Welcome to the World Games 2025, happening right now in Chengdu, a vibrant city in southwest China, known for its rich culture and laid-back vibe, and now a shining stage for sports and innovation, packed with futuristic tech, green innovations, and awesome some new sports from all over the world.
This World Games has it all. Let's explore what makes this World Games truly one of a kind.
Coming to you live from Beijing, this is Roundtable.
I'm He Yang. For today's program, I'm joined by Steve Hatherly and Yushan in the studio.
First on today's show... The 12th World Games are in full swing in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.
It's a city famous for its adorable giant pandas and now turning into an action-packed athletic stage from August the 7th to 17th.
High-tech innovations and green initiatives are lighting up competition venues and the World Games Village, while the event is inspiring residents to bring sports into their daily lives.
To start, what unique features or firsts make the 2025 World Games stand out?
Tell us everything about it, Yushan. Yeah, it's so exciting, isn't it?
Now that the 12th World Games, they are running from August 7th to 17th under the slogan Boundless Sports, Countless Wonders.
I kind of love this whole vibe that it's bringing.
And also this year's World Games is a milestone worth remembering because it marks the first time the event is hosted on the Chinese mainland.
And also as the largest ever edition, this year's Chengdu World Game has attracted a record of 6,679 athletes and officials from 116 countries and regions.
And also there are 3,942 athletes aged from 13 to 68 that will be competing in 256 events across 34 sports.
That's a lot of games that's going on. And there are already some Medals, that's been one.
I remember Germany is taking the top as per 12 o'clock today, August the 11th.
So yeah, we're seeing a lot of wonders happening indeed.
Yeah, I was trying to get the update. The Canadian women's lacrosse team was playing in the finals against the American women's lacrosse team.
Whenever Canada and America face off in an athletic event, it's always kind of a fun rivalry that we have.
But I wasn't able to find out who won because as of this conversation, I think they're still playing.
But lacrosse is one of those sports that we've heard of before, right?
But as I was looking through the sports that are at the World Games, there's a lot of things that I don't even recognize.
Korfball. What's that again? Yeah, exactly.
Korfball. So I looked it up. It kind of looks like basketball, I guess, is what I saw.
And that's what everybody sees when they see it for the first time.
But it's got some different rules that are played there.
There's other things that I was unfamiliar with.
I had heard of disc golf before. What is that?
It's basically frisbee golf. which is like golf, except you're using a Frisbee, so you have to throw it, and then the goal is to get it in the hole, just like you do with a golf ball, except you're using a Frisbee.
So there's that. There's dancing represented.
There's billiards. There's bowling. There's canoeing.
There's cheerleading, which is fun, I think.
If you've ever seen... A cheerleading competition.
It's very much an American culture thing, more so than Canada, I would say.
But it's still really exciting to watch.
There's dance sport, which to me looks like ballroom dancing.
That's one of the competitions as well. So there's just so many exciting things happening.
Yeah, and several Olympic sports, they also made a sneak preview at this year's World Games.
We're seeing trampoline, flag football, softball.
I'm not even sure what that is. Softball, it's like baseball except the pitching is underhand.
It's really fast. I believe the pitcher's mound is closer to the plate, so the dimensions are a little bit different, but baseball would be the closest comparison, I think.
Yeah, so all of these sports mentioned above, they are set to take the stage as official events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, but they're taking their premiere through the Chengdu World Games as a start.
I think that's really interesting as well.
And for these niche sports, their growth often hinges on the right moment to shine and the World Games.
Now, I think it's really just providing this perfect stage for them to at least step into the spotlight and try out how people are going to like them.
I remember last time when there's breakdance in the Olympics, that was kind of a hit as well back then.
A lot of people were discussing about it.
So yeah, I'm Excited to see how it's going to turn out in three years in the next Olympics.
Yeah, that got its start at the World Games, which is a cool thing.
And that's happened before as well. China, this is really exciting for the country.
They have their largest ever delegation.
They have 489 members, 321 of which are athletes.
The athletes themselves, they are also represented by para-athletes too, which is fantastic.
