"Looking back, every step of the preparation was a battle," Zhang recalled. Everyone's hearts were in their mouths, but each carried the same belief: to win honour for the country and leave no regrets.
Once in Cape Town, the real test began.
The opponent had advantages in networks and connections; Qingdao could rely only on its thoroughly polished hard power and meticulously executed on-site presentations. "For eight days and nights, the team never rested," Zhang said.
On May 24, the bid presentation took place—a strict 10 minute limit, with no overtime allowed. Drawing on months of preparation, Qingdao went head to head with Seville. That evening, with support from the Chinese Consulate General in Cape Town, a "China · Qingdao Night" promotional event was held, attracting more than 70 attendees including the FIG president and experts from various countries. Featuring cultural creative products and city promotional videos, it became a pivotal moment in the campaign.
Booth No. 71 was opened, staffed in shifts, and over a thousand bilingual information kits were distributed to delegates. On May 26, the official public presentation window opened, with Qingdao and Seville taking turns on stage—the only concentrated opportunity to showcase their bids.
Local Chinese and enthusiastic supporters lent a hand. Professor Shi Wenzhong from Hong Kong Polytechnic University flew to South Africa at his own expense. Despite suffering from gastrointestinal discomfort due to the unfamiliar environment, he still helped the team refine their English presentations and engaged individual international scholars one by one. "Without the help of these experts, we could not have done it alone," Zhang said.
