By Xuefei Chen Axelsson
Sweden has become one of the eight strongest football team in the world after it defeated Swiss team.
The Swiss player in the end pushed the Swedish player so that the latter fell. This was not a friendly action.
Fortunately Swedish team won Swiss team with one to zero.
By Xuefei Chen Axelsson
STOCKHOLM, June 25(Greenpost, Chineseonline)– Chinese Dongfeng Race Team won the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 in the closest pass in race history.
Skipper Charles Caudrelier led his team to victory on the final leg of the race, a 970-mile sprint from Gothenburg, Sweden to The Hague.
Incredibly, it marked the first leg win for the team — it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Three teams started Leg 11 of the race on Thursday in a dead heat on the overall leaderboard. The finishing order between MAPFRE, Team Brunel and Dongfeng Race Team at The Hague would determine their place on the overall race podium.
Each of those three teams led at various points on the leg and had their opportunities to grab the prize.
But it was Caudrelier and his crew who made a bold call on Saturday evening to take a coastal route to the finish, which squeezed them tight against the shoreline and separated from the other leaders by a series of Exclusion Zones.
“We were not in such a good position, but we trusted our choice and we pushed,” Caudrelier said. “The others didn’t follow us, but we believed and we won…”
The decision hurt the team in the short term as they tumbled down the leaderboard. But by Sunday morning, with less than 100 miles left to race, weather routing projections had the top boats finishing within minutes of each other. None had been able to break away overnight, despite the significant splits on the race course.
“We knew that we would fall behind initially and that if it came good it would only be at the end. The last position report (1300 UTC on Sunday) we were 27-miles from the finish and they were 20-miles and we thought it was over. But then I did a small weather routing and it showed we could end up one-mile ahead so I woke everyone up and said, ‘let’s push!’”
As the teams finally converged again on Sunday afternoon, just a few miles from the finish, it was Dongfeng Race Team, flying down the coast from the north sliding in front of the offshore group, to earn their first leg win, propelling Caudrelier’s team to overall victory.
“We always trusted each other. Nobody thought we were going to win this last leg, but I had a good feeling,” an emotional Caudrelier said, after thanking his supporters and team. “I said ‘we can’t lose, we can’t lose, we can’t lose’… and we won!”
The overall results make this the closest finish in the 45-year history of the race and marks the first win for a Chinese-flagged team. It also means Carolijn Brouwer and Marie Riou were on board as the first women sailors to win the Volvo Ocean Race.
Xabi Fernández’s MAPFRE was third on the leg, which put the team into second overall.
“It has been tough,” Fernández admitted. “We sailed very well the whole way around the world and on this leg as well, so naturally we’re a bit disappointed. We were very, very close this time, but it was not quite enough. So we have to say congratulations to Dongfeng who sailed a little bit better than us.”
Team Brunel skipper Bouwe Bekking would have liked nothing more than to win the race for the first time in eight tries with a home finish in The Netherlands. But it wasn’t to be. His fourth place leg finish left the team in third place overall.
“Third place, still on the podium, I think we can be pretty proud of that as a team,” he said. “We thought we had made the right choice (to go further offshore) and we expected a windshift. It came 90-minutes too late and that was the race. But that’s yacht racing. And of course we have to congratulate Dongfeng and MAPFRE for their results.”
Second place on the final leg into The Hague was Dutch skipper Simeon Tienpont and his team AkzoNobel, who had previously secured fourth place on the overall leaderboard.
“It’s incredible to finish on the podium in our hometown,” Tienpont said. “We would have loved to have been fighting into The Hague for the final podium but to have set the 24-hour speed record and to get six podium finishes in the race is a testament to the job everyone on our team – on the boat and on shore – have done.”
Vestas 11th Hour Racing had already been locked into fifth place on the scoreboard and after a promising start to Leg 11, had a disappointing seventh place finish on the leg.
“We have a great group of folks on this team,” skipper Charlie Enright said. “We’ve been through a lot and I’m not sure any other group could have dealt with the challenges we have faced the way we did. It’s something special and we’re going to continue to work together moving forward. This was a tough way to go out certainly, but we have one more opportunity with the In-Port Race this weekend.”
That In-Port Race, scheduled for Saturday afternoon, will determine the sixth and seventh place positions in this edition of the Volvo Ocean Race. Both SHK/Scallywag and Turn the Tide on Plastic finished the Volvo Ocean Race on equal points.
The tie-break mechanism is the In-Port Race Series, where David Witt’s Scallywag team currently holds the lead. But Dee Caffari’s Turn the Tide on Plastic is just three points behind and a strong finish on Saturday could lift them off the bottom of the leaderboard.
“We can’t help but smile today. We’ve done it,” said Caffari. “This leg was like the longest In-Port Race ever. A lot of corners to go around, and we gave it 100 per cent and left nothing in the tank.”
For David Witt, the finish was bittersweet the loss of John Fisher overboard in the Southern Ocean top of mind.
“I have very mixed emotions right now,” Witt said dockside immediately after finishing. “I’m incredibly proud of our team both on and off the water. We’re very tight and we have gone through a lot… But I’m also sad of course. I didn’t finish it with my best mate (John Fisher) who we started with. So very mixed emotions, but I’m glad we finished it.”
The teams will celebrate their accomplishments and take well-earned rest on Monday. The rest of the week will see activities in The Hague building towards the final In-Port Race and Awards Night on June 30.
