Wuhan racing to prepare for China's first 'military Olympics'

Soldier-athletes from some 100 nations will compete in 35 venues across city in this October

Wuhan, the host city of the 7th International Military Sports Council Military World Games, has vowed to prepare for a dazzling multisports event.

The event's emblem, mascot and slogan have also been unveiled.

The emblem is a string of number seven-shaped ribbons decorated with stars and a dove. It embodies the topographic features of Wuhan, where the Yangtze and Hanshui rivers fl ow into one river.

The mascot is called Bing Bing, whose design originates from the Chinese sturgeon, a critically endangered fish.

Among the 35 venues, 13 were newly built, 17 were reconstructed using sites formerly operated by the city and local universities and five are temporary facilities to be dismantled after the event, according to Wang Shenshun, deputy secretary-general of the executive commission of the games.

It is also the first time for the games to have an athletes' village, which is located in the riverside area of Huangjia Lake in the city's Jiangxia district, a place with a beautiful natural environment, good living facilities and also a wetland park.

In March, a delegation constituted of German soldiers and military officers visited the athlete village and venues of the games.

"The preparing work here is perfect!" one of them said. Six months later, more than 450 German soldiers will join in the competition.