IFSC rock climbing event in Guiyang well received

The 2024 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championships got underway at the Qingzhen Sports Training Base climbing gym in Guiyang, capital city of Southwest China's Guizhou province, on Aug 21.

Within 10 days, 599 competitors worldwide will compete in the Boulder, Lead, and Speed disciplines across three age categories – U16, U18, and U20 – to become youth world champions.

On the morning of Aug 22, the U18 men's and women's lead qualifications were the first to take place.

"Athletes have their own unique climbing techniques, and they are all outstanding. Some of the athletes we see here might appear in the Los Angeles or Brisbane Olympics," said Christophe Billon, a representative of the IFSC.

Christophe Billon was impressed by China's strong climbing culture and the sport's development. "I see that after the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Chinese have sparked a love for climbing," he said, praising the performance of Chinese athletes at the Paris Olympic Games.

The IFSC Climbing Youth World Championships is the highest-level youth climbing event globally.

This is also Guiyang's first time hosting a world-class climbing event. To ensure the competition's smooth running, 10 working groups, including event coordination, medical assistance, and volunteer teams, have been established.