Volvo Ocean Race Leg 11 Final Leaderboard — Saturday 23 June
1. Dongfeng Race Team – 3 days, 3 hours, 22 minutes, 32 seconds
2. team AkzoNobel – 3 days, 3 hours, 38 minutes, 31 seconds
3. MAPFRE – 3 days, 3 hours, 39 minutes, 25 seconds
4. Team Brunel – 3 days, 3 hours, 45 minutes, 52 seconds
5. Turn the Tide on Plastic – 3 days, 3 hours, 56 minutes, 56 seconds
6. SHK / Scallywag – 3 days, 4 hours, 01 minutes, 32 seconds
7. Vestas 11th Hour Racing – 3 days, 4 hours, 05 minutes, 36 seconds
Volvo Ocean Race Overall Points Leaderboard after Leg 11
1. Dongfeng Race Team – 73 points
2. MAPFRE – 70 points
3. Team Brunel – 69 points
4. team AkzoNobel – 59 points
5. Vestas 11th Hour Racing – 39 points
6. SHK / Scallywag – 32 points *
7. Turn the Tide on Plastic – 32 points *
* Should there be a tie on the overall race leaderboard at the end of the offshore legs, the In-Port Race Series standings will be used to break the tie.
Source: www.volvooceanrace.com
By Xuefei Chen Axelsson
STOCKHOLM, Feb. 22(Greenpost) — Chinese player Wu Dajing has won the first Gold Medal for Chinese team in the Winter Olympics in South Korea.
His record was 39.584 seconds for 500 meters speed skating.
This was the first gold medal Chinese team has won at the Winter Olympics in South Korea.
By Xuefei Chen Axelsson
STOCKHOLM, Jan. 16(Greenpost)—Visiting CPPCC member and Executive Director of China International Cultural Communication Center Long Yuxiang has met Zhang Qiaozhen, President of Sweden-China Entrepreneur Association in Stockholm on Jan. 13, 2018. They have exchanged ideas on promoting cooperation between China and Sweden in cultural, economic and sports sectors especially in ice hockey.
Zhang Qiaozhen has expressed warm welcome and deep gratitude to Long Yuxiang’s visit. She said that SCEA is an information exchange platform for Swedish and Chinese entrepreneurs and was established on November 2015. It mainly focuses on environmental protection, energy saving technology, clean energy, biomedicine, life science, electronic information etc.
Zhang Qiaozhen said SCEA will try its best to provide a friendship bridge across the border and cultures between the two sides. It is a platform for scientific research, finance, trade and talented people. In the areas of winter sports in particular ice hockey, China has made a great leap forward development in recent years and are looking forward to 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Zhang said SCEA hopes to be able to join hands with China International Cultural Communication Center to do its best in ice hockey cooperation and 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Long Yuxiang has thanked Zhang Qiaozhen for her contribution in pushing forward exchanges and cooperation between the two sides. He said Sweden is an important country in Europe and the largest country in Nordic region. It has advanced economic and technological development. Its Swedish Model in social governance is well-known in the world.
Long said Sino-Swedish friendship has had a long history and Sweden is the first western country in the world to establish diplomatic relations with China. In recent years, Sino-Swedish relations developed steadily and cooperation in various fields are deepened. As an important window for China to conduct cultural exchange with foreign countries, China International Cultural Communication Center has been engaged in making national cultural brand, holding the responsibility of attracting foreign culture towards the future, and established friendly relations with 130 countries in the world.
“President Xi Jinping has paid important attention to ice hockey development and made a series of directories for hosting 2022 winter Olympics. Kunlun Red Star Ice Hockey Club was established on June 25, 2016 witnessed by both Chinese and Russian Presidents. It symbolizes the birth of the first Chinese World class Ice Hockey Club. Since its establishment, it has seriously implemented Xi Jinping’s important mandate in order to promote Chinese Ice Hockey team to achieve excellent achievements in Winter Olympics. It has made great progress in improving Chinese ice hockey teams’ overall level. It also takes “belt and road” initiative as its mission to promote sports and culture exchanges. ”
Long Yuxiang said his center is more than willing to exchange and cooperate with Sweden-China Entrepreneur Association in promoting bilateral cultural , economic and sports especially ice hockey exchange and cooperation.
Yue Xinyu, founder of Beijing Kunlun Red Star Ice Hockey Club, Zhang Shouting, Nordic Sustainable Development Association, Zhang Shaobin, President of Shenzhen Kong Wah Real Estate Group, Zhang Shenhua, President of Shenzhen Xinyu Fund and Zhang Luping, General Manager of Rongtai Investment AB were also present at the meeting.
Photo/text Xuefei Chen Axelsson
By Xuefei Chen Axelsson
STOCKHOLM, Jan. 14(Greenpost)–Chinese Ambassador to Sweden Gui Congyou has said China warmly welcome Sweden to cooperate and exchange with China in ice and snow sports.
He made this remark at Sweden-China Cultural Economic Sports Summit Forum held on Saturday in Stockholm. The forum was sponsored by Sweden-China Entrepreneurs Association and supported by the visiting China International Communication Center and Beijing Kunlun Red Star Ice Hockey Club delegation and the Chinese Embassy to Sweden.
“I am very grateful for the visit with my invitation within a short time because it shows China’s great enthusiasm in ice hockey and paying great attention to bilateral exchange in ice sports with Sweden. It is well-known that Sweden is a strong country in ice hockey and other ice sports. I sincerely hope Swedish friends to seize this precious chance to actively conduct ice and snow sports exchange with China, jointly push Sino-Swedish relations in ice and snow sports to further develop and make great contribution to international Olympic Sports and world’s sports cause.” said Gui.
