World Games' venues highlight sustainability with reused facilities, materials

Preparations for the 12th World Games are highlighting a strong commitment to sustainability, with efforts focused on repurposing existing venues and materials into world-class competition spaces.

The Games will be held in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, from August 7 to 17, with preparations grounded in the principles of simplicity, safety, and excellence in organizing sporting events.

They will feature 34 major events, 60 sub-events, and 255 minor events. A total of 27 competition venues have been arranged across eight zones in Chengdu. Among the competition venues, 18 are existing facilities that have been adapted for the Games, while nine are temporary structures built within park environments.

Working groups have adhered to the principle of "borrowing over renting, renting over buying" to reduce equipment procurement costs, underscoring the event's eco-friendly approach.

"We are preparing for various events with a focus on safety and simplicity. The area where we are currently located will serve as a functional zone during the World Games. The houses are primarily built using materials sourced from the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Mixed Team World Cup 2024. We have reused these buildings, with a total reused area of nearly 500 square meters," said Li Hui, deputy director of media operations at the Sichuan Gymnasium Venue Center.

After the World Games, the competition venues will be reused and opened to the public, aiming to play a significant role in hosting events and promoting sports development.

With preparations nearing completion, Chengdu is set to welcome the world with a spirit of openness, sustainability, and innovation as the 12th World Games approach.

The legitimate rights of the Palestinian people must be respected and protected, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday.

Mao made the remarks in response to a media query about the reports that the Israeli parliament recently adopted a new law introducing death penalty for Palestinians, and countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have expressed strong condemnation, saying such practice is "entrenching a system of apartheid."

"All legislation must conform to legal principles such as the principle of legality, fairness and justice, and must not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, nationality or political view. The legitimate rights of the Palestinian people must be respected and protected. Relevant party’s actions that escalate tensions and exacerbate confrontation must stop," said Mao.