The Guangdong provincial government and the Ministry of Education held a joint press conference in Beijing on April 4th, announcing that the 8th National University Games will open in Guangzhou on July 16th. The Higher Education Mega Center that accommodates 130,000 students will host the large-scale event. More than 10,000 college students will provide volunteer services.

The National University Games, held every four years, is sponsored by the Ministry of Education, the State General Administration of Sports, and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League.

The 8th National University Games, organized by the Guangdong provincial government, will begin from July 16 to 26. All events (except Cross-Country Orienteering) will be held in the Higher Education Mega Center.
The Guangdong provincial government has invested RMB 1.4 billion to build a Swimming Pool, 10 comprehensive stadiums and 10 standard track & field stadiums at the 10 universities of the Center and one 40,000 seat stadium in the central area of the Center. All of the venues will be completed by April 2007.
An official of the Ministry of Education said that most athletes would live in the Higher Education Mega Center during the Games. The 2007 summer vacation of Chinese colleges and universities will begin before July 1st.

Editor: Yan