Zhang Qiaozhen, President of Sweden-China Entrepreneurs Association said her association likes to make their contribution to promote Sino-Swedish Ice sports cooperation.
“As Sweden-China Entrepreneurs Association, we’re willing to serve as a good bridge between Sweden and China in Sports and Cultural exchanges. We’re going to have detail discussions in this field.”
K-G Stoppel, Vice CEO of Swedish Djurgardens IF Hockey Club said that as a representative from the Ice Hockey circle, he thinks it is very important to promote and spread ice hockey.
“I think there is no better cooperation than with China. I fully agree that Beijing’s 2022 Winter Olypics will be a great chance for Chinese to increase their interest in ice sports. Considering Swedish Ice Hockey’ long history and our expertise in ice hockey and other ice sport training, I think we can cooperate with Chinese side in providing training for Chinese players, I look forward to further cooperation. ”
But he warned that ice hockey is a sport that needs a lot of time, energy and sweat. It takes a long time to make breakthrough.
Long Yuxiang, CEO of China International Cultural Communicaiton Center expressed his gratitude to the Ambassador’s invitation and the hospitality of Zhang Qiaozhen, President of Sweden-China Entrepreneurs Association and the Swedish friends. He said his center was founded in 1984 and has become an important window for China’s cultural exchange with other countries. It has cultural exchanges with 130 countries in the world. He stressed that Chinese President Xi Jinping has paid great attention to 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics which will provide a lot of opportunities for Ice Hockey players.
“Sweden is our dreamed country in ice sports. I believe we will establish deep friendship through cultural and sports in particular ice hockey. I sincerely welcome Swedish Ice Hockey Association to visit us. We have established eight Ice hockey clubs in China within just one year, we plan to establish 20 Ice Hockey Clubs this year. Chances are equal for everyone, but if Sweden comes first, we prefer to cooperate with you.”
Kunlun Red Star Ice Hockey Club also presented their ice jersey to their Swedish counterparts while Sweden-China Entrepreneur Association also presented their presents to the honorary guests.
Goran Tidstrom, Vice Chairman of the Board of Djurgardens IF Hockey Club and Swedish Ice Hockey Association Board Member, Mickael Tellqvist, Former Goal Keeper and Martin Lundby from Swedish Ice Hockey Association were also present at the forum.
The forum was organized by Sweden-China Entrepreneurs Association and supported by China International Cultural Communication Center and the Chinese Embassy in Sweden.
Han Xiaodong, Counselor of Commerce and Pu Zhengdong, Counselor of Culture of the Chinese Embassy, Shouting Zhang, President of Nordic Sustainable Development Association, Zhang Shaobin, President of Shenzhen Kong-wah Real Estate Group, Zhang Shenhua from Shenzhen Xinyu Fund and Zhang Luping, General Manager of Rongtai Investment AB were also present at the forum.
Photo/text Xuefei Chen Axelsson
By Xuefei Chen Axelsson
STOCKHOLM, June 19(Greenpost)–South Korean Martial Arts Jump has been performed in Stockholm and warmly welcomed by the Swedish and Korean audience recently.
“There are nine characters in the group and it is about a big family whose members are all good at Taekwondo or South Korean Martial arts. The story is about their dealings with thieves.” said Producer Kyeong-Ah Han in an interview with Greenpost before the performance.
June-Sang Lee is art director (right)
Art Director June-Sang Lee said the story is taken a style of Taikwondo or South Korean Martial Arts with funny actions. Taikwondo has been very popular in South Korea since it has been put into the school curriculum. It is a national sport.
“The performance is mainly funny actions, thus was loved by audience and we have performed in many countries in the world including the US and Japan. This time we came to Europe to show South Korean culture,” said Lee.
Hyeran Ahn is one of the two actresses and performs a mother in Jump.
“I am 30 years old and have performed for five years. I studied sports first and then I studied performance subject. At the beginning I was a little worried because I was performing with boys. But as I am familiar with it, I enjoy it very much. ”
The middle three, from left to right, is Art Director Lee, Actress Ahn and the Producer Han. The woman in red is the journalist Xuefei Chen Axelsson. The very left is one of the actors.
This was the first appearance of the actress Ahn at the very beginning. The two in the back were also very funny during the performance.
South Korean Ambassador Nan Gwan-pyo and President of Swedish South Korean Association also among the 600 audience full in the Maxim Theatre.
Most interestingly is that Jump began with an old man with white clothes and a walking stick walking towards the Ambassador and at the beginning, we thought it was a mistake. But the ambassador obediently went out with him and the old man even asked the ambassador to take him on the back to the stage! and the Ambassador cooperated! So it was the beginning of the show! Such a mutual movement with the audience.
Every movement and every action got a funny sound to accompany. Thus the show gave people such a good audio and video effect! People can’t help bursting into laughter!
Even at the beginning the Ambassador said” it is very funny!”
At the later parts there were mutual actions with the audience too, both Korean and Swedish audience.
An interview with the ambassador Nam Gwan-pyo. Shot by Jan Peter Axelsson 。
Ambassador Nam Gwan-pyo told reporter that the performance is very good. One can feel it from the applauses and laughters from the audience.
“Indeed it was influenced by Martial arts master Jacky Chan. They love him and the performance is really wonderful, you see that. ”
The Jump performance was sponsored by the South Korean Ministry of Culture and the South Korean Embassy in Sweden aiming at letting Swedish audience to know more about South Korean culture.
