CDUT's International Students Visit Dong'an Lake Venues of FISU World University Games

In order to strengthen the international influence of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games (Games), comprehensively enhance the international communication effectiveness of the Games, deepen cultural exchanges and mutual learning and better present Chinese culture to the world, the Department of International Exchanges & Cooperation of Chengdu University of Technology (CDUT) organized CDUT's international students in China to Dong'an Lake Sports Park to visit Games venues on March 22nd. The activity was organized by the Sichuan Friendship Cities International Cultural Exchange Center and the Department of International Exchanges & Cooperation CDUT, co-organized by the Chengdu Municipal Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party and participated in by international students from more than 10 countries including Russia, Ghana and Bangladesh.

At the beginning of the activity, Lan Jun, director of Sichuan Friendship Cities International Cultural Exchange Center, and Li Shan, deputy director of Department of International Exchanges & Cooperation CDUT, delivered speeches respectively. In his speech, Lan Jun mentioned that Chengdu is a city with infinite charm and he called on everyone to appreciate the international Games with Chinese style and Sichuan appeal and the international Games preparation level and feel Chengdu's enduring "inclusive and optimistic" spirit by visiting the Games venues. Li Shan expressed her gratitude to the Sichuan Friendship Cities International Cultural Exchange Center and the Chengdu Municipal Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party for their strong support for the activity and expressed the hope that the activity could serve to better promote the knowledge, popularize the culture, tell the stories and convey the spirit of the Games among all international students of CDUT and create a good atmosphere of "Love Chengdu · Embrace the Games".

Then, led by the staff, the international students embarked on their tour of the Games venues. During the activity, they followed the guide of the professional explainer to visit the Multi-Purpose Gymnasium and the Aquatics Centre, learn about the distribution of various sports facilities and functional areas and immerse themselves in the grandness and magnificence of the world-class fields of play.

At last, in order for the international students to feel the Games atmosphere and convey the sporting ethos, a brisk walking activity around the lake was designed, with a total distance of about two kilometers that would take about 20 to 30 minutes, and three checkpoints for international students to reach as required to complete the activity. All the students were in high spirits and marched toward the checkpoints after the activity began.

It is learned that the XXXI Summer World University Games will officially kick off in Chengdu on July 28th, 2023. It is the first world-class multi-sport event successfully bid for by Chengdu after proposing the goal of building a World Famous City of Sports Events. Measures, such as mobilizing CDUT's international students to pay attention to, support and participate in the Games, promoting the knowledge, popularizing the culture, telling the stories and conveying the spirit of the Games among the international students and creating a good atmosphere of "Love Chengdu · Embrace the Games" are of great significance to comprehensively enhancing the international communication effectiveness of the Games, deepening cultural exchanges and mutual learning and better presenting Chinese culture to the world.

Feelings of international students after the visit

POLIAKOVA MARIIA

 (Chinese name: Maliya; nationality: Russian)

Master’s student in Geology, Class of 2022

I’m very happy that my friends and I visited Dong'an Lake Sports Park, a park designed and built for the Chengdu FISU World University Games in 2023. The park perfectly integrates various plants and magnificent sports venues. I look forward to the opening of the Chengdu FISU World University Games in 2023 and I hope athletes can perform at the highest level in such a wonderful environment.

EKEKEH DESTINA GODWIN

 (Chinese name: Meng Han; nationality: Nigerian)

Doctoral student in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Class of 2022

The visit to the World University Games venues was truly an unforgettable experience. I had kept hearing about the Games, but I never truly understood the Games' great significance until I saw the magnificent fields of play myself. The knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff led us to visit them and made our activity even more special. In addition, we took the opportunity to explore the beautiful scenery of the park and feel the rich history and culture of Chengdu, Sichuan.

YAYAH CONTEH

 (Chinese name: Kente; nationality: Sierra Leonean)

Master’s student in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Class of 2022

I’d like to express my sincere gratitude for this wonderful trip. Not only did the trip let me explore a new place, but it also provided me with a valuable opportunity to make connections with my classmates and understand them more deeply. This served as a good reminder that we should cultivate strong team spirit in university.

RAHMAN MD ATIQUR

 (Chinese name: Li Ren; nationality: Bangladeshi)

Undergraduate student in Tourism Management, Class of 2020

It was a pleasure to visit the Chengdu FISU World University Games venues. We did not see the main venue, but we visited the other two venues to see things like the athletes' training field, dressing room, bathroom and diving pool. The staff warmly welcomed us and showed us how they would prepare for the competition. We were happy that we had the opportunity to visit this beautiful park and the Chengdu FISU World University Games venues.