes' Village congratulated the birthday girl and presented her with gifts.
“People are so welcoming and friendly. I feel like a celebrity or a supermodel,” said A. Mlinaric with a smile.
The opening ceremony of the Chengdu World Games was held at the Tianfu International Conference Center, which stretches 430 meters, making it the largest single wooden structure in Asia.
"The roof reminds us of a house that protects us from rain and storm. We want to tell our guests from all over the world that we are one family under one roof," said General Manager Hu Xiao at the opening ceremony. -0-
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