Champion Team Serbia take selfies at the podium of the Friendship Cup Football Tournament at the Chaoyang Gymnasium in Beijing on August 13, 2022. Photo: Official picture
Aiming to deepen understanding and friendship between people of China and other countries, promote the development of offline sports, and enrich the cultural life of diplomats, the Friendship Cup Football Tournament, co-sponsored by the Global Times Foundation, Tuchong, IC photo and AMD, kicked off at the Chaoyang Gymnasium in Beijing on Saturday. The team of the Serbian Embassy in China won the championship after an intense competition.
Xie Rongbin, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Global Times, speaks at the opening ceremony of the Friendship Cup Football Tournament in Beijing with diplomats from foreign embassies in China on August 13, 2022. Photo: Official pictures
The 14 teams who participated in the competition included members of the embassies of Brazil, Iceland, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Sudan and Turkmenistan in China, the General Administration of Sport of China, and the Beijing Diplomatic Service.
Picture taken at the Friendship Cup Football Tournament at the Chaoyang Gymnasium in Beijing on August 13, 2022 Photo: Official pictures
Shorsh Said, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq, Khaled Ibrahim, Charge d'affaires of the Embassy of the State of Libya, Monzer Ali Eltayeb, Charge d'affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan, Tom Knappskog, Charge d'affaires of the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Beknazar Dzhekshenkulov, Minister-Counselor of the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic and Permanent Representative to SCO, Elwaleed Bashir Ahmed, Counselor of the Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan, and Xie Rongbin, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Global Times participated in the opening ceremony.
Picture taken at the Friendship Cup Football Tournament at the Chaoyang Gymnasium in Beijing on August 13, 2022 Photo: Official pictures
Xie addressed that public diplomacy is a crucial part of international exchanges today. Sports are an effective way to promote dialogue and understanding between different people and cultures, and they have become increasingly important in diplomacy in the new era.
"As the world's number one sport, soccer teaches people to work together, embrace challenges and forge ahead. It is a 'world language' that builds bridges between different nations and cultures, and it is also an important driving force for the progress of human civilization and the peaceful development of the world," Xie said.
Picture taken at the Friendship Cup Football Tournament at the Chaoyang Gymnasium in Beijing on August 13, 2022 Photo: Official pictures
Knappskog said in his speech at the opening ceremony that "football is a beautiful game, and it is also a universal game. Players don't need to speak the same language to understand the rules and to have a great time. It is a Friendship World Cup. We are happy this is possible today," adding that he hoped that more of this kind of alternative networking can take place.
Picture taken at the Friendship Cup Football Tournament at the Chaoyang Gymnasium in Beijing on August 13, 2022 Photo: Official pictures
Dzhekshenkulov after the event expressed his thanks to the Global Times for organizing such a wonderful cup. He congratulated the teams that won the medals and said "but [at] the [very] last, friendship won."
