August 09, 2007	Thursday	Rajab 24, 1428

BANGKOK, Aug 8: Thousands of students from across the world geared up for ten days of fierce competition Wednesday as the starting gun was fired for the World University Games in Bangkok.

On the evening that China started the final year countdown to the Beijing Olympics with fireworks and a spectacular ceremony, about 9,000 student athletes here prepared for action in 17 disciplines ranging from athletics to water polo.

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn attended the extravagant ceremony to open the programme, which has been billed as part of 80th birthday celebrations for his father, the highly revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Stand-out performers over the coming ten days could emerge as contenders at next year's Beijing Games.

First held in Warsaw in 1924, this year's event will be the 24th World University Games.

Participants must be between 17 and 28 and studying for a degree or diploma, or have graduated within the past year.

On Thursday the first 15 of 236 gold medals will be won in athletics, swimming, artistic gymnastics and taekwondo.

Preliminary football and basketball rounds were played earlier in the week before the games opened. The closing ceremony will take place on August 18.

—AFP