TRENTO, Italy, Dec. 11 -- "I was just walking around when I was attracted by this great enthusiasm, so I stopped and I am still here," an elderly woman, Maria Teresa Nicolodi, told Xinhua on Wednesday while attending the opening ceremony of the 26th Winter Universiade 2013 in Italy's Trento.

Like Nicolodi, crowds of all ages and nationalities gathered in the heart of the Italian northern city to watch the around 2,700 student-athletes from 52 countries and regions parading in a show of colored projection and music performances.

With 59 athletes from eight sport universities and institutes who will compete in 39 events of 6 sports, namely figure skating, short-track speed skating, speed skating, curling, cross-country skiing and snowboarding, the 130-member Chinese Sports Delegation made a joyous parade.

Matteo Fallucca, an engineering student, told Xinhua he had much awaited this day that he defined a "meeting of global sports and cultures," since the Torch Relay started its journey on Nov. 6 in Italy's capital Rome.

On Wednesday, the Olympic flame entered the final stretch of Torch Relay carried by six sports champions, before Winter Olympic cross country skiing gold medal Franco Nones lighted a LED zero- emission cauldron, highlighting the event's commitment to environmental sustainability.

The context of rose-tinted Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, particularly underlined the importance of protecting the fragile mountain ecosystem in the event's organization.

"The Universiade gives hope for the future, which is something we all desperately need," Selene Cavalca, a woman attending the ceremony with her husband, told Xinhua. "Sports activities have always played a fundamental role in shaping our two children's serenity and good values."

The President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Claude-Louis Gallien stressed that Universiade in fact was "more than any other type of competition, because besides very good sport we also have education, culture, health, sustainability and innovation."

Gallien noted that "students will be the leaders of tomorrow" and so youth should be a key investment to bring the best of past into future.

The tradition of a tribute paid to the 200th birth anniversary of Italian maestro Giuseppe Verdi through a choir of 50 youngsters singing Aida at the opening ceremony met with the modernity of the first eco-friendly torch in history.

Before declaring the official opening of the 26th Winter Universiade Trentino 2013, which runs from Dec. 11-21, Gallien explained the "inspired by U" slogan.

"You are students, athletes, volunteers, coaches, referees, spectators. You are professors, researchers and students of the innovative University of Trento," he said.

"I am from Gambia and this will be a precious opportunity for me to see some magnificent things that I have never met before," a 18-year-old student, Lamin Cheesay, told Xinhua. Just near him, an Italian father, Roberto Maffia, was following his 20-year-son, who was part of the national delegation.

"Education is fundamental to arouse interest in sports, particularly in those activities like winter sports which are less known than others such as football," he told Xinhua.

"My son started playing ice hockey at school, when he was only a child. Since then he has never stopped. Sports thought him the meaning of responsibility," Maffia said.