Jose Perurena Lopez, President of the IWGA, praised the organizers' thorough preparations and emphasized that the event in Chengdu will be a worthy celebration of international sport. The games were officially opened by Chinese State Councilor Sen Jicsin at the packed Tianfu International Convention Center. The chosen venue was also unconventional, as the organizers broke with the tradition of stadium openings.
Hungary was represented at the ceremony by five-time World Games champion fin swimmer Petra Senánszky and world championship silver medalist canoeist Dávid Korisánszky as flag bearers. Senánszky arrived in good form, aiming to defend her title in two individual events, while Korisánszky is competing as a member of the dragon boat team.
At the 12th World Games, 72 Hungarian athletes are competing in 19 sports until next Sunday.
The program includes 34 sports, 60 disciplines and 256 events, with more than 5,000 athletes from more than 110 countries arriving in the capital of Sichuan Province.
