An hour before the start of the ceremony, athletes and volunteers carrying flags of the competing countries and regions marched from the Universiade Village to the Belgrade Arena. First held in Turin in 1959, this year's event will be the 25th World University Games. Participants must be between 17 and 28 and studying for a degree or diploma, or have graduated within the past year.

Chinese flag bearer (R) enters the arena during the opening ceremony of the 25th universiade in Belgrade, capital of Serbia, July 1, 2009.

China, who collected 87 medals at last Universiade in Bangkok, Thailand, has sent a 445-member delegation to Belgrade. They will compete in all 15 sports and are expected to win medals in fencing, artistic gymnastics, diving and table tennis. On Thursday the first eight of 203 gold medals will be awarded in artistic gymnastics, fencing and taekwondo, while preliminary soccer, basketball and water polo rounds already got underway earlier in the week.

The Universiade will close on July 12.

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