BANGKOK, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) — Thai Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn declared open the 24th World University Games at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok on Wednesday night.
The holding of the Universiade is also an integral part of the Thai King’s 80th birthday celebration.
About 12,000 athletes and officials from 158 countries and regions took part in the last international multi-sport games before the Beijing Olympic Games. All the athletes are university or college students aged from 18-28.
A total of 326 gold medals are up for grab from 15 sports comprising athletics (track and field, 20km walk, half marathon), aquatic sports (swimming, diving, water polo), basketball, fencing, soccer, gymnastics (artistic and rhythmic), judo, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, golf, softball, badminton, shooting and taekwondo.
The first gold medal will be produced from women’s 20km walk on Thursday morning.
China, who collected 21 gold medals at last Universiade in Izmir, Turkey, has sent a 445-member delegation to Bangkok. They will compete in 13 sports and set the goal of taking no less than 21 gold medals here.