Photo: VCG
The 200-day countdown for The World Games (TWG) 2025 began on Sunday, with the event set to be held in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province from August 7 to 17. While emerging sports like drone racing are featured, culturally significant mascots and badges have become highly sought after.
The highest-level international multi-sport event featuring non-Olympic disciplines, TWG will be held in the Chinese mainland for the first time, according to the organizers.
"The World Games primarily featuring non-Olympic sports are cutting-edge, trendy with high participation, perfectly aligning with the sports interests of urban populations today," Zhu Ming, deputy director of the Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Sports, said at a press conference.
Drone racing will be one of the highlights of the 2025 Games. Athletes are required to wear special goggles that allow them to see through a front-facing camera on the drone. The competitors control the drones to navigate through obstacles and reach the finish line in the shortest time possible.
The drone racing event includes multiple consecutive races, typically with four radio-controlled model aircraft competing on the track. The video signals captured by the drones from the air provide both athletes and spectators with an immersive experience, according to the official website of TWG Chengdu.
The Games will feature 35 sports, 61 disciplines, and 254 medal events.
In addition to the sport events, the 2025 Games have already brought many culturally rich and interactive activities.
On Saturday, a flash mob event was held for TWG Chengdu, where the official mascots, the panda "Shubao" and the golden snub-nosed monkey "Jinzai," distributed Chengdu-themed cultural products to the public and joined them in a lively cheerleading session.
"Shubao and Jinzai dolls have been very popular. Many foreign tourists have said that these mascots are incredibly cute. Their designs perfectly reflect the local characteristics of Chengdu," said Gu, a representative from the Official Licensed Products Store of TWG Chengdu, told the Global Times on Sunday.
The mascots of TWG Chengdu are named after elements of Sichuan's local culture and one of China's four famous brocades, "Shu Brocade" (Shu is the ancient name of Sichuan). The giant panda, known for its clumsy yet endearing and honest nature, has been given the name "Bao" (meaning "treasure" in Chinese). The golden snub-nosed monkey, known for its agility, intelligence and bravery, has the name "Zai" (meaning "child" in Chinese), according to Xu Xingguo from TWG Chengdu.
"Since last August, more and more overseas visitors have come to Chengdu in advance to check out World Games-related sites," Gu noted.
"The most popular souvenirs among both domestic and international visitors are the '12 scenic badges,' which showcase 12 iconic landmarks in Chengdu and 35 World Games sports."
Gu said that the badge craftsmanship involved light gold plating, transparent glaze, and resin techniques, making them highly popular across all age groups and cultural backgrounds.
"The Chengdu World Games has captured the attention of international youth sports enthusiasts, with numerous overseas youth associations joining hands with us. By gifting them the 12 scenic badges, we are able to provide a meaningful keepsake that represents both Chengdu's rich cultural heritage and the spirit of global unity fostered by the Games, strengthening the bond between young athletes from around the world," she remarked.