On January 25, Chinese Ambassador Qin Gang delivered a video message in the NBA game between the Washington Wizards and the Los Angeles Clippers, wishing both teams and their fans a happy Chinese New Year, and also wishing both Team China and Team USA best performances in the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics.
The game attracted thousands of fans in the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. During the first timeout, Ambassador Qin's video speech was broadcast on the stadium’s big screen. He congratulated NBA on its legendary 75th anniversary, hoping it would keep getting greater in the years to come. He said both the Wizards and the Clippers were special in the hearts of Chinese fans, as famous Chinese players had once played for the two teams respectively. Ambassador Qin pointed out that the Washington Wizards, formerly known as Washington Bullets, was the first-ever NBA team to visit China in 1979, shortly after the establishment of China-US diplomatic relations. “Clearly, something is bigger than basketball,” he emphasized. Ambassador Qin concluded by wishing the game audience a happy and healthy Chinese New Year, the Year of the Tiger, as well as the best performances for both Team China and Team USA in the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics.
The Arena was rich in Chinese culture atmosphere and the event is filled with festive elements of the Chinese New Year. Before the start of the game, an artist played the US National Anthem with Pipa, a traditional Chinese plucked string instrument. The names of the Wizards players were all displayed in Chinese characters on the big screen. During a timeout, the Arena’s video screen broadcasted the New Year greetings from Wizards players in both English and Chinese language. During the halftime break, a Washington local Chinese dance ensemble performed a lion dance. The audience was immersed in the Chinese New Year blessings and an enjoyable “Chinese Cultural Night”.
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