Music, colour, flags, lights, fireworks and plenty of emotion: the curtain has officially risen on the 12th edition of the World Games, staged at the striking Tianfu International Conference Centre in Chengdu, China.

The modern, eye-catching venue set the scene for a celebration marking the return of the multi-sport showcase to Asia, two decades on from Akita 2001 and Kaohsiung 2009. This year’s Games bring together athletes from across the globe, spread across 34 sports, 60 disciplines and 256 medal events. The host city, Chengdu, is a vast metropolis of over 20 million people in south-west China, capital of Sichuan province.

Italy’s delegation was fronted by flagbearers Angelo Crescenzo (karate) and Chiara Rebagliati (archery), who led the Azzurri into the arena. The team arrives with momentum after a strong showing at the last edition in the United States, where Italy captured 13 medals (three gold, six silver and four bronze), and with ambitions to once again be among the main players in emerging sports.

Early results suggest they are on track. The inline hockey national side opened their Group B campaign in emphatic style, sweeping aside Argentina 9–0. Emanuele Ferrari struck twice, with further goals from Davide Dal Sasso, Alessio Lettera, Matteo Barsanti, Pietro Ederle, Giacomo Masiero, Francesco Campulla and Lorenzo Campulla. France and the Czech Republic complete the group.

There were also encouraging signs in the archery compound ranking round — a discipline due to make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles 2028. Marco Bruno posted 709 points to finish seventh in the men’s field, while Elisa Roner scored 694 to place 13th among the women. Their combined efforts leave Italy fifth in the mixed team standings heading into the knockout phase.