That's a first as well. They're competing in 152 different events in 28 different sports.
They're making their debut, the country's debut, in 12 of those sports.
And cheerleading is one of the events, as a matter of fact, where China is making its debut.
Also in flying disc and power boating. Those are other notable debuts for the country.
Yeah, it's really lovely that in this year's Chengdu World Games, many, say, traditional sports with very rich history and cultural roots, such as many martial art styles, the ones in China, we call it wushu, and also dragon boat racing.
And then quite a few others I remember in Japan, and also Muay Thai, I think.
These are all having such a platform to just... showcase themselves to the world as a competition in such a big sporting event as well.
That's what makes the World Games such a really cool event, in my opinion, because, yep, the Olympics, and maybe we'll draw more comparisons in a few minutes, but the Olympics oftentimes is criticized for being a little bit too old school in its events because, of course, there's a lot of history there.
But the fun thing about the World Games is that there are sports that people are hearing about for the first time, watching for the first time.
There are cultural aspects to these sports as well that people get to learn about.
It's just... And it's really cool. And these athletes, they are the best in the world.
Yeah, I think so. Experts often highlight that the World Games protect and promote sports that often get overlooked, preserve unique cultural roots and introducing new disciplines.
How do the World Games complement the sports?
Olympics, and why are they important for sustaining a diverse global sports culture?
Yeah, this is not just a time to foster cross-cultural understanding, but also helps ensuring that Olympic sports, they don't overshadow the broader world of global sports culture.
So Deputy Dean Song Xiu-Ping from the School of History and Culture at Chengdu Sport University, he noted that the World Games are a grand global stage for showcasing the richness of diverse sports culture and also historically sports like badminton, beach volleyball, women's weightlifting, trampoline, taekwondo, and breakdancing.
These sports first gained influence through the World Games before becoming Olympic events.
And also conversely, some sports have returned to the World Games after being removed from the Olympics due to poor compatibility as it's presented in the Olympics.
Perhaps it's not that well received, but it still has its value at other world events, such as the World Games.
One of the things, I think we talked about it maybe on the show when we talked about the Olympics, they're trying to update their image, so to speak, because they have some issues with over-commercialization, oversized scale, and then the interest from younger generations seems to be waning a little bit with the olympics but the world games they're different because they uh adhere to principles that are really attractive to younger generations so these types of sports like corfball for example it does generate a lot of fun and a lot of interest from from younger audiences i said we were going to compare the olympics and the world games that's that's one point of comparison for sure Yeah, I'm just a little bit curious.
You know, when we talk about competitions like the Chinese Wushu, the Russian Sambo or Muay Thai, these are very specific regional specialty even.
And when we talk about Olympics, it's not really covering all that big of a scope because since the inception, the Olympics kind of, have primarily showcased Western sports, but sports originating from other countries and regions are often adapted to meet Olympic standards or just fitting into a certain set of rules in order to be brought onto the Olympic stage.
But sometimes scholars Yeah. Scholars even argue that non-Olympic sports, they have better preserved their traditional culture essence that's distinctively ethnic and has its own unique styles.
So this is where the World Games steps in to safeguard endangered traditional sports culture and sharing it to the bigger stage worldwide.
Yeah. And there is a connection, though, I think, between the World Games and the Olympics in the sense that The World Games can kind of be a testing ground, if you will, for future Olympic sports.
You mentioned, Yushan, some sports that first appeared at the World Games and then later were included in the Olympics.
It's not that the World Games is a feeder event to the Olympics, meaning it's not just like they start here and then they graduate on to the Olympics because there are some sports that... started at the World Games and I think are still existing only in the World Games.
But it can actually be a place for the IOC to have a look at the sport itself and determine whether it would make a good fit for the Olympics.
Again, the Olympic Committee, it's pretty well covered that the IOC is trying to kind of update its image, as I mentioned before.
So they'll look at these sports and think, okay, does this sport match what we're trying to do?
If it's compatible, then the sport makes the debut at the Olympics.
And looking at this World Games, what are some of the unique symbols and traditions that you think is worth highlighting?
