On July 28, the 31st FISU World University Games opened at the main stadium of Donganhu Sports Park in Chengdu. The memories of lighting the main torch tower remain fresh- 31 torchbearers jointly lit the "Sunbird" plate, which then was shining, circling up, and igniting the sky fireworks that symbolize the 12 inner rays of the "Sunbird". The transmitted fireworks finally ignited the main torch tower outside the stadium.
Giordano Tudino (Chinese name: Su Yunzhe), an Italian student from the Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE), participated in this splendid moment as one of the 31 torchbearers.
In early July, Giordano suddenly received a phone call from the Executive Committee of the Chengdu FISU World University Games, informing him to participate in an important ceremony of the opening ceremony of the FISU Games. After the university's initial recommendation and several rounds of selection, Giordano was recommended to participate in the FISU Games opening ceremony as an international student representative. But he did not know he would become one of the 31 torchbearers to light the main torch tower. Until the opening ceremony rehearsal, Giordano was confirmed as the torchbearer of the torch tower lighting ceremony. He was thrilled, immediately sharing the exciting news with his family in Italy. In 1959, Italy hosted the first Summer Universiade in the world and hosted more editions of the Games than any other country. In the summer of 2023, Giordano, as the representative of Italian students in Chengdu, lit the torch tower of the Chengdu FISU Games with torchbearers from all over the world. Giordano and his family believe this is a special bond between China and Italy, between Giordano and Chengdu, and they feel sincerely happy and proud.
"To be a torchbearer for the opening ceremony of the FISU Games is an exceptional and unforgettable experience. I am very honored and feel a great sense of responsibility. I never thought I could stand on the center stage of a world-class sports event and participate in the magnificent lighting ceremony. When lighting the main torch tower at the opening ceremony, I was excited and nervous, and the feeling was just fantastic. I am grateful for this precious opportunity and this special honor to represent SWUFE, Chengdu, and other university students worldwide to ignite the flame of the FISU Games."
Giordano recently received his bachelor's degree from SWUFE and will further his studies at this university. Back in high school, Giordano had lived and studied in Shijiazhuang and Nanjing as an exchange student for two years. In 2019, he chose to study at SWUFE to renew his bond with China. People who ever meet Giordano for the first time are invariably amazed by his fluent and authentic Mandarin. The young Italian has always worked hard to make progress. As a recipient of the "Belt and Road" International Student Scholarship of SWUFE, Giordano has made significant accomplishments in academic competitions, social practice, literary and artistic activities, etc. During his time at SWUFE, he won the third prize in the National English Competition for College Students, the first prize in the Seventh National Academic English Vocabulary Competition, the first prize in the Sixth National College Business English Competition, and the third prize in the Chinese Bridge "One-minute Recommendation Talent Show" Competition... He participated in the video shooting of "Sichuan Buzzwords in the Eyes of Foreigners" and "International Chinese Day -- the Beauty of Chinese Characters". He was selected to participate in the "Understanding China-Global Young Leaders Program". He completed the research project on Digital Economic Circle in the Chengdu-Chongqing area with Chinese and foreign participants. As a representative of international students, Giordano participated in the opening ceremony of the "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Learning Interactive Experience Area co-sponsored by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation(CLEC) of the Ministry of Education, the Federation of University Sports of China(FUSC), and Chengdu University.
To gain an in-depth understanding of the history of the Chinese revolution and the current practice of rural revitalization in China, Giordano, as the only international student leader in the social practice project, led the “WE CAN” team to Jinping town and Lizhuang village of Yibin city, Sichuan Province in 2022, experiencing the folk customs and traditional culture related to the revolution history, learning the development of rural industries, promoting relevant safety knowledge, and organizing local primary school students to learn English. He went to the remote area of the countryside and understood China in a way that was different than others. By doing this, to a certain extent, he contributed to the rural revitalization strategy and fulfilled his responsibility as a SWUFE student in the new era.
Chengdu Makes Dreams Come True - this is the slogan of the 31st FISU Games, and it also manifests Giordano's study and life in Chengdu. Giordano said affectionately that as an international student at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, the spirit of "striving for the wellbeing of the people and the society" has always inspired him. He will do his best to share his Chinese stories, Sichuan stories, and SWUFE stories with more people, striving to be a good SWUFE ambassador to promote cultural exchanges between China and other countries and seek to write a new chapter of building a community with a shared future for mankind!
