Students from Hangzhou Xincheng Experimental Primary School perform basketball skills at the opening ceremony of National Students Sports Games on Sept 3. [Photo/cztv.com]

Chen Baosheng, minister of education, commented that young people are the future of the country. Their prowess in sports indicates the power of a country, he added.

Yuan Jiajun, governor of Zhejiang province, highlighted the relation between education and sports in his speech. He said that the dream of rejuvenating the Chinese nation is closely related to the dreams of building a nation strong both in sports and education.

Over the following 13 days, a total of 5,966 athletes from 34 delegations from around the country will compete in 10 different sports, including athletics, basketball, football, volleyball, table tennis, gymnatics and swimming.

If coaches, referees and volunteers are included, the number of people involved in the event will surpass 13,000.

Zhejiang has entered a delegation of 533 athletes from 20 universities and 56 middle schools to take part in the games.

Liu Yandong, Chinese vice-premier, announces the opening of the 13th National Students Sports Games in Hangzhou on Sept 3. [Photo by Liang Zhen/zjol.com.cn]