SHENZHEN: The opening and closing ceremonies for the Universiade Shenzhen 2011 - the top sports event for university athletes across the world - will have a carnival theme and give an "unexpected experience" to the young participants, officials said.

The committee has received about 20 creative ideas from the public bidding for the ceremonies of the 26th Summer Universiade, to be held Aug 12 to 22, 2011 in the southern city bordering Hong Kong.

"We want to highlight young people's vitality and creativity and make the opening and closing ceremonies, especially the latter, a big party for them," Liang Daoxing, director-general of the executive office of the organizing committee for Universiade Shenzhen, told China Daily in an exclusive interview yesterday.