Preparations underway for unique opening ceremony of 12th World Games

With just 30 days remaining until the 12th World Games open in southwest China's Chengdu City on August 7, organizers are putting the finishing touches to what may be one of the most innovative opening ceremony venues in the event's history.

The ceremony will unfold within the spectacular Tianfu Eaves -- Asia's largest wooden structure that perfectly embodies Chengdu's fusion of urban development and natural beauty.

The Tianfu Eaves, located in Chengdu's Tianfu New Area, is a stunning 430-meter-long, 32-meter-high wooden structure with a 16-meter span, making it the largest single wooden building in Asia. Rather than building temporary structures, organizers have transformed this existing architectural marvel into the centerpiece of the Games' opening festivities.

"The Tianfu Eaves structure wasn't built specifically for the World Games -- it's an inherent part of our cityscape. This embodies our 'simplicity' principle: utilizing existing spaces and facilities to organically integrate urban landscapes and citizens' daily lives into this mega event," said Qiao Wei, chief scriptwriter for the Games' opening and closing ceremonies.

The ceremony venue boasts cutting-edge technology, featuring two massive "Dou Ping" (bucket-shaped) LED screens as key highlights. These screens utilize the latest high-brightness, high-resolution display technology, with their angles and positions precisely calculated to ensure unobstructed views for all spectators, no matter where they are seated.

"Some spectators will not seat in traditional stands at all -- they will be sitting right on the grassy lawn, experiencing the Games together in this completely outdoor setting. I think this truly captures Chengdu's distinctive local character," said Huang Peiling, deputy director of the opening and closing ceremonies.

Staying true to Chengdu's "Park City" ecological concept and the principle of "frugal event hosting," the opening ceremony will maximize existing urban spaces. Audiences will not only enjoy Chengdu's unique scenery but also immerse themselves in spectacular performances, experiencing the perfect fusion of sports, nature and culture.

"What we try to present is a multi-dimensional Chengdu -- a Chengdu that transitions seamlessly between day and night. This truly exemplifies the distinctive character of holding an opening ceremony in an authentic, real-world setting," said Qiao.

The World Games features a range of niche sports and activities, including snooker, wakeboarding, cheerleading and lacrosse, which are not represented at the Olympic Games.

Preparations underway for unique opening ceremony of 12th World Games

Officials from the European Union (EU) and Finland have voiced concerns after the White House said it has been discussing "a range of options" to acquire Greenland, including the use of the military.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told a press briefing in Cairo on Thursday that the message from the U.S. is "extremely concerning," and "not really helping the stability of the world."

Kallas called on all parties to stick to international law, adding that relevant response measures has been discussed among EU members.

"The international law is very clear, and we have to stick to it. It is clear that it is the only thing that protects smaller countries, and that is why it is in the interest of all of us. And we discussed this today, as well, that we uphold the international law on all levels," she said.

Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen on Thursday described recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump and members of his administration on Greenland as "worrying," while reiterating Finland's support for Denmark and Greenland's right to self-determination.

"Finland and the other Nordic countries have exceptional expertise in Arctic conditions, and we are happy to make use of that together with our North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies to strengthen Arctic security, but it cannot be done by threatening allies," she said at a press conference at Finnish parliament after an extraordinary meeting of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee.

Johannes Koskinen, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said it was "unprecedented" for threats of violence to be made within NATO against another member in connection with seizing territory, adding that such threats run counter to the United Nations Charter and that their inconsistency with international law should be underscored at all levels.

EU, Finnish officials express concerns over US remarks on Greenland