Beijing (TDI): The Russian Embassy team in China won the diplomatic football tournament “SCO Cup,” held in Beijing on October 10–11 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
The team representing the Embassy of Iran in China finished second in the competition, which brought together teams from SCO member states and the organization’s Secretariat.
SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev attended the final match on October 11 and participated in the closing and award ceremonies. He described the tournament as a celebration of sport, friendship and cooperation among participating countries.
Yermekbayev said the tournament had become a continuing tradition, following its establishment last year. He thanked the Russian Embassy in China and Russian Ambassador Igor Morgulov for initiating the event and overseeing its organization.
He also acknowledged Iranian Ambassador Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli for forming the Iranian team and taking part in the competition. The secretary-general extended his appreciation to all participating teams, the SCO Secretariat, organizers, referees and supporters.
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In his remarks, Yermekbayev highlighted the SCO’s 25-year role in bringing countries together to advance peace, security and shared development.
He said the organization’s anniversary year had been marked by practical achievements across various areas of cooperation, alongside a series of events, including forums, conferences, festivals, exhibitions and round-table discussions.
The football tournament, he added, contributed to the anniversary celebrations by bringing diplomats together through sporting competition and friendly interaction.
The closing ceremony also featured remarks by Russian Ambassador Igor Morgulov and Iranian Ambassador Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli.
Congratulating the winners and runners-up, Yermekbayev thanked all teams for their performances and competitive spirit, while wishing participants further sporting achievements and success.
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The SCO, established in 2001, brings together countries to promote cooperation in areas including regional security, economic development and cultural exchange. The “SCO Cup” provided an opportunity for diplomatic representatives to strengthen people-to-people ties as the organization marked a quarter-century of cooperation.
