Eric Senchao, Secretary General of the International University Sports Federation： Young college students have gained a lifetime experience in Chengdu.
Cover journalist Lai Fangjie
"I participated in the 18th Universiade, and the Chengdu Universiade was the last one during my term of office. This city has more special feelings for me. " On August 5th, Eric Senchao, Secretary General of the International University Sports Federation, was interviewed by media reporters. During the question-and-answer session, he shared the details that moved and surprised him in Chengdu, and also sent a message to the young athletes in the world. What is more precious than sports competitions is face-to-face sincere communication.
Eric Senchao
Chengdu Qingyuan
I believe that the people of China will be proud of the legacy of the Universiade.
Eric Senchao has been to China more than once, and has been to Beijing and Shenzhen many times before. After he became attached to Chengdu, he was surprised at the changing speed of this metropolis in western China.
"In 2018, I received a phone call saying that the Universiade (2021) was set in Chengdu. In 2019, I started a trip to Chengdu. " When I first arrived in Chengdu, the Universiade was still in preparation, and many venues were under construction. "Some venues are newly built, some are upgraded, and a city is working very hard to prepare for a tournament." To Eric Sen's delight, the population of the Games in Chengdu is very ideal, and the people's love for sports will boost the atmosphere and influence of the Games.
On his first trip to Chengdu, Eric Senchao was invited to sign his name on a white giant panda sculpture. In 2023, Senchao reunited with this giant panda. In the Chengdu Universiade Museum, the exhibition "Signature Panda Sculpture", the groundbreaking symbol of the main stadium of Dong 'an Lake Sports Park, stands in it. On this day, Senchao also took the initiative to donate a number of precious collections that he has treasured for many years. "It's rare for you to collect so many exhibits. In fact, some photos you collected don't even have our FISU. For me, seeing this really touched me. Thank you for everything. When I come to Chengdu next time, I will bring more materials and souvenirs from previous Universiade. " Sen Chao believes that Chengdu Universiade Museum, which completely records the history of the Universiade and fully interprets the spirit of the Universiade, is a precious gift dedicated to the world by Chengdu Universiade and an important legacy left to the city.
Previously, the communication between FISU and Chengdu was mostly online. In the Spring Festival in 2023, when Sen Chao visited Chengdu again, he was surprised to find that the population of Chengdu rose from the previous 16 million to 21 million. "What's the secret that makes so many people want to go to Chengdu?" He couldn't help asking Wang Fengchao, the mayor of Chengdu. "With an open and inclusive talent attraction policy and a green and ecological park city, Chengdu has become a city that young people like." This is the answer of Mayor Wang Fengchao. During the visit, Sen Chao confirmed this answer with his own observation. He was delighted to see that compared with 2019, the venues of Chengdu Universiade have been "upgraded as a whole" and the comfort of the city has become more obvious.
He believes that the Chengdu Universiade will benefit every citizen. Universiade brings a rich legacy to a city, and the competition venues are not only used by the relevant personnel of the games, but also shared by all citizens.
Youth home court
Young college students' life experience in Chengdu.
"After nearly 35 years of working in the Universiade, what ideas do you think the Universiade has conveyed to the youth?" During the interview, the reporter asked Sen Chao questions.
When answering this question, Sen Chao first expressed some regrets. He mentioned that due to the global epidemic, the 2021 winter universiade, originally scheduled to be held in Lucerne, Switzerland, was cancelled, and the world university athletes have not participated in international competitions for a long time.
"Twenty-one or twenty-two years old is the most concentrated age for the participants in the World Universiade. This age is the transition stage of young athletes to top athletes, and it is also an important moment for the formation of young people's three views. " Sen Chao said that although the Chengdu Universiade has been postponed twice, FISU has broadened the qualifications of athletes, and the age of participation has been adjusted from "18-25 years old" to "18-27 years old", and the original "only for college students who are in school and graduate less than one year" has been adjusted to "allow college students who are in school and graduate in 2020, 2021 and 2022". "I hope to help athletes with real potential grow up, and with the help of the competition platform, let the participating college athletes interact with each other, understand the world, broaden their horizons, and form judgments and values that will benefit them for life." Sen Chao said.
"If the athletes come to Chengdu just for the competition results, they will lose 90% of the significance of the Universiade. The value of the Universiade is that young people can communicate face to face, which is the core value. " Sen Chao believes that young people are the future of the world, and one day they will leave the stadium and go to the society, and may become the backbone of all walks of life. However, the harvest of Chengdu Universiade will be the spiritual wealth that inspires them all their lives.
Declaration: All article resources on this website, unless otherwise specified or labeled, are collected from online resources. If the content on this website infringes on the legitimate rights and interests of the original author, you can contact this website to delete it.
