Chen Hong

SHENZHEN - University students across the world have shown so much interest in the upcoming 26th Summer Universiade in this southern Chinese city that the number of participants is expected to hit a new record.

The United Kingdom will send a team of 230 members, including 140 student athletes, the biggest-ever delegation, to Shenzhen to attend the international university sports games this August, said Graeme Maw, head of the UK delegation.

China has been a hot destination for British university students after the great success of the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, said Maw.

As well, the prevailing sports frenzy in London, the host city for the 2012 Olympic Games, has prompted more student athletes to attend the games in Shenzhen.

"It will be a fantastic experience for them as Shenzhen has prepared well for the games," Maw told China Daily, noting that the expected scorching, humid summer in this tropical city would not dampen the athletes' enthusiasm.

Maw, with representatives from another 51 delegations, arrived in Shenzhen to attend this week's three-day heads of delegation meeting for the 26th Summer Universiade.

According to the organizing committee, all 22 new venues will be ready and operating by the end of this month.

Huang Guoqiang, deputy director of the organizing committee's executive office, said his organization had sent letters of invitation to more than 201 countries and regions, of which 118 have confirmed their participation.

The organizing committee estimated that 13,000 athletes and officials from more than 180 countries and regions would attend the games, the highest number in the history of the event.

Also contributing to the increased size of the event is the fact that the Shenzhen Universiade has set up a record 24 sports categories, including 306 events.

In response to concerns about the environment, food and drinking water, Huang stressed that the organizing committee would strictly supervise the production, processing and logistics of the food supplied to the games to ensure its quality.

Source: China Daily