Professor Yao Guanxin, Chairperson of the University Council declared the Games open in a ceremony held at the stadium of Wenhui Road Campus on November 19. President Jiao Xin'an delivered an opening speech. Yu Hongliang, Vice President and Director of the University Sports Committee presided over the opening ceremony.

President Jiao Xin'an reviewed the contributions and benefits of physical education and sport in the university for both students and for educational systems. "Physical education and sport have the potential to make significant and distinctive contributions to development in such domains as physical, lifestyle, affective, social, and cognitive. At the same time, sport promotes the prosperity of campus culture as a driving force. The University is constantly streamlining its resources of sport activities for its staff and students." said Jiao. He also advised people to build physical activity into everyday life.

At the opening ceremony, Li Zheng from the College of Physical Education, a national first-level athlete, a national referee and a coach of the university high-level sports team, took the oath on behalf of all the referees. Zhu Kaili, a national first-level athlete took an oath on behalf of all the athletes. Zhu was the third runner up of the women's Heptathlon in the university group of the 14th National Student Games in 2021.

More than 850 athletes representing colleges will compete in this year's Games. In order to implement the work requirements on prevention and control of COVID-19, the Games will be held in different campuses and run through to November 21. The Games features a total of 18 events while over 1000 teachers and students participate in mass sports programs.

Yangzhou University has been a driving force behind the rise of sport sciences ever since it created the Department of Physical Education in 1972. The College of Physical Education, founded in 1998, boasts international education researchers in a wide range of fields from exercise physiology and biometrics to sports management. The University has turned out a number of top athletes and made great efforts to provide them with all necessary support.