The 600 seat theatre was full of people including the second floor.
Text and Photo by Xuefei Chen Axelsson and Jan Peter Axelsson.
北欧绿色邮报网报道（记者陈雪霏）：据新华社北京３月５日电 第十二届全国人民代表大会第五次会议５日上午在人民大会堂开幕。国务院总理李克强向大会作政府工作报告时指出，使命重在担当，实干铸就辉煌。我们要更加紧密地团结在以习近平同志为核心的党中央周围，同心同德，开拓进取，努力完成今年经济社会发展目标任务，为实现“两个一百年”宏伟目标、建设富强民主文明和谐的社会主义现代化国家、实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦而不懈奋斗。
今天的人民大会堂气氛庄严热烈。万人大礼堂内灯火辉煌，主席台帷幕中央国徽高悬，十面红旗分列两侧。近３０００名全国人大代表肩负人民重托出席盛会，认真履行宪法和法律赋予的神圣职权。
大会主席团常务主席、执行主席张德江主持大会。大会主席团常务主席、执行主席李建国、王胜俊、陈昌智、严隽琪、王晨、沈跃跃、吉炳轩、张平、向巴平措、艾力更·依明巴海、万鄂湘、张宝文、陈竺在主席台执行主席席就座。
习近平、李克强、俞正声、刘云山、王岐山、张高丽和大会主席团成员在主席台就座。
十二届全国人大五次会议应出席代表２９２４人。今天的会议，出席２８６２人，缺席６２人，出席人数符合法定人数。
上午９时，张德江宣布：中华人民共和国第十二届全国人民代表大会第五次会议开幕。会场全体起立，高唱国歌。
根据会议议程，国务院总理李克强代表国务院向大会作政府工作报告。报告共分三部分：一、２０１６年工作回顾；二、２０１７年工作总体部署；三、２０１７年重点工作任务。
李克强说，过去一年，我国发展面临国内外诸多矛盾叠加、风险隐患交汇的严峻挑战。在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，全国各族人民迎难而上，砥砺前行，推动经济社会持续健康发展。党的十八届六中全会正式明确习近平总书记的核心地位，体现了党和人民的根本利益，对保证党和国家兴旺发达、长治久安，具有十分重大而深远的意义。各地区、各部门不断增强政治意识、大局意识、核心意识、看齐意识，推动全面建成小康社会取得新的重要进展，全面深化改革迈出重大步伐，全面依法治国深入实施，全面从严治党纵深推进，全年经济社会发展主要目标任务圆满完成，“十三五”实现了良好开局。
李克强从继续创新和加强宏观调控，经济运行保持在合理区间；着力抓好“三去一降一补”，供给结构有所改善；大力深化改革开放，发展活力进一步增强；强化创新引领，新动能快速成长；促进区域城乡协调发展，新的增长极增长带加快形成；加强生态文明建设，绿色发展取得新进展；注重保障和改善民生，人民群众获得感增强；推进政府建设和治理创新，社会保持和谐稳定等方面回顾了过去一年的工作。
李克强指出，我们也清醒看到，经济社会发展中还存在不少困难和问题。我们一定要直面挑战，敢于担当，全力以赴做好政府工作，不辱历史使命，不负人民重托。
李克强说，２０１７年发展的主要预期目标是：国内生产总值增长６．５％左右，在实际工作中争取更好结果；居民消费价格涨幅３％左右；城镇新增就业１１００万人以上，城镇登记失业率４．５％以内；进出口回稳向好，国际收支基本平衡；居民收入和经济增长基本同步；单位国内生产总值能耗下降３．４％以上，主要污染物排放量继续下降。
李克强报告了做好２０１７年政府工作要把握好的五点：一是贯彻稳中求进工作总基调，保持战略定力；二是坚持以推进供给侧结构性改革为主线；三是适度扩大总需求并提高有效性；四是依靠创新推动新旧动能转换和结构优化升级；五是着力解决人民群众普遍关心的突出问题。
李克强说，２０１７年要重点做好九个方面工作：一是用改革的办法深入推进“三去一降一补”；二是深化重要领域和关键环节改革；三是进一步释放国内需求潜力；四是以创新引领实体经济转型升级；五是促进农业稳定发展和农民持续增收；六是积极主动扩大对外开放；七是加大生态环境保护治理力度；八是推进以保障和改善民生为重点的社会建设；九是全面加强政府自身建设。
李克强还就民族、宗教和侨务工作，国防和军队建设，香港、澳门发展和两岸关系，以及我国外交政策作了阐述。
根据会议议程，大会审查２０１６年国民经济和社会发展计划执行情况与２０１７年国民经济和社会发展计划草案的报告及２０１７年计划草案、２０１６年中央和地方预算执行情况与２０１７年中央和地方预算草案的报告及２０１７年全国预算草案。
在主席台就座的还有：马凯、王沪宁、刘延东、刘奇葆、许其亮、孙春兰、孙政才、李源潮、汪洋、张春贤、范长龙、孟建柱、赵乐际、胡春华、栗战书、郭金龙、韩正、杜青林、赵洪祝、杨晶、常万全、杨洁篪、郭声琨、王勇、周强、曹建明、韩启德、帕巴拉·格列朗杰、董建华、万钢、林文漪、罗富和、何厚铧、张庆黎、李海峰、陈元、卢展工、周小川、王家瑞、王正伟、马飚、齐续春、陈晓光、马培华、刘晓峰、王钦敏，以及中央军委委员房峰辉、张阳、赵克石、张又侠、吴胜利、马晓天、魏凤和等。
香港特别行政区行政长官梁振英、澳门特别行政区行政长官崔世安列席会议并在主席台就座。
出席全国政协十二届五次会议的政协委员列席大会。
中央和国家机关有关部门、解放军及武警部队、各人民团体有关负责人列席或旁听了大会。
各国驻华使节旁听了大会。（完）
By Xuefei Chen Axelsson and Perka Holmström
STOCKHOLM, Aug. 31(Greenpost)– Progress has been made in Bandy and Hockey cooperation and exchange between China and Sweden recently, said Perka Holmström, one of the driving forces for cooperation between Sweden and China in Bandy and Hockey.
