2018.04.03
2018 “Olympic City Cup” Beijing World Minor Hockey Invitational Tournament Kicked off at Aozhong Ice Sports Club on April 28

On April 28, 2018 “Olympic City Cup” Beijing World Minor Hockey Invitational Tournament (hereinafter referred to as “Olympic City Cup”) officially kicked off at Beijing Aozhong Ice Sports Club. This is another large ice hockey event hosted by Aozhong Ice Sports Club in 2018 after the success of the Beijing Minor Ice Hockey Club League playoffs and Kunlun Hongxing Olympic Training Camp.

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Under the guidance of the Beijing Olympic City Development Association (hereinafter referred to as the “BODA”), Olympic City Cup is jointly organized by Beijing Olympic City Development Center and Beijing Hockey Association (BHA) and co-sponsored by Beijing Municipal Education Commission, Municipal Tourism Development Committee, Municipal Cultural Bureau, Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, Municipal Sports Bureau, Municipal News Office, Youth League Committee, Chaoyang District Government and Beijing TV Station. It aims to fully assist the hosting of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, bring “300 million Chinese people to participate in the snow and ice sports”, promote the minor sports culture exchange between the “Belt & Road” countries, regions and cities, and improve the level of Beijing minor ice hockey sport. The competition consisted of 42 games by two age groups - U15 (2003-04) and U12 (2005-06), with team members from the California Golden Bears from Los Angeles, Amur Komsomolsk from Russia, Jokerit Helsinki from Finland, the Eisbaren Berlin, Czech Prague Slavia, the Calgary International Ice Hockey Academy in Canada, the Royal Swedish Hunters in Stockholm and Latvia Riga. The competition lasted for 6 days (April 28 - May 3) and all events were free to the public.

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At the opening ceremony of the Olympic City Cup, Chairman of the organizing Committee & BODA Executive Vice President - Liu Jingmin, Executive Chairman of the organizing Committee, BODA Secretary General & BODA Director - Fu Xiaohui, and Executive Chairman of the organizing Committee & BHA President - Xin Tieliang, as well as The Czech ambassador to China - Badzhe Kopetzki and the Latvian Ambassador to China - Maris Selga attended the ceremony. Mr. Liu Jingmin announced the opening of the game and kicked off the match with the Czech Ambassador to China - Badzhe Kopetzki. The opening ceremony was hosted by Mr. Fu Xiaohui. Mr. Xin Tieliang delivered a speech on behalf of the organizing Committee.

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In the match between the Beijing minor ice hockey U12 team and the Czech Prague Slavia team after the opening ceremony, the Beijing U12 team overwhelmingly defeated the opponent with an 8-4 final score and won the first victory of the Olympic City Cup Invitational Tournament.

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Since its establishment in 2016, the Olympic City Cup has continuously improved the O.R.G.anization level of its events and expanded its scale, attracting many ice and snow powers and the minor ice hockey teams in “Belt & Road” countries. At present, it has become the international minor ice hockey event with the highest competition level in China, which has been recognized by the domestic and foreign industry and its influence has gradually improved. With the modern ice rink facilities, complete supporting facilities and thoughtful event services, Aozhong Ice Sports Club, which was completed in July last year, has become the venue for this year’s Olympic City Cup.

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It is particularly worth mentioning that in order to ensure the professionalism, fairness and impartiality of the game, the organizing Committee not only organizes a high-level on-court and off-court referee team, but also uses the real-time data entry system authorized by the International Ice Federation. It is also the first time that the International Ice Federation professional ice hockey data statistics system has been used in a national minor competition. During the competition, the organizing Committee released and updated the game information in real time through the official website, and introduced the competition through the introduction of the participating teams and the wonderful competition display.

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