2011 SU Update: Universiade Participants Stunned by Breathtaking Opening Ceremony

SHENZHEN – Finally the day all Chinese and Shenzhen citizens were waiting for has arrived, the Opening Ceremony of the 26^th Universiade. Moments before the show started, you could see on the Chinese faces how happy and excited they were, even if it was a hot day, the smiles never disappeared from their faces and they were always taking the opportunity to have their picture taken with the foreigners and of the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center, where the Opening Ceremony was staged.

For classmate Felix and Stacy (their English names) both 17 who live in Shenzhen, the spectacle would be something amazing and very interesting. “I’m so happy and proud to see the Universiade here, Shenzhen is a young city and represents the spirit of the youth at the Games”, said Felix. Stacy is a volleyball player at her school team and watching the Games will be an inspiration for her. “I will be a university athlete soon and I want to join the national university volleyball team so I can compete in this huge event one day”, she comments.

With so many hours of training and hard working with rehearsals, all of this to make sure everything would go perfect at the ceremony. Quan Ban, one of the performers from the province of Guang Xi and law student, spent at least 12 hours a day practicing her number since July 14th every day. “It’s an exciting and honorable moment and a pleasure to be a part of this, because I am representing my university here’, she says,

One of the more remarkable moments of the show was when 340 bike riders arrived into the venue performing with their bikes before the torch arrived to the stadium and Grace (20) from the province of Zhuai was one of the riders. Earlier on she said: “I’m feeling at peace now, we had practiced so much and we are going to have fun.”

After 3 hours of witnessing a bright and emotional spectacle in Shenzhen, Enerett Otgmbaatar fromMongolia(22) and experiencing for the first time in an Opening Ceremony, was almost speechless. “It was great as expected from the Chinese people, the torch with a unique design and the idea for not using real fireworks but a virtual one was well thought. It was truly an amazing experience. 

(Source: Everton Melo, FISU Young Reporter)

 Stacy & Felix

Getting ready for the big show

Grace

(Photos: Everton Melo)