13th Hunan Provincial University Games Kick Off at HNUST

On September 2, the 13th Hunan Provincial University Games officially opened at Hunan University of Science and Technology (HNUST). Organized by the Department of Education of Hunan Province and hosted by HNUST, this year’s Games bring together student athletes from across the province. Liu Yang, Vice Governor of Hunan Province, attended the opening ceremony and officially declared the Games open.

The ceremony featured a dramatic arts showcase themed “Passing the Flame, Pursuing Dreams: From the Xiangjiang River to the Starry Sea.” Divided into four chapters: “Braving Storms, Kindling the Spark,” “Riding the Tide, Forging Ahead,” “Splendor of Hunan, A Race of a Thousand Sails,” and “Integrating Sports and Academics, Embracing an Innovative Future”, the performance blended dance, theater, and athletic demonstrations to celebrate Hunan’s rich heritage and the vibrant spirit of modern youth.

Guided by the theme “Passing the Torch, Inspiring the Youth to Soar,” this year’s Games feature 14 competitive events, including track and field, swimming, and basketball. Student athletes will compete across three main categories: the University Division, College Division, and Vocational Division.

This year marks a record-breaking scale for the Games, drawing 9,239 athletes alongside 2,786 coaches and support staff representing 810 teams from 123 colleges and universities across Hunan. In tandem with the athletic competitions, HNUST will also host several academic and cultural events, including the Hunan Provincial University Sports Science Conference, providing a platform for scholarly exchange in athletics and sports science.

(Translated by JIANG Xuemei and DU Ying)