Photo: Chinese Embassy in the US

Qin Gang, Chinese Ambassador to the US, delivered a message on a video played after the game of the National Hockey League (NHL) between the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins on Monday. The ambassador introduced the preparations for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games in anticipation to a wonderful game from Chinese and US ice hockey teams in Beijing, according to the Chinese Embassy in the US.

The game was watched by more than 18,000 hockey fans on the ice. At the end of the match, the video of ambassador Qin's speech was played on the big circular screens above the stadium. "Every day is a wonderful day for ice hockey," said Qin, quoting the famous American ice hockey player, Mario Lemieus.

Qin said that all the fans enjoyed a wonderful competition thanks to the incomparable performance of both teams. People love ice hockey not only because of its speed and skills, but also for the sportsmanship, mutual respect, fair competition, and tenacious spirit that ice hockey embodies.

Ambassador Qin also noted that in the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, which will kick off in less than one month, the Chinese and US men's hockey teams will compete in the same group. "I hope there will be plenty of goals for both Chinese and US teams, and I wish them good luck," Qin said.

The event is part of the "Together for a Shared Future" special media action of CGTN America with the participation of the Chinese Embassy in the US.

Shen Haixiong, President and Editor-in-Chief of the China Media Group, said in an interview with ice fans across the US that the Winter Olympics are a feast of sports for the whole world and he expects people from both countries enjoy together the passion and happiness brought by sports.

According to the video released by China Central Television, many locals in the stadium had a friendly response and wished "good luck" to Beijing in holding a successful Winter Olympics. 

The heated vibes at the NHL proved that regardless the US-led campaign of not sending officials to the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, ordinary people in the US are not as hostile to China as the US government and media make them out to be, Chinese analysts said. 

The event also proves that no matter how the US media and government hype an anti-China feeling, China-US people-to-people, cultural and sport exchanges can still find their own ways regardless of political interruptions from US politicians, analysts noted.

The first hockey match at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games will kick off on February 3, with the Chinese women's hockey team playing at the Wukesong Arena, which has hosted NHL and KHL games and basketball games at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The Wukesong Arena, which has a capacity of 14,614 spectators, will be the main venue for the women's hockey competition.

The US women's hockey team, champions in the PyeongChang Games in 2018, will play its first game against Finland, bronze winners in the last winter Games.

Meanwhile, the men's ice hockey matches will kick off on February 9, with most games to be played at the National Stadium built to host the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The US men's hockey team and the Chinese hosts have been drawn in the same group of the first round of the men's ice hockey event.

The matches for the two gold medals in ice hockey at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games will be played on February 17 and 20.