May 23–24, 2026, the 2026 “Belt and Road” Mass Sports Series — International Youth Mind Sports Open was successfully held at our university. The event was co-hosted by the International Sports Exchange Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, the Hebei Provincial Sports Bureau, and the Shijiazhuang Municipal People’s Government. It was co-organized by the Shijiazhuang Municipal Sports Bureau, the Shijiazhuang Municipal Education Bureau, Shijiazhuang University, and the Shijiazhuang Municipal Sports Federation with support from the Shijiazhuang Mind Sports Association. It forms a key component of the broader “Belt and Road” Mass Sports Series.

Guided by the theme of “Bringing Together Global Young Minds, Promoting Cross-Cultural Exchange Among Youth,” the event attracted over 700 young competitors from 12 countries and regions, including Russia, India, Mongolia, and Malaysia. Contestants went head-to-head across seven core disciplines—including Speed Poker and Random Numbers etc. Through this intellectual competition, they made friends and promoted integration, presenting a spectacular mind sports event that combined professional standards with high entertainment value.

The event was held in strict compliance with international mind sports competition standards, upholding the principles of “fairness, justice, and openness”. It was supported by a professional referee team and technical assurance system, ensuring the event was rigorous, orderly, and professionally conducted. On the field, competitors from various countries remained composed and quick-witted, demonstrating impressive mental acuity; off the field, young people of different skin colors and languages sat together, exchanging training experiences and sharing learning methods. Through competition, they enhanced mutual understanding and built friendships, vividly embodying the sportsmanship of “friendship first, competition second.”

The successful hosting of this event not only provided an international platform for young people at home and abroad to showcase their talents and engage in exchange and learning, but also further promoted the popularization and development of mind sports among youth. The event received extensive coverage from major central and provincial media outlets, including CCTV5 Sports Channel and Hebei Daily.

In recent years, our university has consistently adhered to its positioning as a “local, application-oriented, and internationalized” institution. We have actively responded to the “Belt and Road” Initiative and served the overall development of Shijiazhuang. Hosting this International Youth Mind Sports Open is a vivid practice of implementing the university’s “1396” development strategy and creating the “Open SJZU,” “Beautiful SJZU,” and “Cultural SJZU”. It has also contributed to enriching the city’s culture and promoting Shijiazhuang’s urban development.

（Contributed by: Center for International Exchange and Cooperation; Written by: Yuan Huafei）