Military World Games torch comes to Wuhan
2019-10-17 08:30:48 China Daily/Xinhua Mo Hong'e
The 7th International Military Sports Council Military World Games Torch Relay is held in Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei province, Oct 16, 2019. （Photo/Xinhua）
The torch relay for the upcoming 7th Military World Games of the International Military Sports Council arrived at its last stop on Wednesday in Wuhan, Hubei province, where the 10-day Games will begin on Friday.
The flame was passed along by 100 torchbearers through the host city's iconic East Lake Greenway.
The flame will be used to light a cauldron at the Wuhan Sports Center, where the opening ceremony will take place.
Torchbearers Liu Wuqiao (R) and Balasooriya Balasooriya Weebaddage Gayashan Kanchana participate in the 7th International Military Sports Council Military World Games Torch Relay in Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei province, Oct 16, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]
The relay began with Liao Hui, a gold medalist weightlifter at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, taking the torch from Jiang Chaoliang, Party secretary of Hubei province. Chinese hammer throw champion Zhang Wenxiu, a three-time Olympic medalist, was the last to carry the torch.
The 100 torchbearers consisted of Olympic champions, Military World Games participants, researchers, experts, soldiers and foreign representatives from the military sports council's member states.
Ma Xu, 86, a former military medical worker and airborne soldier, ran the 98th leg of the relay. She was the day's oldest torchbearer. In 2018, Ma donated her life savings of 10 million yuan ($1.4 million) to support the educational and cultural development of her hometown in Heilongjiang province.
Herve Piccirillo (L), president of the International Military Sports Council, lights the torch during the 7th CISM Military World Games Torch Relay in Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei province, Oct 16, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]
The torch, which is 70 centimeters long and weighs 780 grams, represents peace, development and friendship, organizers said.
The torch-lighting ceremony for the Games was held in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, on Aug 1, which was the 92nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army. The Nanchang Uprising, led by the CPC, took place on Aug 1, 1927, and is remembered as the founding of the PLA.
A total of 2,019 torchbearers, including 70 foreigners, participated in the torch relay through 27 cities and 16 military sites across the country.
Torchbearer Liu Huixia participates in the 7th International Military Sports Council Military World Games Torch Relay in Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei province, Oct 16, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]
Over 10,000 athletes from more than 100 International Military Sports Council member states will take part in the Games. The Chinese delegation, the largest sports group at the Games, includes a record of 553 athletes selected from the Chinese military who will participate in all the events except golf.
Twenty-seven sports (including two demonstration events) will be contested at 35 venues across the city-the largest number of events in the Games' history, with badminton, table tennis, tennis and men's gymnastics all making their debuts this year.
Organizers have said the Games will be "green", so only a small number of the venues are new, with most being renovated or temporary facilities. All construction was completed in just 27 months, with many of the venues located at local universities, where the public will have use of the facilities to ensure the Games' legacy.
