World Games end in Chengdu with colourful ceremony, China top of medals table
Ceremony’s themes of sustainability, region’s cultural uniqueness round off 10 action-packed days that produced Hong Kong’s best medal haul
China brought down the curtain on the 12th World Games on Sunday as a colourful closing ceremony concluded 10 action-packed days in Chengdu.
The four-yearly jamboree – comprising disciplines not included in the Olympics – had drawn 5,000 athletes from 110 countries and regions to the southwest Chinese city to compete in 34 sports ranging from familiar Games fare to the likes of powerboating and cheerleading.
Sunday night’s ceremony began at 8pm local time and took place at the International Horticultural Exhibition Park, exemplifying the event’s commitment to sustainability.
It featured a gala performance showcasing four acts of Chinese dance, highlighting the unique cultural inclusiveness of the Ba-Shu region, of which Chengdu is a part.
After the last of the 256 events on Sunday, China finished top of the medals table with 36 golds, 17 silvers and 11 bronzes – their best-ever showing – ahead of Germany with 17, 14 and 14 respectively, while Ukraine were third on 16-14-14.
Hong Kong’s athletes also recorded their best-ever performance, with three golds, two silvers and one bronze, beating the five medals won in 2022.