On November 12, “Home in Chengdu, Gather for Joy” Fun Sports Games Autumn 2022 Chengdu was held in Sichuan Tourism University. It aimed to promote the exchanges of foreign consulates in Chengdu, build a branded international friendly exchange platform, enrich people’s spare time, create a healthy urban atmosphere, enhance understanding and friendship, and strengthen exchanges and communications. The sports meeting was co-organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of Chengdu Municipal People’s Government, the Municipal Committee of Urban and Rural Community Development and Governance, Sichuan Tourism University, the Technology Bureau of Chengdu, the Sports Bureau of Chengdu, and the People’s Government of Longquanyi District.

Tan Chee King, consul general of Singapore in Chengdu, Adelle Neary, consul general of Australia in Chengdu, Silke Röfer, consul general of Germany in Chengdu, Ms.Woramon Sinsuwan, acting consul general of Thailand in Chengdu, Laurent Morel, deputy consul general of France in Chengdu, and Martin Ebneter, deputy consul general of Swiss in Chengdu as well as more than 40 consular representatives and their families from Singapore, Nepal, Poland, Pakistan, Spain and other countries participated in the fun sports games. They gathered in Sichuan Tourism University with Chinese and foreign residents from international communities, foreign talents, Hongkong and Macao representatives, and foreign affairs representatives from Sichuan Province, Chengdu City, Meishan City, and Ziyang City, nearly 200 Chinese and foreign guests talking about their happy life in Chengdu.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, Jiang Bin, director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Chengdu Municipal People’s Government, welcomed the officials and friends of foreign consulates in Chengdu who came to participate in the sports games. He pointed out that sports could promote health and connect civilizations, and he hoped that people could enhance exchanges and friendship, have fun in sports, and carry out more innovative international exchanges.

Adelle Neary, consul general of Australia in Chengdu, delivered a speech on behalf of the diplomatic corps in Chengdu. She expressed her appreciation for the fun sports meeting and spoke highly its importance of enhancing understanding and friendship as well as strengthening exchanges and communication.

The sports meeting has three collective events including relay race, dry land dragon boat race, and tug of war, and two individual events including table tennis and rope skipping. Five teams, including the consuls general team, the foreign talents team, the international community residents team, the foreign affairs representatives team, the Hongkong and Macao representatives team, engaged in friendly and fierce competition on the sports field. The wonderful games drew bursts of cheers, and the atmosphere was cheerful and warm. After the competition, Lu Yi, president of Sichuan Tourism University, and Chen Yunchuan, vice president of Sichuan Tourism University, presented awards to the winning athletes and winning teams.

The trend market with the theme of “Home in Chengdu” opened all day, and it created an autumn atmosphere and camping scene. The theme market covered “Epitome of Chengdu, Picturesque Chongzhou”, “Dayi, a Town under Snow Mountains”, “Chengdu Communities”, etc., introducing the local cultural and tourism resources and industrial features of 17 districts (cities) and counties, including Wuhou District, Qingbaijiang District, Pengzhou City, Wenjiang District, Dujiangyan City, etc. After the competition, the guests formed teams to experience frisbee, flag football, rock climbing and other events of FISU World University Games. By participating in fun sports games and visiting markets, the guests felt the popular sports fashion and the harmonious atmosphere of Chinese and foreign residents in Chengdu, further strengthen their sense of identity and belonging of “Home in Chengdu” and enhance friendship between Chinese and foreigners.

After the sports meeting, the representatives of consulates general in Chengdu visited the Sichuan Tourism University and the Mountain Tourism Research Institute to explore the development of the university and its international cooperation. Besides, they watched the on-site cooking of a Sichuan cuisine chef, tasted dishes blending of Chinese and Western features, and made Gongbao Diced Chicken under the guidance of the chef. As a result, they further deepened their knowledge of Sichuan cuisine and enriched their life in Chengdu.