Debut World Games torch unveiled in host city of Chengdu

Agency :

With 161 days to go before the opening of the 2025 Chengdu World Games, organisers on Thursday unveiled the event’s official torch – the first in the competition’s history – in the host city of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province of China.
The World Games, organized by the International World Games Association (IWGA), is a multi-sport event held every four years in the year following the Summer Olympics. It primarily features competitions not seen in the Olympic Games, including American football and flying disc.
IWGA President Jose Perurena said in a video address that the unveiling of the torch marks a milestone for the event and is significant for both Chengdu and the broader World Games community.
For the first time, the Games will feature a torch relay, Perurena said, highlighting the monuments, landscapes and cultural heritage of Sichuan.
“A torch is more than just a flame. It symbolizes passion, peace, unity and excellence,” he said, adding that the torch’s design would inspire athletes and the youth of Chengdu.
The torch, named Zhumeng, meaning “chasing dreams”, incorporates elements of Sichuan’s cultural heritage and natural beauty. Organisers said its design represents unity, innovation and the spirit of sportsmanship.
The torch’s overall shape draws inspiration from bamboo, which is native to Sichuan, and the Grand Bronze Standing Figure unearthed at the Sanxingdui archaeological site, officials said. The top of the torch resembles a tender bamboo shoot with two buds extending outward, symbolizing China’s openness to the world, according to Feng Benyuan, one of the lead designers.