Sports have long been an important part of China's education system, but students are no longer content with traditional style opening ceremonies. Environmental protection and other themes of public concern have turned the opening of games into eye-opening spectacles.

Students of chemical engineering run with a capsule symbolizing the treatment of the H7N9 avian influenza virus during the opening ceremony of games at Chongqing University, April 12, 2013. [Photo/CFP]