Urumqi, the administrative center of China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, has become a hub of international sport as the second Guest Indoor Athletics Competition kicked off this week. The two-day event has brought together around 800 athletes from Central Asian countries and Xinjiang, highlighting the growing role of sport in regional cooperation, DKNews.kz reports.
According to chinanews.com.cn, the competition is being held in a full international format and features a wide-ranging program designed to engage both elite and emerging athletes.
Nearly 70 events across three age groups
Men and women compete separately in three age categories:
- seniors,
- youth,
- juniors.
The program includes about 70 athletics disciplines, ranging from sprints and middle- and long-distance races to hurdles, long jump, triple jump and shot put. Such a broad lineup allows experienced competitors to test their form while giving younger athletes valuable exposure to international competition.
More than competition: a platform for exchange
Alongside the races, organizers also set up a joint training camp for athletes from Central Asian countries. The camp serves as a practical platform for exchanging training methods, discussing athletic skills and building professional ties between athletes and coaches from China and neighboring states.
Sports experts note that these combined formats are especially beneficial for young competitors, who gain both competitive experience and learning opportunities through direct interaction with their peers.
Focus on youth and long-term cooperation
Chen Jun, head of the Ergun Sports Training Center under the Xinjiang sports authority, emphasized that the importance of the event goes beyond medals and rankings.
“We hope that hosting such international sporting events will help deepen cooperation between China and Central Asian countries in physical education and sports, and in doing so promote the development of athletics, especially among youth and adolescents,” he said.
Sport as a bridge between regions
As humanitarian and youth exchanges between China and Central Asia continue to expand, sport is increasingly emerging as a shared language of cooperation. Athletics, one of the most universal and accessible sports, provides a natural platform for building connections at the level of federations, coaches and athletes.
The Urumqi competition demonstrates that regional cooperation is no longer limited to economics and politics alone. Through sport, youth engagement and people-to-people exchange, China and Central Asia are strengthening mutual understanding and opening new pathways for collaboration – with many young athletes taking their first steps toward larger international arenas.
