by sportswriters Dong Yixing and Zhou Jie

QINGDAO, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Under the early summer sun, Qingdao's shimmering waters dotted with white sails set the stage for a global sporting spectacle, with over 230 athletes from 49 countries and regions gathering at the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center for the 2025 ILCA 7 Men's & ILCA 6 Women's World Championships.

More than an elite maritime competition, this international event running from May 10 to 17 serves as a crucial milestone in preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Perched on the Lover's Dam at the sailing center, 72-year-old retired teacher Tang Shaomin stood beside his wife, his professional camera poised to capture fleeting moments of the regatta.

"Photography is my passion, but it was the 2008 Beijing Olympics that made me fall in love with Qingdao's sailing scenes," said Tang, gesturing toward the horizon.

"Only here can you find the most breathtaking views of sailboats," Tang's eyes sparkled with pride as he spoke of his hometown's transformation. "Our city has grown more vibrant and livable with each passing year."

Tang's sentiment resonated with fellow Qingdao native Shen Zichen. "After hosting the 2008 Olympics, sailing became Qingdao's calling card, earning us the title 'City of Sails,'" Shen remarked.

A coastal metropolis embraced on three sides by the sea, Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province has carved its identity through marine heritage, cultural diversity, and open-minded charm. For five consecutive years, it has been ranked among China's "Most Livable Cities" - a distinction locals attribute to its thriving economy, inclusive spirit, pristine environment, and profound sense of community belonging.

The regatta not only showcases Qingdao's sporting pulse, but also embodies its maritime soul. Among the spectators were Qu Genmu and his wife, travelers from Chengdu who had long dreamed of witnessing Olympic-class sailing firsthand.

"Watching those races on TV years ago planted a seed. Experiencing it live today elevates life itself," Qu said. "In 2023, Chengdu hosted the World University Games, and this year it will also host the World Games. Sports have made our lives more colorful and vibrant."

Behind this urban idyll lies deliberate stewardship of natural gifts. With 905.2 kilometers of coastline and 49 bays, Qingdao has tailored ecological restoration efforts to each inlet's unique needs, balancing pollution control, habitat rehabilitation, and public access, resulting in a mosaic of bays that blend environmental health with recreational charm.

During a break in competition, Gustavo Lima, coach of the Spanish team, sipped coffee while gazing at the harbor, memories flooding back. Having competed here for Portugal in the 2008 Olympics, the 2003 world champion marveled at Qingdao's evolution that the city feels more sophisticated yet retains its character - orderly and endlessly welcoming.

While sails redefine the city's skyline, they also reshape its social fabric. The event's organizers transformed the sailing center into a cultural hub, where a bustling "Regatta Market" showcased sports gear, local delicacies, and cultural innovations from over 20 Qingdao-based enterprises. Hundreds of students from Liaocheng, Laixi, and beyond immersed themselves in sailing workshops, discovering the sport's allure firsthand.

For residents, happiness manifests in tangible upgrades: smoother roads, rejuvenated parks, cleaner neighborhoods.

"Every corner reveals something new, something delightful," remarked a Qingdao University volunteer. "Seeing international athletes here fills me with pride. Our city isn't just beautiful, it embraces the world."

As dusk fell, the sailing center's light show danced across the waves, illuminating a city at ease with its prosperity. World Sailing President Li Quanhai captured the moment's essence, saying, "Sailing transcends sport. It's a lifestyle, an expression of civic spirit, and a mirror reflecting a nation's progress and its people's contentment."

Beneath a sky melting into dusk, Qu snapped photos of his wife with yachts and sailboats docked in the harbor as the backdrop. Behind her, the Olympic rings loomed in the distance, a reminder of the city's storied past as a host of the Olympic Games. ■