Photo: Courtesy of Chengdu World Games organizers

Host city Chengdu in Southwest China's Sichuan Province launched a volunteer service program and unveiled materials for the award ceremony for the coming 12th World Games on Tuesday, which marked the 30-day countdown to the opening ceremony of the Games. 

Leveraging the legacy of the Chengdu World University Games, a total of 532 urban volunteer service stations have officially been put into operation across Chengdu. They will be staffed by nearly 10,000 volunteers, who will provide a range of services for domestic and international guests, athletes, residents, and tourists - including city promotion, event information, and everyday assistance, the organizers told the Global Times on Tuesday.  

Three volunteer representatives took to the stage during a launch ceremony on Tuesday, calling for the volunteers, who are fondly referred to as "Little Green Peppers," to turn the service stations across the city into welcoming windows that reflect Chengdu's warmth, friendliness and vibrant spirit.

One of the representatives, Wan Siyi, a student at Sichuan Agricultural University, told the Global Times on Tuesday that she has taken part in specialized training sessions on language, etiquette, and emergency response, enhancing her practical skills through simulation drills.

"As a volunteer for the 2023 Chengdu World University Games, I passed on the skills and spirit to the new team members of the World Games. We've worked out emergency response plans," said Wan.

Talking about international athletes experiencing local culture, Wan said that the Chengdu Research Base of ­Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu Du Fu Thatched Cottage and Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Museum are some of the destinations they can't miss. 

Meanwhile, materials related to the award ceremony, including souvenirs for winning athletes and the medal box, were unveiled on Tuesday. 

Inspired by face-changing art, an ancient Chinese dramatic art in Sichuan Opera, the souvenir is a double-sided, back-to-back pair of figurines that feature the mascots of the Games: "Shu Bao" (a panda) and "Jin Zai" (a golden snub-nosed monkey).

Zhang Siwei, the designer of the souvenirs, told the Global Times that the figurines serve as both a tribute and a heartfelt blessing to the medal winners.

Shu Bao and Jin Zai are dressed in traditional ­Sichuan Opera costumes featuring iconic elements such as pheasant feather ornaments and back flags. Their overall appearance conveys a sense of strength, agility, and valor - symbolizing power, resilience, and inclusiveness. This design echoes the unwavering spirit of athletes who strive, persevere, and never give up, said Zhang. 

The medal box was handcrafted using traditional bamboo weaving, a national intangible cultural heritage.

Yang Qingyun, designer of the medal box, told the Global Times that the box serves as a vessel for preserving intangible cultural heritage and embodying the spirit of modern sports. 

"Through this design, I hope to convey the heartfelt blessings of the people of Chengdu to athletes from around the world," Yang said. 

As of Tuesday, all 27 competition venues have been completed and are now in the final inspection phase. Of these, 18 are existing facilities with partially functional upgrades, while the remaining nine are temporary facilities built in parks and near lakes to help reduce expenses, according to organizers. 

Adopting a cost-conscious strategy, Chengdu 2025 will forgo building a dedicated athlete village. Instead, athletes will stay in hotels located close to their respective competition venues.

The games are set for August 7-17. This is the first time that the World Games will be held in the Chinese mainland, and it marks the second time that a major international multi-sport event will take place in Sichuan, following the Chengdu World University Games in 2023.

The Games will feature 34 sports and 60 disciplines with 256 medal events.