2017 Summer Universiade flame arrives in Taiwan

By Sorwar Alam

ANKARA (AA) - The final leg of the 2017 Summer Universiade torch relay has ended in Taipei, Taiwan, ahead of the games that begins there later this summer.

The relay began June 20 in the Italian city of Turin, the birthplace of the first summer Universiade in 1959.

From there it made its way to Naples in southern Italy and then stops in Bangkok and Daegu, South Korea, before ending Thursday at Taipei City Hall, the iconic building of the host city, according to the International University Sports Federation (FISU) that organizes the event.

The international competition held every two years for university students will run Aug. 19 - 20 and feature athletes from 153 countries competing in 21 sports at 38 venues across Taipei, Keelung, New Taipei, Taoyuan and Hsinchu. It will be the largest sporting event ever held in Taiwan.

“With a vision to shape the leaders of tomorrow through their experiences of international student sport, the Universiades are the most powerful tool at our disposal,” the FISU said.

The name of the sporting and cultural festival is derived from the words “University” and “Olympiade”.