” We made a “Pioneer Journey” for China’s Bandy and Hockey delegation from Harbin Sports University to a large part of our skating sports unique roots,” said Holmström.
The Chinese delegation consists of Harbin Sports University’s Sports Director Li Bindong who basically is responsible for all Olympic Medal Candidates – 3 World Cup Bandy and Ice Hockey Women, Xiao Jinqui (China Team Captain a copy of Salming), Zhang Huiri (14 year old), Du Yuchen 11 years (which became world famous with the song “Welcome to Beijing”) … Yue Qingshang, (Double Olympic Curling Medal) …and also the Sport Director for Qiqihaer University Zhang Shousheng.” said Holmström. The following is a vivid and interesting travel log with important information about the Swedish-Chinese communication and exchange:
“Thursday – As our main base was in Vällingby (The first modern suburb in Sweden build 1950) … We started with Hässelby Kälvestas hockey training for 04 or where Daniel’s younger brother Leo Zhang guided three Chinese Women’s World Cup players … We also spent time with Värmdö J18 and Gustavsberg Bandy in the Archepelago… where it became the most physics as the ice unit took the day off. It was almost like in China, but we could show how to sharpen skates for both Bandy and Hockey – and also got an sharpener with us … so thanks to Värmdö Hockey and Gustavsberg Bandy.”
Friday became Rink Bandy training, with Hammarby’s Women on the Classic Zinken … and then we saw Daniel Zhangs debut for Värmdö J18 in Ice Hockey, a game in the “Wild Väsby Ice Rink” … Yes it became a victory 4-1 for Daniels new team, and the China Bandy Captain approaching Ice Hockey World Championship too.
Saturday offered a visit to the historic Västerås. Nowadays it is named ABB Arena but for us mortals, it is – Rocklunda Forever. VSK Bandy with Legend “Lillis” Jonsson took care of us and we could both “Train Bandy with Mr Hans Johansson and Lillis” and then see the Elite teams VSK and Tellus, make the season premiere game, where the profile Pelle Fosshag, now the Somali National coach suddenly appeared and kept us company in the stands … On the way out of the hall, we met up with Jens Nielsen .. the Danish hockey legend rooted in Leksand, that has promised to lead a Danish Bandy Team in the World Cup 3 February against Iceland… He is now responsible for Leksands J20 in Ice Hockey, so he invited us to watch the match Västerås vs Leksand …. Unfortunately, the judges never showed up, so after 45 minutes we had to leave Rocklunda …
On Sunday and Monday our “King” a little figuratively stepped into the game with visits to Drottningholm and Slottet..Of course also Operakällaren, Cafe Opera and the famous Fungus at Stureplan came in place … where FIBs Leif Klingborg and Hasse Johansson together with Bandy friend Göran Gezelius meet up with Vanessa and the Taishan Group Crew for the Classic “Kräftfest”… Yue Qingshang, could also conclude that there was no ice in Sundbyberg Curling Hall ..
Tuesday early morning… Travel to Sandviken – Göransson Arena, Ice Time with Bandy School… .Then quickly to Gävle and Brynäs for Hockey Training and Lunch … Back to Sandviken and Press Conference with World Cup organizer Magnus Roos and Wenche Yaman, FIBs Bo Nyman and Arne Anderstedt. Then SAIKs club director Per Söderlund took us on a regular team training with the A Team. We concluded with dinner with the Municipal Peter Kärnström and Ulf Gillström, Head of Culture and Leisure in Sandviken – We left the city with a Standard for twin town Chengde. Yes it was where SAIK Bandy went for Winter Classic 2015 and where Women’s World Cup will take place in 2018, and hopefully also some Olympic Games will take place in Chengde 2022 – before a much needed night of sleep was offered on Högbo Bruk …
* Wednesday first a short trip to Sundborn – for the great Swedish Painter Carl Larssons Farm and after that Sports Ewa, where 4 pair of Bandy Skates was presented by CCM. Then the Bus took off to the Classic Edsbyn Bandy Club and first indoor Arena in Bandy, made in just wood… Edsbyn lined up with Elis and Siv Johansson, Ola Johansson and Keka Robertson for training with the A-Team … and where legend Magnus “Kuben” Olsson invited the ladies on a very own ride on the ice ….
