The World University Games is held at Bangkok this year and it has attracted 10,200 student athletes. The games, rated as second only to the Olympics in terms of size and quality, have attracted participants from 160 countries, and will be closely watched for emerging talent ahead of Beijing 2008.
Competition in the University Games, which are held every two years, is open to student athletes between the ages of 17 and 28 who attend school or have not been out of university or its equivalent for more than a year.
One of the disciplines that will be competed, Taekwondo, is the the third largest event for its athletes after the World Taekwondo Champions and Olympic Taekwondo.
The occasion has been billed as part of Thailand's year-long celebrations for the 80th birthday of the country's greatly revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a keen sportsman who competed in international sailing races in his youth.
"The government wishes to invite all participants in the Universiade Bangkok 2007 to join the Thai people in celebrating this auspicious occasion," Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said in welcoming remarks ahead of the games. "You will witness how profoundly the Thai people admire their king."
Former World University Games winners who have gone on to greater things include China's Liu Xiang, the reigning Olympic 110 metre hurdles champion and Taiwan's Chu Mu Yen, the Olympic Taekwondo champion.
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