On September 15, 2018, the first Taiji Health Center overseas celebrated its opening at a ceremony held at the University of West Attica in Greece.

The ceremony opened with a welcome speech from the President of University of West Attica, Constantinos Moutzouris, followed by a speech from the Vice-President of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hu Hongyi. They unveiled the nameplate of Taiji Health Center, much to the applause of the audience, which was composed of practitioners and Qigong enthusiasts from China, Greece, France and Spain. The theme of event was Taiji Promotes Health. Both the Greek and Chinese embassies sent their wish and support.

Those in attendance to the opening ceremony of this ground-breaking event were treated to performances of Taiji practice by the first group of students to attend and complete the first-ever summer school program at the West Attica University Branch of Taiji Health Center. Then there was a graduation ceremony presented by Dr. Li Jie, Director of Shanghai Qigong Research Institute, and Prof. George Georgoudis, Director of the Musculoskeletal & Chest Physiotherapy Research Laboratory, University of West Attica. The first graduating class from the summer school program received their diplomas and posed for photos.

In addition, audience members were given the unique opportunity at this academic exchange event to learn more about the benefits of Qigong, acupuncture, and Taijiquan specifically in the fields of physical and mental rehabilitation, as well as self-healing, via lectures and presentations examining the different views on the application of traditional Chinese medicine therapies in the Western world.

University of West Attica (formerly the Technological Educational Institute of Athens) was established in 1983. As the third largest comprehensive university in Greece, the school is a self-governed, multi-disciplinary, technology-oriented institution funded by the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs.

In press release for the event, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and West Attica University of Greece explained that “the formal operation of Taiji Health Center University of West Attica Branch (will) further strengthen the cooperation between the two universities in the fields of health, medicine and culture, and jointly promote the development of the people’s health” in both Greece and China.