Chinese delegation could also offer the Legendary Chinese “Welcome to Beijing” with Du Yuchen – inside the A Teams dressing room – almost a bit Bandy Music – before the trip returned us to Stockholm…Actually we were so fast that Legendary “Järven” just got us on telephone when we passed Bollnäs. Of course I then told the group the story of the Bandy Legend “Snoddas”… also some more Bandy Music…
Thursday … Offered Barkabys Outlet and an intensive search of the Ice Time and a Sharpener to do the Bandy Radie – before US Vice President, Joe Biden was in Stockholm… However, we received a contribution of 4 pair of Bandy Skates from Ekerö IK’s strongman Bertil Sundberg, in the small late hours, and I had time to thank for the loan of the bus for the journey from “Sweden’s Happiest Club” Ekerö IK started 1921 – the same year that Ice Hockey in Sweden also started… ..
Friday .. We could conclude the “Testing of the new skates with 4 meter radie at Arlanda Wings Ice Rink, close to the Airport thanks to Club President Johan Karlsson… under the supervision of Bandy Pioneer and Sirius profile Janne Sjonemark who also work in the group around me and Hans Johansson for China Bandy …. Before they went home …
Finally we meet Taishan who has been involved in several parts of the journey, an initiative by Vanessa Folkesson.. As one of the world’s largest suppliers of Sports Materials, just delivered mayor pieces to the Rio Olympics, they kindly asked to be involved in Bandys process to the Olympics 2022…
Here are now also a number of projects they are interested in, developing both Bandy and Ice Hockey as well as other Winter Sports in skiing and skating – Perhaps we will see a “Developed Bandy Rink” already in the Bandy World Cup 13-16 October.
China Bandy – Has 4 major important steps to take this Season….
*First Bandy School will start in Harbin Sport University already this season
*China Open Bandy Winter Classic in Chengde 30 December-1 January (Both Woman and Men)
*World Championship in Sandviken/Trollhättan 23-28 of January for Mens Team
*A blue print to the first University League with 5 Teams is in the process…
**In Ice Hockey – Kunlun Red Star will play their first KHL Game in Khabarovsk Thursday 1 september and we hope to see them play in Beijing 29 December 14.30 when meeting our Asia League competitor Amur from Khabarovsk…. Hopefully Nordic Vikings and Hokay will be back in Asia League next season…. , said Holmström.
* Thanks to Athletic Clubs in Sweden from Nordic Vikings … VSK, Hammarby, Sandviken, Edsbyn, Tellus, Brynäs Leksand, Väsby, Arlanda Wings, Värmdö, Gustavsberg, Hässelby Kälvesta .. Sandviken City and many major sporting personalities … Yes, in principle only the Ice Hockey Referees called absent on this trip….. But in total as an old Swedish Prime Minister once said in shoot notice “Our preparedness is good” …
On the other side in China, a lot of preparation for Bandy and Hockey are also going on. Please look at some of the photo records:
So Ying Da and his son are also involved in Bandy and Hockey!
All the photos are provided by Holmström.
By Xuefei Chen Axelsson
Today marks the 66th anniversary of Sino-Swedish relations. In China, when a person becomes 66 years old, we will give a grand celebration with food and wine.
Similar, the relations between China and Sweden is worthwhile to celebrate too.
Recalling the past 66 years, a lot has happened between the two countries.
Sweden was the first western country that established diplomatic relatlions with China. That was May 9, 1950.
According to historical documents, Norway, Danmark, Finland and Sweden all recognized China in January. But due to Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai’s diplomacy of cleaning up the house first, they decided to accept Swedish offer first and established diplomatic relations with Sweden on May, 9, 1950.
So the former Swedish to China Ambassador said Sweden was chosen to be the first one to establish relations with China. Then Denmark, Finland and Norway established relations with China.
The consideration likely involves the history between China and Sweden. As early as 1700 century, Sweden had sent Gothenburg Ship to China to buy the tea, porshelin and silk. The trade caused a wave of China heat. Even Queen Lovisa was a fan of China.
China Pavillion in Drottningholm was the typical evidence of this craze. It was Lovisa’s gift from the king when she was 33 years old. Inside the pavillion there are a lot of Chinese books. The most impressive thing was the echoing room on the second floor.
Sometimes I feel the down to earth manner and the honesty Swedish people own are the trace of Chinese virtues. Honesty and down to earth are also the virtues Chinese seek.
In the 19th century, Sweden was the first country that signed a business agreement, but didn’t openly invade China or rob China like the other eight western power. But the two sides did sign agreements to divid the antiques people unearthened in Beijing Suburbs. That is why people today can see a whole lot of precious antiques dating back to Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasty in Fareastern Antiquities Museum.
Swedish explorer Sven Hedin explored a lot along the silk road. Many Swedish like to have adventures in China. Ericsson established its office in Shanghai at the end of 19th century.
Meanwhile, Chinese also visited Sweden. Liang Qichao, one of the six Gentlemen who presented a proposal to the Qing Emperor but faced severe punishment escaped to Sweden and lived here for a year.
When New China was established, General Geng Biao who was also vice premier then became the first ambassador to Sweden. New China sent quite a few generals abroad to become the first ambassador.
Sino-Swedish relations have been so good that they sometimes can criticise each other. But they remain good friends.
Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf visited China many times. Crown Princess Victoria had her training in China for a month.
Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Sweden in June 2007. President Xi Jinping visited Sweden in 2010 when he was vice president. Premier Wen Jiabao visited Sweden in 2012.
Yu Zhengsheng, Chairman of CPPCC visited Sweden in June 2014.
While about 500 Swedish companies operate in China, many Chinese companies come to Sweden to invest. Volvo car owner now is Chinese Geely. Saab was also bought by Chinese from Shandong province.
Many Chinese investors bought houses in Sweden and like to contribute to Swedish economies.
