Envoy rallies NHL crowd for Beijing Olympics

The Chinese Ambassador to the US Qin Gang has given details of preparations for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in front of 18,000 National Hockey League fans in the United States.

In a video address to the fans, Qin also expressed his best wishes for the Chinese and US ice hockey teams competing in the men's Olympic ice hockey tournament.

The video was played on a giant screen on Monday as the game between the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, was coming to an end.

In a message played on the screen above the ice rink, Qin greeted the fans and quoted famous former NHL player Mario Lemieux who said "every day is a great day for hockey".

"I wish to thank (the) players of both teams for making today a great day," Qin said.

"People love ice hockey because of its speed and skills. Hockey players have fire in their hearts and ice in their veins. People love it also because it reflects the sportsmanship of mutual respect, fair play and tenacity."

The Chinese and US men's ice hockey teams will compete in the same group in Beijing next month. Qin said he hopes there are plenty of goals from both teams. He wished both the Chinese and US teams the best of luck.

Qin also explained to the crowd that the Beijing Winter Olympics would use the world's most advanced ice-making technology, with zero carbon emissions.

He concluded his speech with a reminder that as the COVID-19 pandemic is still spreading, everyone needs to learn from the hockey players and always wear a mask.

To mark the upcoming Chinese New Year, Slapshot, the mascot of the Washington Capitals, tossed tiger dolls into the audience during breaks in the game to cheering and applause.

The promotional event, Together for a Shared Future, was co-hosted by the Chinese embassy and China Global Television Network.