The Swedish and Danish teams compete on the court. Photo: Courtesy of Liao Xu

Danish supporters cheer on their team.Photo: Courtesy of Liao Xu

The Danish offense prepares to score. Photo: Courtesy of Liao Xu

American-Sino OB/GYN/Pediatrics Services provides medical support. Photo: Courtesy of Liao Xu

The Finnish team takes a group photo with the Department of European Affairs of MFA team. Photo: Courtesy of Liao Xu

 

Wang Shunqing, the deputy director-general of the Department of European Affairs of MFA speaks at the event. Photo: Courtesy of Liao Xu

The trophies are presented. Photo: Courtesy of Liao Xu

The Swedish and Danish teams shake hands. Photo: Courtesy of Liao Xu

The 1st Sino-Nordic Cup Football Tournament took place at the Olympic Sports Center on September 20 to commemorate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Sweden, Denmark and Finland. Staff members and representatives of the Danish, Swedish and Finnish embassies in Beijing and the Department of European Affairs of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the Global Times and the Chinese Football Association formed six teams for a competition that lasted for half a day. Over 400 people came to watch the games.

After five hours of competition, the Chinese Football Association won first place with a score of 15, three points ahead of the Danish Embassy team, who took second. The European Affairs Department of MFA took third place.

Wang Shunqing and Qi Mei, the deputy director-generals of the Department of European Affairs of MFA, Tarja Kangaskorte, the deputy head of mission of the Finnish Embassy, Chen Ping, the deputy managing editor of the Global Times, and Lin Xiaohua, the deputy president of the Chinese Football Association, attended the event and gave speeches.

In her opening speech, Kangaskorte expressed her optimism for the event.

Kangaskorte said she hoped the event would have a positive impact on the friendship a nd collaboration between the Nordic countries and China.

Cheering squads from the three Nordic countries also appeared at the event wearing their national flags, dressed and decorated with their national mascots, and singing and cheering to support their teams.

At the award ceremony later that day, Qi gave a speech on behalf of the European Affairs Department of MFA to all the participating teams. She first congratulated the Chinese Football Association for winning the game, before discussing the true meaning behind hosting this tournament. Qi also offered her thanks for the support from the participating Nordic embassies in Beijing.

"I think it's a great game today and everyone really enjoyed it," she said. "The importance of the game is not the result, but the participation and also the enjoyment for the game from which we have created more understanding and interaction together."

American-Sino OB/GYN/Pediatrics Services offered medical support during the game. ZTE Technologies and Geely also offered their support, in addition to 70 student volunteers from Beijing Foreign Studies University and Beijing Language and Culture University.