Published : 2025-08-10
On August 10, 1982, the first National College Games of China opened in Beijing.
The Capital Stadium, which has 18,000 seats, was packed to capacity that day. To the sound of the March of the Athletes, a guiding team consisting of 30 female university students entered the venue, followed by athlete representatives from 29 provinces, cities, and autonomous regions, representing 15 ethnic groups.
The athletes participating in these games came from 704 colleges and universities across China, totalling 2,255 people, who competed in four events: track and field, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, and table tennis.
The competitions in the first National College Games were divided into three groups: Group A for sports institutes, participating in men's and women's track and field, men's and women's artistic gymnastics, and women's rhythmic gymnastics;
Group B for physical education departments (and sections) of higher normal schools (including comprehensive universities), participating in men's and women's track and field, men's and women's artistic gymnastics, and women's rhythmic gymnastics;
Group C for general higher education schools, participating in men's and women's track and field, and men's and women's table tennis.
In this National College Games, a total of two athletes reached the national athlete master standard, 106 athletes reached the first-level standard, and 1,049 athletes reached the second-level standard.
The National College Games is jointly organised by the Ministry of Education, the State Sports General Administration, and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League (CYL).
It is hosted by different provincial and municipal people's governments in different sessions and is referred to as the "Universiade," held every four years.
Since its inception, the National Universiade has always adhered to the purpose of "unity, progress, civilisation, nurturing," and the principle of "highlighting educational characteristics, aiming for comprehensive benefits."