And also it reflects Chengdu's identity and the event's values?
I really like the mascot here when you mention what kind of Chengdu characters it represents.
So the mascot for this year's Chengdu World Games is featuring a design of Shu Bao and Jin Zai, which are inspired by the giant panda and also the golden snub-nosed monkey from Sichuan province, where the city of Chengdu is located.
And these maskas, they have been created to raise awareness about rare animals and biodiversity protection that's being conducted locally for many years.
And that's aligning with the World Games commitment to environmental protection and sustainability.
I remember seeing a promotional video or more like an animation previously where these two, Shu Bao and Jin Zai, was flying and dancing and singing together with Ne Zha which is the animation movie figure from the animation blockbuster that was so popular earlier this year.
So it's like all of the features pop culture related or environmental related In general, they're all combined together trying to promote the World Game for Chengdu.
Yeah. There was another big thing that happened in Chengdu for the first time in World Games history.
The torch relay, that's where it's the tradition of the event's flame, right?
Carried through different locations before the opening ceremony.
Well, this time, and it was the first time they did this for the World Games, it took place in the city center.
Right. And that might sound like, OK, well, that's not really a big deal.
But, you know, the World Games, they don't exist on the same scale of the ceremonies as the Olympics.
So when you have a torch relay in a major city center, you've got the large crowds, you've got the media coverage there.
It's a big step in promoting the event's prestige, also the public engagement.
And it's a good showcase for the city, too, right?
Yeah. Yeah. And in the meantime, we know that we've had a colleague who's just taken trips down in Chengdu and returned and survived and saying that Chengdu at this point right now is very, very hot.
It's going through extreme heat as well.
So it also is a good time for the city to showcase how such a sustainable and low energy costing city, venues or sustainable designing in the venues and also in the residence areas can you know act as a benchmark for just how green we can we are able to host such a big big events so far there are no new venues built instead organizers they made smart use of existing facilities from the previous game which is called the universe aid which is the the world university games Another international multi-sport event organized for university athletes.
So this year, the Chengdu World Games, they upgraded 18 of the old venues and added nine temporary sites in lake parks.
That's bringing the total number of competition venues to 27, and many of them are undergoing resupply. these sustainable standards as well.
That's just showcasing how green the city is in trying to make this game happen.
Yeah, that seems to be a continuing theme now when we talk about these large-scale world events.
Sustainability is always near the top of the priority list.
Yeah, and the World Games has sort of prioritize this, this sort of this idea that, you know, you're not building new venues.
And I think that has really become a criticism point for a lot of citizens around the world when their home city uh joins the bed for some big world sports or uh event and then they wonder do we need the stadium how much is it going to cost to build that what are we going to do with it when the games are over yeah so i think this is a very good question to ask and it's also promising to see that okay this thought has been taken under serious consideration even before the event is being held technology technology plays a starring role here ai powered robot guys smart sports companions and safety patrol robots are all part of the experience showing how chengdu's tech scene is upgrading the games in real time What are some of the advanced technologies powering the World Games and how did they enhance the experience for athletes and viewers alike?
Well, this year there are many robotic and AI participating technologies that's supporting the game and that covers from a wide variety as well from services in the World Games Village to the venue operations, even security and cultural promotion, et cetera, et cetera.
And many of these high-tech solutions also empower the World Games that comes from Chengdu-based enterprises.
So they're supporting local companies as well.
There's a recent China Daily report that's indicating that more than 20 locally developed tech solutions were showcased at the World Games Village.
Data from 2024 reveals that Chengdu's AI and robotics sector boasts over 1,000 enterprises, with the core industry valued at more than 100 billion yuan, or roughly 14 billion US dollars.
So that's how local companies, they're supporting the world game with the tech that they can offer.
And it includes just all different varieties, AI, humanoid robots, you name it.
Yeah, lots of tech represented. Safety, I think you mentioned it, right?
At one of the venues, there's an AI-powered inspection robot dog that detects safety risks like missing harnesses for workers at a particular height or maybe abnormal structure temperatures.
And then it sends alerts and it synchronizes the alert to the control center.
