Theme song performance

SHENZHEN, Guangdong  - After three years'competition between over 800 original songs, Start Here has been chosen as the theme song for the Universiade 2011 Shenzhen, Shenzhen mayor Xu Qin announced at the 30-day countdown ceremony.

Wang Suiming, the vice president of Shenzhen Universiade Organizing Committee, said the song was picked based on the opinions of experts and results of online voting.

Representatives for Universiade organizers, volunteers and residents delivered their speeches at the grand countdown party to welcome the upcoming games.

"Where we stand right now used to be my playground when I was little," said Shenzhen resident representative Luo Runmei at the 18,000-seat gymnasium. "I'm so excited to see the Universiade has upgraded my hometown, it's not only about building a new stadium and gymnasium facilities, but also about improving public transportation."

Shenzhen recently opened three new metro lines and extended its existing two by the end of June. The city's metro rider population, therefore, almost doubled within one month.

Wang Rong, the secretary of the municipal party committee, took the opportunity to tell the world that "we're ready and Shenzhen is ready (for the Universiade 2011)".

Wang said, "I'm also calling for citizens of Shenzhen to travel green during the games from Aug 12-23 to protect our environment and to make sure the roads to competition venues are not blocked by motor cars. Public transportation, like bus and metro, are sometimes better options than cars."