Rhine-Ruer Universiade Opens in Duisburg, Germany

Xinhua News Agency, Duisburg, Germany, July 16 (Reporters Wei Hua and Zhang Rongfeng) The rain is gradually declining and the sky is clearing. On the evening of the 16th, under the witness of tens of thousands of spectators, the 2025 Rhine-Rurch World College Student Summer Games opened in Duisburg. At around 22:00, Renault Ed, president of the International College Students' Sports Federation, delivered a welcome speech, wishing the athletes a wonderful memory during the Universiade. Subsequently, German Labor Minister Babel Bass announced the opening of the Games.

That night, under the leadership of the two flag bearers, Liu Bei and Cui Hechen, the Chinese college student sports delegation entered the venue. At this Universiade, the Chinese delegation consists of more than 200 people and will participate in 14 major events, including badminton, basketball, volleyball, etc. and more than 90 minor events.

The staggered and splendid beams of light and intertwined classical and pop music have turned the opening ceremony into a gathering for young people. The Ruhr area where Duisburg is located is a world-famous traditional industrial area and was once famous for its coal mines. This element is fully reflected. Mines, miners, mine cars... On the large LED screens with six chimneys on both sides of the stage, photos tell the history of the Ruhr District.

During the ignition of the Holy Fire, German athlete Rosendal, who won two gold and one silver at the 1972 Munich Olympics, entered the venue with a torch. Six "chimneys" were turned into "lighthouses" and were ignited by six athletes at the same time. At this time, fireworks on the roof of the stadium illuminate the ink sky of Duisburg, pushing the entire opening ceremony to climax. Subsequently, the holy fire was collected into six small mining lamps and preserved by the six host cities of this Universiade.

The Rhine-Ruer Universiade was held in Berlin, Duisburg, Essen, Bochum, Hagen and Millheim am Ruhr in Germany from July 16 to 27. It has a total of 18 major events including badminton and basketball, and has set up events for disabled persons in the three-person basketball event for the first time. According to data released by the organizing committee on the 14th, about 9,200 people from more than 150 countries and regions participated in this Universiade.