Changchun Holds Torch Lighting Ceremony for 2027 Winter Universiade

The executive committee of the Changchun 2027 Winter Universiade held the official torch lighting ceremony at the University of Turin, Italy, last Thursday to count down to hosting the grand 33rd Winter Universiade. This global sports event is scheduled to take place in Jilin Province, People's Republic of China, in January 2027. Holding the ceremony in Turin honours the birthplace of the first Summer Universiade and the permanent home of the Flame of Knowledge.

Flame of Knowledge Handover Ceremony

The ceremony was graced by the Mayor of Changchun and the President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), who officially lit the cauldron together. The flame was taken from the torch of the inaugural games in 1959 before being passed to the official games lantern to be transported back to the host country. The event also featured promotional video screenings, the playing of both countries' national anthems, and Chinese cultural performances blending the beauty of northern winter landscapes, aimed at fostering cultural exchange and building friendship between youth from the East and West.

Following the ceremony, the flame relay procession travelled past several major landmarks in Turin for residents and tourists to celebrate. The route started from the Egyptian Museum, passed through the Murazzi del Po tourist area, and ended at the historic Castello del Valentino, home to the Politecnico di Torino. The lantern containing the flame is securely stored and will arrive in Changchun on 14 October in preparation for the host city's official welcome ceremony.

Host City Readiness and New Sports

Changchun and Jilin City are preparing to jointly host a total of 97 ice and snow events across 12 sports. This edition of the games includes a new sport, winter cross country, which is part of the sporting event for the first time. The organisers are currently accelerating preparations, including the construction and renovation of competition venues, site management systems, and the development of various services to accommodate athletes and delegates from around the world.

These games mark the People's Republic of China's return to hosting a global event since Harbin hosted the same competition in 2009. The executive committee is confident that the Changchun 2027 games will be grand and feature a record number of participating athlete delegations, which will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on attendees and spectators from around the world.

News of this national-level preparation is of great interest to international event organisers and professionals, as well as tourism and hotel operators, as it provides an important opportunity to study the management of large-scale global sporting events. Furthermore, the host cities can develop their infrastructure to become a new destination for tourists who enjoy winter sports and leisure in the future.