The formation of the Chinese university sports delegation for the imminent 31st Chengdu Universiade was announced during a meeting on Wednesday in Changchun, situated in Northeast China’s Jilin Province.
Comprising over 700 members, the Chinese delegation is set to make a significant impact at the event. Notably, 411 athletes, drawn from more than 100 higher education institutions in 25 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities across the nation, will compete in the Universiade’s 18 key events, as highlighted by Wang Jiayi, Vice Minister of Education and leader of the delegation.
Scheduled to commence on July 28 and conclude on August 8, the Chengdu Universiade will be the third Summer Universiade hosted in mainland China, following Beijing in 2001 and Shenzhen in 2011. Moreover, this event marks the first time a global multi-sport competition will be held in Southwest China.
The Chinese delegation is characterized by a youthful dynamism, with the average age of its athletes being 22.9 years. The gender balance is well-maintained with 206 male athletes and 205 female athletes on the roster. A significant number, 387 athletes (94.2%), will be experiencing the Universiade for the first time, and 344 athletes will represent China for the first time in a global multi-sport event. Only a minority, 24 athletes, have previously participated in a Universiade, and 34 athletes have Olympic Games experience.
The Chengdu Universiade was initially slated for 2021 but was postponed twice owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a concession to the delay’s impact on university athletes, the International University Sports Federation has eased participation qualifications. It has expanded the age range from the initial “18 to 25 years old” to “18 to 27 years old,” and has made students currently enrolled in higher education, as well as those who have graduated within the past three years since 2020, eligible to participate.
READ MORE: