Xinhua Headlines: Wuhan Military World Games set to leave a rich legacy

Source: Xinhua| 2019-10-26 23:46:38|Editor: huaxia
Video PlayerClose


With the 7th Military World Games about to close, the "Olympics for military" is set to leave the host city and the world rich legacies.

By Xinhua writers Wu Zhi, Wang Meng

WUHAN, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- From world-class sporting facilities and improved infrastructure to a message of peace carried beyond matches and a new culture of volunteering, the legacy created by the 2019 Military World Games is evident as the top international multi-sports event for soldiers draws to a close in a day.

The 7th Military World Games will mark the history of military competitions and develop new practices in the future, said Herve Piccirillo, president of the International Military Sports Council (CISM) in an interview with Xinhua, lauding its material and spiritual legacies to the host city Wuhan and the world.

A view of the opening ceremony of the 7th International Military Sports Council (CISM) Military World Games in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Li Ga)

Much like the Olympics, the Military World Games have brought together military athletes from around the world every four years since the Games' inauguration in Rome in 1995 to celebrate the end of World War II. 2019 is the first time that China has hosted the Games.

The 2019 Games kicked off in the central Chinese city of Wuhan on Oct. 18 with a grand ceremony attended by President Xi Jinping, who said in a meeting with foreign military officers the same day that he hoped the power of sports would dispel the shadow of war and foster communications between different cultures.

BIG SPORTS EVENTS

"It feels like the Olympic Games, and the guys who have been to Olympics also said this," said Latvian athlete Laura Vike.

The 2019 Military World Games have the largest numbers of athletes and sports in history. Nearly 10,000 soldiers from 109 nations are competing for 329 gold medals in events from football, swimming, and basketball to parachuting, aeronautical and naval pentathlon.

Cheng Fengxuan (R) of China and Laureiro Luis Enrique Manrique of Spain compete during the men's individual obstacle race of naval pentathlon at the 7th CISM Military World Games in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Oct. 23, 2019. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

The size of the host city, as well as its diversified terrain and abundant water resources, made it possible for all the competitions to be held within one city, where 35 sports venues were built or renovated to meet international standards. A 30-building village was built to accommodate the athletes and coaches.

The Games are open to the public, instead of being limited to barracks. More than 600,000 tickets had been sold, according to the Games executive committee, with men's basketball, women's volleyball, swimming and diving having the highest demand.

Frankline Tonui (up, R) of the United States competes in the men's 3,000m steeplechase preliminary round at the 7th CISM Military World Games in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Oct. 22, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)

Eighty-two records of CISM affiliated events have been rewritten in the 2019 Games by the eighth day, said Piccirillo, largely thanks to the infrastructure, the mobilization of volunteers and the passion of the Chinese people that also set new records.

He said what has been done for the Wuhan Games will serve as an inspiration for future games.

MESSAGE OF PEACE

Italian archer Roberto Punzo, who had lost walking ability due to spinal cord injury in a United Nations peacekeeping mission in 2006, said that as a soldier with disability, he longed for peace more than anyone else and that soldiers are supposed to maintain peace, but not to bring wars.

"This is my understanding of the message carried by the Military World Games," he added.

Herve Piccirillo (L), president of the International Military Sports Council (CISM), lights the torch during the 7th CISM Military World Games Torch Relay in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Oct. 16, 2019. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Peace and friendship are the words that came to officials and athletes when they described this year's Games.

"It is an opportunity to pass messages of friendship and peace, which will be relayed in these 109 countries, even elsewhere," said Piccirillo. "So, there is an intangible heritage of values."

Piccirillo believes that the CISM made a wise and meaningful decision to choose China as the host of the 7th World Military Games in 2015. "We made the decision because of the great contribution that China had made to the peace of the world and the country's willingness to spread friendship through sports," he added.

"The Chinese soldiers have shown great strength and abilities through the medals that they won. Hopefully, China can make a greater contribution to world sports and world peace in the future," said CISM secretary-general Mamby Koita.

GLOBAL PROFILE

Located at the conjunction of the Yangtze and Han rivers in China's central heartland, Wuhan is using sports as a way to put itself on the global map.

Wuhan, traditionally known as the 'Oriental Chicago', played an important role in China's economic and cultural history due to its central location. Now the city of 10 million is becoming an economic powerhouse, thanks to its fast-growing automotive industry, high-tech industries and trade links.

Photo taken on Sept. 30, 2019 shows the light show in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi)

Economic and social progress has enabled Wuhan to host top-level global sports gatherings such as the Military World Games and the Wuhan Open, a WTA Premier 5 event, said Zhu Jianbin, chairman of the Wuhan Sports Development Investment Company.

He believes these sports events will, in turn, help Wuhan attract global attention and boost its internationalization drive.

Before the Military World Games opened, mayors of 15 cities worldwide had sent greetings and well wishes to Wuhan. Among them, Zsolt Borkai, mayor of Gyor, Hungary said: "As a former soldier and Olympic champion, I'm aware of what this event means for a city... and what kind of message it sends to the sports world and the athletes."

Pol. Gen. Aswin Kwanmuang, governor of Bangkok, said he was confident that the Military World Games would contribute to Wuhan's "strong status as a hub for international events and lively cultural scenes."

SUSTAINABILITY

Since taking the CISM flag from Mungyeong, South Korea in 2015, Wuhan has devoted great efforts to make sure the 2019 Military World Games would be a great success and provide a long-term legacy for local residents.

Sustainability is a core value that the Games executive committee has tried to embody. Most of the sports venues are located near residential areas or at universities and will be open to citizens and students after the Games.

Photo taken on Oct. 16, 2019 shows a view of the welcome center at the athletes' village of the 7th CISM Military World Games in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

It's good news for Lou Luchen, an amateur swimmer living in a northwest district of Wuhan with a population of 600,000, which until now, lacked modern sports facilities.

"In the past, I either spent a long time traveling to swimming pools in other districts or just swam in the Han river, which is quite dangerous in flood seasons," Lou said.

However, Lou and his friends will soon be able to jump into the water in the Five Rings Sports Center, a world-class arena near his home built for track and field, lifesaving and table tennis competitions at the Military World Games.

The Military World Games will also leave Wuhan with huge benefits from infrastructure improvements, new subway lines, and environmental upgrades. Over the past three years, the city renovated 1,300 kilometers of its urban roads and saw its metro network reach 330 kilometers in total length. Meanwhile, a total of 360,000 trees were planted.

A view of the athletes' village of the 7th CISM Military World Games in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi)

Thanks to the Games, Wuhan has over 1.45 million registered volunteers now, which means there is one volunteer for every eight citizens.

All these facilities and assets are expected to provide Wuhan with a big edge for its bid for more international sports events.

"We also have about 20 military world championships a year, so we hope to come back in Wuhan for our military world championships," said Koita.

(Xinhua reporters Yu Pei and Yue Wenwan also contributed to the story.)

KEY WORDS:
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011100001385056901
大发彩票 大发app 凤凰彩票app 乐发iv游戏平台 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发彩票 乐发彩票app下载 大发彩票 乐发v官网 乐发lll 乐发lv入口 乐发iv首页 乐发ll登录 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发官网 乐发ii下载入口 乐发ll 乐发v平台 乐发v官网 乐发lll 乐发lv入口 乐发iv首页 乐发ll登录 乐发lv 乐发lll安装 乐发lv 乐发登录入口 乐发iv游戏平台 凤凰彩票登录 网信彩票 彩神 彩神彩票官方网站 彩神彩票官网首页 彩神官方app下载安卓版 凤凰彩票登录 彩神v3 凤凰彩票app下载 彩神官方app下载安卓版 网信快三 一分快3 快三彩票购彩平台 凤凰彩票官方 快3官网 网信彩票 快3app 网信彩票平台 百姓彩票平台 网信平台官网 快3app下载 百姓彩票 每日彩票 快3app 百姓彩票 每日彩票 快3app 百姓彩票平台 幸运5分彩快3 快3彩票app下载 百姓彩票网站网址 大发10分PK10 快3下载 网信彩票平台 网信平台官网 快3彩票官网app 凤凰彩票官方 彩神彩票 大发10分PK10 彩神v3 大发彩票app下载 百姓彩票网站网址 彩神购彩平台 每日彩票 官方正规快三彩票平台 彩神彩票购彩平台 百姓彩票 凤凰彩票购彩平台 凤凰彩票app下载 彩神官方app下载安卓版 网信快三 一分快3 快三彩票购彩平台 凤凰彩票官方 彩神彩票 大发10分PK10 彩神v3 凤凰彩票登录 乐发lv 乐发∨Il 百姓彩票网站网址 乐发彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 乐发lll安装 百姓彩票网站网址 凤凰彩票app下载 大发10分PK10 乐发2 乐发app 凤凰彩票 大发彩票app 乐发登录入口 乐发ll登录 乐发v官网 乐发官网 大发彩票app下载 凤凰彩票购彩平台 彩神彩票 官方正规快三彩票平台 一分快3 百姓彩票网站网址 凤凰彩票app下载 大发10分PK10 乐发2 乐发app 凤凰彩票 大发彩票app 乐发登录入口 乐发ll登录 乐发v官网 乐发官网 大发彩票app下载 凤凰彩票购彩平台 彩神彩票 官方正规快三彩票平台 1分快三平台 百姓彩票平台 凤凰彩票登录 幸运5分彩快3 彩神 乐发彩票 乐发 大发彩票 乐发iv游戏平台 乐发lv 乐发lll 乐发ii下载入口 乐发彩票官方网站 凤凰彩票官方网站 凤凰快3 彩神彩票官网首页 1分快三平台 百姓彩票平台 凤凰彩票登录 幸运5分彩快3 彩神 乐发彩票 乐发 大发彩票 乐发iv游戏平台 乐发lv 凤凰彩票app 乐发app 网信彩票平台 网信彩票平台 乐发iv游戏平台 凤凰彩票app 乐发lv 乐发彩票app下载 凤凰彩票app 网信彩票平台 乐发彩票app下载 乐发lv 乐发app 大发彩票安卓下载 大发彩票安卓下载 大发彩票 乐发彩票app下载 网信彩票平台 乐发iv游戏平台 彩神彩票 乐发彩票中心 极速快3彩票平台 人人快三凤凰 大发彩票app 大发彩票大全 乐发彩票 彩神彩票官方网站 乐发app 酷天堂彩票平台 凤凰彩票app下载 凤凰彩票大厅 凤凰彩票app 极速快3彩票平台 凤凰彩票 凤凰快3 乐发ll官网 乐发彩票中心 正规快三送彩金平台 凤凰彩票官方 乐发ll 乐发 网信彩票 彩神彩票 彩神彩票官方网站 大发彩票app 网信彩票用户 百姓快三 百姓彩票平台 乐发lv 乐发彩票app下载 彩信平台 网信彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 乐发∨Il 人人快三凤凰 凤凰彩票 凤凰快3 乐发ll官网 乐发彩票中心 正规快三送彩金平台 凤凰彩票官方 乐发ll 乐发 网信彩票 彩神彩票 彩神彩票官方网站 人人快三凤凰 乐发彩票 彩神彩票 乐发iv游戏平台 乐发彩票 大发彩票中心 凤凰彩票登录 凤凰彩票app 彩神彩票 大发彩票 乐发ll 大发彩票app 凤凰快3 凤凰彩票 彩神彩票 乐发ll 凤凰彩票 乐发lll 凤凰彩票大厅 网信彩票 彩神彩票 乐发lv 快盈彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 盈彩网投资平台 大发官网 一分时时彩 乐发lv 快3平台 凤凰快3 乐发ll 全民彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 百姓彩票 乐发彩票 大发彩票 极速快3 乐发app 大发官网 乐发lll 快3平台 凤凰快3 乐发ll 全民彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 百姓彩票 乐发彩票 大发彩票 极速快3 乐发app 彩神iv 大发彩票app 大小单双平台 一分pk10 乐发lv 快盈彩票 乐发官网 快彩彩票 百姓彩票 凤凰彩票大厅 网信彩票 乐发彩票中心 网信快3 乐发 彩神xl 三分快3 大发彩票 大发官网 乐发lll 快3平台 凤凰快3 乐发ll 全民彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 百姓彩票 乐发彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 大发彩票 乐发 分分快3 彩神vl 55世纪 55世纪 凤凰快3 乐发彩票 乐发lv welcome凤凰彩票 乐发ll 1分快3 彩神 彩神ll 1分快3官网 1分快3的平台 welcome凤凰彩票 三分快3 彩神x 彩神vl 凤凰彩票 彩神xl 大发彩票 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发官网 乐发ll 乐发lll 乐发lv 大发彩票app 大发彩票 乐发 乐发彩票 乐发彩票中心 凤凰快3 乐发彩票 彩神xl 腾讯快3 大发彩票 彩神xl 大发彩票 乐发彩票 大发彩票app 快3平台 乐发 1分快3 乐发彩票 彩神x 凤凰快3 彩神xl 彩吧助手 大发彩票app 快3平台 大发排列3 彩神iv 彩神vl 乐发IV 彩神x 一分pk10 大发排列3 乐发lv 快3彩票 乐发app下载 三分快3 快三平台助手 乐发彩票ll 彩神iv 乐发lll下载 盈彩网投资平台 乐发Ⅲ 一分pk10 凤凰彩票 乐发Vll 大发官网 乐发ll 大发彩票 乐发1 凤凰快3 彩神vl 乐发lx 百姓彩票 乐发VI 彩神x 乐发IV 极速快3 乐发 凤凰快3 网信快3 乐发lv 快3彩票 乐发app下载 三分快3 快三平台助手 乐发彩票ll 彩神iv 乐发lll下载 盈彩网投资平台 乐发Ⅲ 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发lv 乐发lv 乐发lv 凤凰彩票 大发彩票 大发彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 凤凰彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 乐发ll 凤凰彩票app下载 凤凰彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 乐发ll 凤凰彩票app下载 凤凰彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 彩神x 乐发 乐发ll 极速快3 乐发lv 乐发彩票中心 快3彩票 凤凰彩票大厅 彩神x 凤凰彩票app 分分快3 网信彩票 网盟彩票 凤凰彩票 百姓彩票 乐发 快彩彩票 乐发彩票 快3平台 百姓彩票 大小单双平台 凤凰快3 彩神xl 一分pk10 乐发lv 三分快3 大发彩票 乐发彩票 快3平台 百姓彩票 大小单双平台 凤凰快3 彩神xl 一分pk10 乐发lv 三分快3 大发彩票 极速快3 乐发ll 网信彩票 乐发lv 全民彩票 凤凰彩票app下载 快盈彩票 大发彩票app 大发官网 凤凰彩票 彩神iv 大发彩票 网信快3 凤凰彩票 百姓彩票