And it just complements the human checks that are obviously taking place as well.
There's also, I need this for my house, I think, an intelligent cleaning robot that works three times faster than humans.
It can clean 22,000 square meters per day.
And the systems maintain both safety and cleanliness, even in that extreme weather that's taking place in the summertime in Chengdu.
Yeah, and also you mentioned robotic docks. so also in the world games village there's there are both a humanoid robot and a quadruped robot dog that's a robot quadruped yeah quadruped robot dog that's a robot dog that walks on four legs so basically they together the two of them are offering intelligent navigation for visitors and athletes inside the village so they interact with users to understand their needs plan routes automatically for them and guide athletes to Just spots like restaurants, sports venues and dormitories while skillfully just avoiding obstacles for them.
This is how high tech it is going on inside the World Games Village.
How useful too, right? You have a mobile GPS traveling around different areas to let people know where to go and how to get to where they're going.
Yeah, and I wonder if the robot dogs will just show them around by walking them over there.
I don't know if they're tour guides or not.
That's pretty cute in the meantime. Yeah, they also have some delivery robots, which is really convenient, right?
24-7 for parcels and food deliveries. I think. that oh yeah right yeah um and then they've got retail vendor robots that kind of just roam around the venues as well selling selling their goods um they can identify potential customers which is interesting and instantly dispense products how do you identify a potential does someone look thirsty and the robot's able to identify that and i don't know this one looks lost Yeah, and also humanoid robots, there are two that are catching attention.
And definitely this year, we've seen a lot of chatter in China about humanoid robots.
Yeah, throughout the World Games, there are two that stood out.
The first one is named Tang Ba in Chinese, and it's impressed with its flexible neck movements and a large display screen promoting Sichuan's cultural identity. and tourism sites.
And also this person, Tian Min, the center's brand director, shared that during the Chengdu World Games, Tang Ba joins human performers in cheerleading dances and can quickly transform into local cultural icons like giant pandas, like humanoid robots transforming into giant pandas.
That sounds like Sun Wukong stuff. But either way, we'll see what happens with that.
I think that's fun. And also for tomorrow's show, we have a special robot feature coming up.
So do stay tuned for that on tomorrow's show.
Well, for today's show, equally impressive is the environmental approach at the World Games.
The organizers prioritized reusing and renovating existing venues instead of building new ones that we mentioned, making this very sustainable organization.
So how has Chengdu incorporated eco-friendly strategies in hosting the games?
And why does this matter for global sporting events?
Well, some examples. One example would be the temporary structures from the 2024 ITTF Mixed Team World Cup.
Those facilities have been reused for kickboxing and Muay Thai.
And, of course, that reduces the need for new facilities for those sports, right?
So that's really good. They're reusing nearly 500 square meters of existing facilities there.
Some of the upgrades that they've done, they've prioritized those upgrades being environmentally friendly, using materials differently. that are environmentally friendly and also energy-efficient systems.
The components that they're using are reusable.
And the whole goal here is to cut carbon emissions and make sure that the venues remain useful after the Games.
And I think that's part of the answer to your question, why is it important, is... the facilities need to be able to be used for other things when the games are over because the games are only there for a very limited amount of time.
And yeah, also for the functions within the venues, the systems, lighting system and all the ventilation systems, they're trying to make it as green as possible one example would be one of chengdu's best known facilities which is the 50 year old chengdu north sports center that has been renovated to host three dance sport events that include standard latin and breaking so lee yuan yuan the head of the venue's dance sport competition operations said that the lighting system inside the venue uses energy-saving fixtures that consume far less than standard bulbs,
And she also adds that the venue now features permeable concrete paving to lower surface temperatures and also reduced reliance on air conditioning and help cut emissions.
So that's what they're doing. I like how they're incorporating the events into the city's green spaces too.
15 of the events are being held outdoors and several of those are set up in parks and and public waterways, and that kind of integrates the competitions into the city's park city development vision, which is one of Chengdu's visions for their future.
At one ecological park, that's where the flying disc events take place.
