Culture and color collide in dazzling opening ceremony

Sun bird, street dance and giant pandas welcome guests to Sichuan

Dong'an Lake Sports Park Stadium in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, on Friday was transformed into a mesmerizing canvas of lights and colors.

With the theme "Make Dreams Come True", the opening ceremony of the Chengdu FISU World University Games presented a gala extravaganza, uniting university students from around the world in Chengdu to celebrate sports and pursue their dreams.

As the core creative element, images of sunshine were seen throughout the event — from the golden ray stage, the sun-shaped display and the flame tower, to the parade of athletes and the arrival of the FISU flag.

Renowned director Chen Weiya, a professor at the Beijing Dance Academy, was the mastermind behind this grand gala. He revealed that the emblem symbolizing the essence of the games incorporated elements from Sichuan culture, such as the sun bird from the Jinsha archaeological site in Chengdu, Sichuan embroidery and the captivating face-changing performance from Sichuan Opera.

The countdown for the opening ceremony took an unconventional approach, starting not from "10", but from "12", symbolizing the 12 tail wings of the majestic sun bird.

Throughout the entire ceremony, the sun bird remained a constant presence, with the production team having developed a laser to project its dazzling image at different moments, Chen said.

Before the games, Chen and his team embarked on an immersive field trip in Sichuan. After careful consideration, he selected the sun bird as a representative of Sichuan culture, thinking that "in terms of its design, symbolism and material, it leaves spectators in awe".

All 18 sports being featured in the games were showcased in Passion of Sports, a four-minute street dance performed during the second portion of the gala that proved to be a highlight.

A total of over 400 dancers, with an average age of 20, delivered an electrifying performance that exemplified the youthful spirit and energy of the event.

Xia Rui, 40, one of the directors of the performance, said that they abandoned the use of large, cumbersome props for the show.

"By incorporating cutting-edge audio, visual and electrical technology on the ground screen, the entire performance was infused with a sense of modernity and technology," he said.

Xia, executive deputy director of the China Hip-Hop Union Committee, received the task of designing the dance for the show in March. He recalled that the most challenging part was integrating sound, light and electrical elements, especially in coordination with the ground screen.

"Every arrangement, the positioning of each performer and the incorporation of street dance movements required meticulous planning and sketching," he said.

"The show is not only an artistic expression but also a representation of youth culture. It embodies the passion, creativity and positive attitude toward life held by young people," he said.

As the flame tower was ignited, fireworks burst into the sky, illuminating the stadium with the emblem "U" and the inspiring message "Make Dreams Come True," marking the grand finale of the spectacular gala.

Chen recalled that it was a significant challenge for the creative team to present the profound historical and cultural heritage of Chengdu spanning thousands of years while also incorporating rich elements and high technological content.

He said that to add a unique touch to the gala, the directorial team introduced numerous artistic innovations throughout the ceremony.

Chen, 67, who also served as the general director of the opening ceremony of the 21st university games held in Beijing in 2001, said that the opening ceremony is akin to a mirror, reflecting the passage of time and the advancements of the era.

According to him, 980 performers directly participated in the artistic performances.

"Ninety-nine percent of the volunteers and performers participating in this opening ceremony were young college students. In every aspect of the event, you could see young university students playing vital roles," he said.

The giant panda was also an essential element of the opening ceremony. Chen explained that if someone hasn't been to the Giant Panda Park, their first impulse would be to visit after watching the opening ceremony.

"Because in the ceremony, we have a very adorable and extensive display of giant pandas. We even have joyful dances featuring the pandas, and they even fly into the air," he said.

"I think all of this showcases the unique charm of Chengdu as a city where people come and never want to leave," Chen added.

"Young people fearlessly run and relentlessly climb on the path of pursuing their dreams — this is the core concept we wholeheartedly express in the opening ceremony."