World Games kick off in Chengdu
Fireworks mark the opening of the 12th World Games in Chengdu. Photo: Xinhua
The 12th edition of the World Games kicked off in Chengdu on Thursday, marking the first time the event for non-Olympic sports has been hosted in China.
The 90-minute opening ceremony began with dance and sports performances. Delegations from about 120 countries and regions taking part in the event then marched into the venue, where they were cheered on by enthusiastic crowds.
Leading Hong Kong, China's team as flag-bearers were the city's top squash player Alex Lau and wushu athlete Lydia Sham.
Lau recently became the third-ever SAR athlete to claim a men's single title at the Asian Squash Individual Championships, while Sham had won three medals, including a gold, at the Taolu World Cup in Japan last October.
The SAR sent 21 athletes to compete in seven disciplines at the World Games, including air sports, billiards, karate, orienteering, squash, water skiing, and wushu.
The event will run until August 17, featuring about 200 medal events across 34 sports disciplines.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTHK
32 minutes ago
- RTHK
Grace Lau bags first gold for the SAR at World Games
Grace Lau bags first gold for the SAR at World Games Grace Lau won the first gold and first medal for the SAR at the World Games in Chengdu. Photo courtesy of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China Hong Kong, China won its first medal of the World Games in Chengdu as World No. 1 Grace Lau took gold in women's karate. With a score of 45.3, Lau defeated Japan's Maho Ono's 43.6, ranked second in the world, in the women's individual kata final on Friday. The 33-year-old took home a bronze at the World Games 2022 and was a bronze medallist at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Wong Po-kee, the delegation's Chef de Mission and honorary deputy secretary general of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, said Lau returned to this year's Games in 'peak form' and advanced to the final with her exceptional skills. 'In the gold medal match, Grace continued to perform well. With her powerful and well-controlled moves, she out-competed her rival,' Wong said. 'This gold medal marks Hong Kong's first at the Games, a proud achievement that not only celebrates Grace's success, but also inspires fellow athletes as they prepare to compete.' More than 20 athletes from the SAR will compete in seven sports: air sports, billiards, karate, orienteering, squash, water skiing, and wushu. The World Games kicked off on Thursday and will run until August 17, featuring more than 200 medal events across 34 disciplines.
South China Morning Post
6 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's Grace Lau eyes World Games karate medal, asks for ‘positive energy'
Grace Lau Mo-sheung is preparing for a tilt at karate gold at the World Games in Chengdu on Friday, and has urged the public to send her 'positive energy' to help push her to glory. Advertisement The Hongkonger, who three years ago won bronze at the last edition of the Games in Birmingham, Alabama, was set to compete against Iran's Fatemeh Sadeghi Dastak in the semi-finals on Friday afternoon. 'We secured the No 1 spot in the pool and have earned our place in the semi-finals!' Lau said in a post on social media. 'We will be competing again in just a few hours, and after that, it will be the final. 'I'd like to ask everyone for your prayers and positive energy. Let's do this together one more time!' Advertisement
South China Morning Post
16 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
World Games a chance for lesser-known sports to shine
The Olympics are, for many athletes, the pinnacle of their careers. Winning a gold medal is the height of success. But the achievement is inaccessible to elite competitors in sports not selected for the showpiece event. That is why the World Games, featuring non-Olympic disciplines, are important and deserving of support. The 12th World Games have opened in Chengdu with a ceremony featuring a spectacular fireworks display, marking the first time they have been held in mainland China. The games include more than 250 medal events in 34 sports. Almost 120 countries and regions will compete. Hong Kong is sending a delegation of 22 athletes who qualified in sports including billiards, wushu, water skiing, karate, squash, orienteering and air sports involving the use of drones. Snooker player Cheung Ka-wai won the city's first World Games gold medal in 2022, with four bronze medals also bagged by the team. There is hope for improvement on that haul this time, benefiting from what has been described as 'semi-home advantage'. Hong Kong hosted the inaugural World Games Series last year, which involved qualifying competitions for wushu, cheerleading and roller sports. The event at the new Go Park Sai Sha complex provided the city with much-needed experience in hosting multi-sport events ahead of this November's National Games Just like the Olympics, the World Games are more than just a sporting event. The aim is to forge international engagement and bring communities together. There will be cultural and educational activities as well as sports. Chengdu is determined to uphold the values of the games, which include sustainability. There are 27 venues, but 18 of them already existed and have been adapted. The remainder are temporary venues in parks. The event will provide a valuable opportunity to showcase lesser-known sports, including lifesaving and petanque, and for the leading exponents of all the disciplines to enjoy time in the limelight. It is a chance for various sports to attract new participants and fans.