Meanwhile, Swedish companies are also seeking opportunities in China.
In terms of culture, a new Chinese Culture Center will be established right in the center of the Stockholm City. It is a good present for the 66th anniversary of Sino-Swedish relations.
What will be the future like? In fact, from what I observed, more and more tourists, especially ordinary tourists are visiting Sweden. This is a sign that the Chinese are getting richer and richer. They can spend money from their own pocket to go abroad. They can afford it and they are allowed to do this. There is no lofty slogan going on, but there is still a lot happening on the ground.
In my opinion, it is these down to business kind of relations that can be more sustainable if the embassy can allow this to happen. More freedom to move and more permission to visit, it will be good for both sides, for the common people to exchange and do business.
Without such freedom, without such permission, it is difficult to really get the business booming. Without exchange of people, we cannot talk about exchange of culture and business.
Sweden has advantage in environmental technology and practices, design, water and air and green energy while China is in need of green food, green tech and green energy.
Recently the exchange of Ice Hockey becomes frequent too. Several activities have taken place. It is hoped more and more exchange activities will take place with the support from both government and businesses.
By Xuefei Chen Axelsson
Stockholm, Jan. 27(Greenpost)–Hi, I’m a Chinese, but I came to Sweden ten years ago. Why? Because my name is Snow. Xue means snow. I was born in this month 49 years ago. It was snowing and cold.
So actually I feel like at home in Sweden. In winter, the snow makes it feel better. The worst time I tell you is november. But Swedes are used to this kind of weather. Those who cannot tolerate it choose to go to Thailand for a few months.
That is why in 2005 Christmas time, more than 400 Swedes died during the Trunami in Thailand. Many people go to Spain to have a winter house too. I mean over there it is always warm!
But Sweden is not bad. I mean in winter you can stay inside and the heating is very even. That temperature is better than anywhere else. It is neither too cold nor too warm.
People can go to the north to ski and live in the wooden house. You can go to skate outside and swim inside a swimming pool. There are a lot of gyms.
To deal with the dark winter, Stockholm city lighted brighter lights in the city center. It hosts international film festival in November.
Christmas makes everybody happy and be busy with presents and food, visiting relatives and friends.
The sun sometimes is too bright because it is low, just hanging above the buildings.
Snow makes it very beautiful and the trees look like paintings. A lot of exhibitions are held indoor.
But this winter has a lot of accidents that make people feel upset. The problem was that a 22 year old girl who worked in an immigration center was stabbed to death by a 15 year old boy who migrant to Sweden.
The boy belongs to those thousands of single boy who has no parents or relatives to accompany them to Swedish border. Do they really have no parents or relatives? No one knows.
But they came and stay together, sometimes they have problems. Now the police said they need more resources. They got more calls from immigration center and immigrants related issues.
Is this winter different from the previous one? Yes, it gets cold later than before and it gets warmer earlier. Just about lest than two weeks below zero, now it is above zero. The ice and snow all melt.
More people go to gym to exercise and many shops closed. I guess the gym will be a good business in the future. One can get everything on website but you can’t exercise on internet.
Swedish winter is not too cold, it is around zero, sometimes above and sometimes below.
By Xuefei Chen Axelsson
STOCKHOLM, Jan. 21(Greenpost)—An event organized by EU-China Winter&Outdoor Sports Alliance on Thursday focusing on networking and finding opportunities for both Swedish and Chinese upon the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
With the presence of many CEOs and Executives of Sports&Outdoor industry guests in Sweden and Taishan Sports Industry Group delegation, delegates exchanged ideas in Winter and Outdoor Sports opportunities.
Investment adviser and Executive Director of the Alliance Vanessa Folkesson made a presentation about the vision and mission of the alliance and the 300 billion RMB cross-border business opportunities to engage 300 million Chinese people to participate in winter sports and outdoor travel in EU and mainland China prior to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
“How can we bring in the brands and products the Chinese have never seen and never know, how do we bring those products to China and how can we help, those are our ambition and goals to achieve, and we see a lot of opportunities in winter&outdoor sports activities, ” said Folkesson.
Executive Chairman of EU-China Culture & Economy Commission William Zhang Yi also said that there is great opportunity in bilateral cooperation in economic, cultural fields.
Four time Olympics official equipment provider Taishan Sports Industry Group’s vice Chairman Bian Qingfeng gave an introduction about his group.
“Established in 1978, Taishan is one of the largest sport products producer and supplier,” said Bian. “We are very proud that we provide equipment and products for 40 percent of the Beijing Summer Olympics Gold medals. We are very good in producing summer sport equipment , but we are still new in producing winter sport equipment, so the main purpose for us to come is to learn from you and find cooperation partners,” said Bian.
Bian said Taishan sincerely look for working partners in developing winter Olympics products.
Per-Erik Holmström made a presentation about Nordic Viking, Ice Hockey and Bandy playing team.
“Nordic Viking is still the best players I believe China’s lady Bandy team will win the 2022 Winter Olympics, but there will be a lot to do. I have great confidence in them,”
During the event, many Swedish sports & outdoor industries CEOs presented their products.
Ingemar Holmberg, Director of International Sales for CRAFT presented various kinds of clothes for the skier or skaters.
World famous Swedish telecommunication giant Ericsson also presented how they can cooperate with Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022.
With the past experience, Ericsson can provide the network for people all over the world to choose to see whatever part of the Olympic Games just by clicking on the internet.
Folkesson said this was a kicking off event and they will organise another event in Beijing next month for similar purposes.