They put them in temporary tents. They've got stands and shelters there that are set up on the grass.
And then when the events are finished, all those structures will be dismantled.
And then the park will just go back to being in its original park state.
So that's a lot better for the environment.
You just create a temporary structure. You get the crowds there.
You get the athletes there. And when it's all done, just take it down.
And venue-wise, they're also following this trend of leasing instead of buying.
So at Chengdu Sports University, which hosts underwater sports, the life-saving and flying disc sustainability measures include leasing UPS power units. sound systems, shelters, and cable bridges to cut costs and emission from production and transport.
So they applied a venue-specific budgeting approach that's using what they can borrow, renting, instead of just buying when necessary.
So that's all something that they can do to reuse the facility or the system they're using for the World Game and just make sure that it can be reused next time.
Chengdu's re-renovate and reuse philosophy highlights how large-scale events can reduce their carbon footprint, proving that sustainability and world-class competition can go hand in hand.
And finally, the question for this topic. um the world games are sparking excitement and participation beyond the stadiums from community fun runs to new sports clubs popping up locals are embracing niche sports and an active lifestyle like never before how is the world games inspiring public participation and changing the sports culture in Chengdu?
Yeah. Well, one of the things that they're doing, which I think is really cool, is they're having free Wushu classes, right?
So they're bringing the sport to people's front doorstep, aren't they?
And, you know, people might have heard, I'm sure they've heard of Wushu before, of course, but have they tried it before?
For many people, the answer would be no.
I think that's a really, really cool area of kind of growth opportunity.
And then another growth opportunity, I think, is sports that maybe wouldn't have been popular in China, traditionally speaking.
For example, the NFL, the National Football League, that's American football, right?
Well, there, and I was really surprised and happy to learn about this. that it's been growing, the sport has been growing, flag football, which is you just tuck a flag into your shorts or into your pants on the side, and then that replaces the tackle.
In the NFL, you hit each other, but in flag football, there's no hitting.
Anyway, Chengdu, they now have over 20 football clubs there.
They have nearly 10,000 regular participants, and the popularity has surged.
And when you have events that are, represented in the World Games, those sports are represented to the people who live in the community there too.
And you might all of a sudden have a tremendous amount of growth in a sport that didn't exist before, that people didn't hear about before.
It's just such a cool thing. Yeah, and also for the local people, they are participating and they're just trying to become part of this whole event.
There are some reports saying that in Chengdu, in their local decathlete, Decathlon store, there are a lot of sports enthusiasts that's crowding up the brand's playground sports zone every weekend and holiday.
Also, the store's data shows that during the Changming Festival holiday this year, their roller skating equipment sales increased by 22% year on year, while frisbee gear sales jumped by 45%.
Also, in shopping centers, we're seeing sports enthusiasts trying out different new sports.
Some shopping centers in Chengdu held pickleball events, not only to draw large crowds for a hand-on experiences, but also just converting the huge traffic into just increased consumption waves.
Pickleballs. I've never played it myself, but it's popular.
Yeah, it's popular in the States. And I think it's popular a bit in Canada, too.
But for people in Chengdu, that might be a new thing that they're seeing for the first time.
And I was just thinking as well, you know, for the foreign athletes who come to China for this kind of event.
Would they have had a chance to take a free Wushu class before?
Probably not. So it's great for the athletes.
This cross-cultural opportunity is just, it's a really cool thing.
I'm jealous I'm not there. You know, my friend just moved to Chengdu days ago.
I texted him this morning. I said, are you going to any events?
He said, what are you talking about? I said, the World Games are where you are right now.
He said, oh, really? Really? I didn't know.
He moved there like days ago. He's so busy setting up his WeChat and internet and all these types of things he didn't even realize.
So he said he'll try to go catch some. Yeah.
And we're already seeing the ripple effect of the Chengdu World Games by bringing lesser known sports to the forefront.
It's helping build healthier communities and new markets, showing that sport is truly for everyone.
And all this excitement wouldn't happen without the local folks in Chengdu giving their all behind the scenes.
Big thanks to everyone there for making these games feel so special and welcoming.
