The heart of the Games is beating. On Friday evening, The World Games Plaza — located on the grounds of the International Horticultural Exhibition — was officially opened. For the next eight days, TWG Plaza will be the place where sport, culture and friendship unite. It will be open daily from 12 p.m. until 10 p.m. with the main activities running from 6 p.m. on.
Representing the International World Games Association (IWGA), board member John Liljelund attended the Opening Ceremony. In his speech, he described the Plaza as “the gateway to discover the diversity and uniqueness of The World Games 2025.”
From the host city, Deputy Mayor and TWG 2025 Secretary General Xu Xingguo joined Chen Zhiyu, General Administrator of Sport of China, to inaugurate the Plaza. Mr Xu said: "When TWG torch flame meets the rich heritage of Tianfu culture, they give birth to this dynamic TWG Plaza we see now.”
"Young and old will meet here. It will build bridges between culture and sport, celebrate the best of The World Games, and give everyone the chance to try the sports for themselves. The Plaza is a meeting place for athletes and fans, for Chengdu residents, and for anyone who simply wants to enjoy a good time after a day of competition."
To ensure athletes can join in the celebrations, a regular shuttle service will run from both Athletes’ Villages. Visitors will also have the chance to meet top competitors from 112 countries and regions around the world.
TWG Plaza will showcase Chengdu’s rich cultural heritage — from its famously spicy flavours to its music and creative arts. There will be martial arts, traditional acrobatics and folk instrumental music imbued with Eastern aesthetics. And there is more: in The World Games Sports Garden, visitors can enjoy the TWG 2025 Display Programme. Guests can stroll among the exhibition stands or watch stage performances from ten showcased sports: Aikido, Archery, Casting, Floorball, Flying Disc, Karate, Muaythai, DanceSport and Triathlon.
Not all of these disciplines feature in the official competition programme, but each one is worth experiencing. This is what The World Games are all about — discovering the diversity of sports, sparking curiosity, and inspiring people to try new activities.
Each day at TWG Plaza will also feature the Athlete of the Day Ceremony, where the top performers of each competition day are celebrated with well-deserved applause — and a watch presented by TWG partner Tissot. The first to receive this honour were two times gold medallist in Lifesaving Nina Holt from Germany and Orienteering’s first gold medallist of the 12th edition of The World Games Riccardo Rancan from Switzerland.
John Liljelund summed it up perfectly:
"I warmly invite everyone — residents of Chengdu, visitors from across China, guests from around the world, and of course our athletes and participants — to explore, to participate, and to share the spirit of The World Games."