GUIYANG, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- A climbing World Cup is set to take place from September 12 to 13 in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, attracting 73 top climbers from 16 countries and regions, including the United States, Japan, and South Korea, to participate.

As the final stop of the 2025 IFSC (International Federation of Sport Climbing) World Cup speed series, Guiyang 2025, featuring men's and women's speed events, marks the first time that Guiyang hosts a climbing World Cup.

Team China will be led by standout athletes like Zhou Yafei, Long Jianguo, Wu Peng and Zhang Shaoqin.

"I am thrilled that the competition is being held in my hometown, and I hope to perform well and achieve great results," said Long Jianguo, a multiple-time World Cup speed champion from Guizhou's Rongjiang County.

"The event is not only about athletic competition but also cultural exchange. I hope international athletes could experience the local culture through the event," Long added.

As one of China's most typical karst regions, Guizhou has actively promoted itself as a hub for mountain sports, hosting international climbing events like the 2024 IFSC World Youth Climbing Championships and the 2025 IFSC Asian Youth Championships.

Wang Yunlong, head of team China, said that through its dedicated efforts, Guizhou has become a significant destination for world climbing.

"Consistently hosting high-level international events provides domestic athletes with opportunities to compete against top Asian and global climbers while fostering international sports cultural exchange," Wang added.

In recent years, climbing has rapidly grown from a niche outdoor activity to a trending sport. The sport made its Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, where two gold medals were awarded. The number of gold medals increased to four at the 2024 Paris Olympics. ■