About 50 CEO and Chairpersons of Winter&Outdoor Sports related industries attended the meeting.
STOCKHOLM, Jan. 14 (Greenpost)– Sweden has over 100 years of history to play Ice Bandy and Ice Hockey. Per-Erik Holmström, Chairman of Financial Hearing and Nordic Viking has tried to introduce Swedish players to go to China to play and help Chinese players to improve their standards with special Nordic team playing mentality. Green Post’s Xuefei Chen Axelsson has an interview with him recently in Stockholm about his dream to participate in 2018 world championship and 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Per-Erik Holmström in Nordic Viking’s new clothes in his office. Photo by Xuefei Chen Axelsson.
From next week on, there will be a series of activities to be held in preparation for taking part in the winter olympics in Beijing and world championship.
Filmed by Anneli Larsson.
北欧绿色邮报网报道（记者陈雪霏）－－国足洋帅不停地换，好似走马灯。
HARBIN, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) — The bitter cold in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, powerful enough to cause frostbite, is heating up the economy of the frozen land.
Harbin’s International Ice and Snow Festival, in trial operations, is drawing global tourists with its shimmering castles, huge towers and thrilling slides, all made of ice and snow.
The largest winter festival in China, the frozen structures have been built in the provincial capital every winter since 1999, earning Harbin a fame of “Ice City.”
The park this year has been the largest ever, the size of 112 football fields. A record 330,000 cubic meters of ice and snow were used.
“The main tower, 46.5 meters high, was built with 20,000 cubic meters of ice,” Wang Zengyu, deputy general manager of the park, said. “It might be the highest ice tower in the world.”
A team of Chinese and Dutch designers spent three months in landscaping the park, which was built by more than 10,000 workers. The result is one of the most attractive festivals to date, Wang said.
The time and energy put into the festival is a sign of the hope local authorities have for winter tourism, a bright spot in Heilongjiang’s economy, which has been slowed by sagging energy and heavy industries.
Along with adjacent Jilin and Liaoning provinces, Heilongjiang has been a traditional industrial base for decades. From January to September, Heilongjiang’s economy expanded by 5.5 percent, ranking third from the bottom among China’s provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.
However, the province’s tourism revenues grew by 35 percent during the first three quarters.
Even better growth is expected for this winter, as the popularity of winter sports is predicted to grow following the announcement that Beijing will host the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Last month, Heilongjiang provincial officials came to big cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, Shenzhen and Hangzhou to promote five new travel routes in Northeast China featuring frozen landscapes and winter activities.
In addition to tourism, Heilongjiang’s cold weather, with average January temperatures between minus 31 and minus 15 degrees Celsius, has created other business opportunities, such as mass storage of information data, among others.
Harbin is working to become a base for cloud computing, which allows users to store files in a remote data center, or “cloud,” to enable access from any computer.
The city is attractive to cloud computing companies due to its cool climate, with a yearly average temperature of 3 degrees Celsius. Low temperatures help save on the cost of operating heat sinks and other units required to keep massive banks of computers from overheating.
“According to our calculation, a data center’s power consumption here is 40 percent less than in South or Southeast China. We don’t need compressors for refrigeration for eight months a year,” said Tan Liyan, general manager of data service provider Gopha in Harbin’s cloud computing industrial park.
More than 300 companies have moved into the industrial park, named “China Cloud Valley,” since its launch in late 2010.
Companies in the park inked investment deals worth 31 billion yuan (4.7 billion U.S. dollars), official statistics said.
Hundreds of kilometers away from Harbin, Heihe City has become the first choice for auto makers and auto parts suppliers to test new products under extreme cold conditions, with roads and rivers frozen for more than 200 days a year.
Auto companies started coming to Heihe for testing in the 1980s and the local government began to provide services in 2006.
“We earned just over 100,000 yuan in our first year in 2006, now we have 20 testing grounds and are earning a lot more,” said Zhao Xinhong, general manager of Honghegu, the city’s largest vehicle testing service provider.
“Currently 80 percent of China’s vehicle tests for cold regions are carried out in Heihe,” Sun said.
Demand for the services has boomed despite an economic downturn. Chen Ying, a city official, said a record number of 75 companies brought more than 1,300 vehicles to Heihe last winter.
“As the auto market has been cooling, we should spend more on research and development to win customers,” said Deng Yongjun, an engineer with Chang’an Automobile based in Southwest China’s Chongqing. Deng’s team took 100 cars to Heihe last winter.
Once China’s industrial base, the northeastern provinces have experienced an even faster economic downturn than the rest of the country, with the slowdown in heavy industry, chemicals and the real estate sector being blamed for the sluggish growth.
The situation, however, is improving. During the first three quarters in 2015, Heilongjiang’s gross domestic product (GDP) gained 0.4 percentage point from the first half of the year.
Liaoning’s GDP expanded 2.7 percent in the first three quarters, the lowest in the nation, but higher than the 2.6 percent registered in the first half of the year. Jilin’s GDP expanded 6.3 percent, up from 6.1 percent during the first six months.
The Chinese government has been rolling out measures since 2003 to boost the region, free up private businesses and restructure state-owned enterprises.
By 2020, Northeast China is expected to achieve medium-high growth, and by 2030, it is encouraged to become an important region in sustaining national growth, one key meeting of China’s top leadership planned recently.
The leadership promised more market-oriented administration, structural reform, stimulation for innovation and entrepreneurship, and improved quality of life in the often frigid region. Enditem
