美国宾夕法尼亚州大学生足球队访琼交流 活动开营仪式在海口举行

On August 4, the opening ceremony of the exchange visit by the University Football Team from Pennsylvania, USA, to Hainan—guided and supported by the Hainan Provincial Foreign Affairs Office and hosted by Hainan Yingya Shengpide School—was held at Hainan Yingya Shengpide School. Twenty faculty and student representatives from the United States crossed the Pacific Ocean to visit three cities—Haikou, Qiongzhong, and Wuzhishan—over the next few days. During their visit, they will participate in three friendly football matches, experience cultural activities such as Baduanjin and Qiong Opera facial painting, and appreciate the achievements of rural revitalization in Hainan.

Mr.Zhang Wenlong, leader of the U.S. delegation and president of the U.S.-China Business and Tourism Association, shared his expectations for the visit. He noted that football is a sport that transcends national borders and language barriers, enabling young people from diverse cultural backgrounds to foster mutual respect, trust, and shared growth on the same green field. He expressed hope that sports could serve as a bridge and youth as a bond to further deepen people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States, thereby contributing to enhanced mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of the two countries, particularly among their younger generations.

The head of the Hainan Provincial Foreign Affairs Office stated that this visit by the Philadelphia Orchestra's university football team marks the first such exchange in 2024; from symphonic music to the pitch, these diverse forms of interaction will together compose a vivid chapter of people-to-people friendship between China and the United States. This year also marks the inaugural year of the full implementation of the closed-door operation of the Hainan Free Trade Port. He expressed hope that participants would have the opportunity to closely experience the dynamic development of the Free Trade Port following its closure, as well as the local cultural charm of the region. Furthermore, he hoped that young people from both countries would develop tacit understanding through their tactical coordination during the matches and forge lasting friendships through post-match conversations and camaraderie.

Players from both sides then engaged in jersey autograph sessions, exchanged football team flags, and gifted each other commemorative items. Following the opening ceremony, the University of Pennsylvania University Football Team played its first friendly match against the Haikou International Talent Home Football Team. During their visit to Hainan, they will also engage in friendly matches against the Qiongzhong Bengene Football Team and the Wuzhishan Laozhoufu Football Team.

8月4日，由海南省外事办公室指导支持，海南英雅盛彼德学校承办的美国宾夕法尼亚州大学生足球队访琼交流活动开营仪式在海南英雅盛彼德学校启幕。来自美国的20名师生代表跨越太平洋，未来几天将走访海口、琼中、五指山三城开展三场足球友谊赛，体验八段锦和琼剧脸谱彩绘等文化项目，感受海南乡村振兴的成果。

　　美方代表团领队、美中商旅总会会长张文龙先生分享了对此行的期待，他表示，足球是一项跨越国界、跨越语言的运动，它能够让来自不同文化背景的年轻人在同一片绿茵场上相互尊重、彼此信任、共同成长。期待以体育为桥梁，以青少年为纽带，不断深化中美民间交流，为增进两国人民特别是青年一代之间的相互理解和友谊贡献更多力量。

　　海南省外事办公室负责人表示，费城交响乐团2024年首次访琼演出，此次宾州大学生足球队来访，从交响乐到绿茵场，不同形式的交流共同谱写中美民间友好的生动篇章。今年恰逢海南自由贸易港封关运作全面实施开局之年，期待大家能近距离感受自贸港封关后的发展活力与本土人文风情，也愿两国青年在足球赛攻防配合中建立默契，在赛后谈笑中结下友谊。

　　双方球员进行球衣签名互动，交换足球队旗并互赠纪念礼物。开营仪式结束后，宾夕法尼亚州大学生足球队与海口国际人才之家足球队展开首场友谊赛。在海南访问期间，他们还将先后与琼中奔格内足球队、五指山老州府足球队进行交流切磋。（文 海南省外事办公室）