Under the theme "Boundless Sports, Countless Wonders," the Chengdu World Games
Under the theme "Boundless Sports, Countless Wonders," the Chengdu World Games offer not only fierce competitions but also a wealth of cultural experiences -- from Chinese-language classes and Sichuan Opera face-changing shows to calligraphy and Shu brocade workshops and visits to local landmarks.
"I love pandas, they're so cute," Meeri-Marita Paas, an archer from Estonia, told Xinhua during a tour to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding on Friday.
"(Seeing pandas) was definitely on the list of what I wanted to do the most in Chengdu," said Paas, also a fan of the panda celebrity Hua Hua, adding: "I've never seen pandas before and here is the perfect place for me."
The Estonian athlete also planned to sample Chengdu's famous spicy cuisine and explore the province after her events.
"I've been training for spicy food, and I'm curious to try it after my competition," she said. "I'm also going to visit some mountains, like the Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei, with my tour guide."
She was referring to Mlinaric, her fellow archer and good friend for years.
"What I really like about archery is that I can make friends with my opponents," Mlinaric said. "We don't look at each other in a bad way -- it's just my arrows against theirs. After we shoot, we're friends. We can go for coffee or have fun together. That's wonderful."
The Croatian athlete had another reason to remember the Games -- she celebrated her 24th birthday on the opening day, receiving greetings, celebrations, and gifts from archery friends and volunteers at the Athletes' Village.
"People have been so welcoming and friendly. I feel like a celebrity or a supermodel," she said with a smile.