ROVANIEMI, Finland, July 3 (Xinhua) -- On a crisp northern afternoon in Rovaniemi, the famed Arctic city known as the hometown of Santa Claus, the echo of cheers and the rhythmic thud of a football reverberated beneath the vaulted ceiling of an indoor pitch at the Santasport center.

Two spirited matches were underway. Two teams of 12-year-olds - one girls' team and one boys' team from Chengdu in southwest China's Sichuan Province - faced off against their Finnish peers in friendly games.

Santa Claus himself opened the event with a cheerful kick to the visiting Chinese side, setting the tone for what would be a memorable day.

Though still in their early teens, the players approached the match with focus and grit. Shouts rang out in Mandarin and Finnish, mingling with the bounce of the ball and cheers from a modest yet enthusiastic crowd.

"Attack down the wing!" "Cross it!" "Watch out!"

Universal phrases of the game bridged the linguistic divide. The players darted across the artificial turf with a competitive edge softened by the warmth of mutual respect.

In one poignant moment, a Finnish boy slipped mid-play. Without hesitation, a Chinese player extended a hand - an instinctive gesture that captured the day's spirit more than any scoreline could.

"I think I played quite well today," said Lu Yutong, beaming with pride after the girls' match. "My passing, shooting, and defending were solid. The Finnish players were strong and friendly. I hope we can become friends."

This youth sports exchange, organized to celebrate 10 years of friendly city ties between Rovaniemi and Chengdu, also marked 75 years of diplomatic relations between China and Finland. But on the pitch, those milestones gave way to something far more intimate: shared spirit, laughter, and budding friendship.

When the match ended, smiles replaced strategy. Players from both sides gathered for selfies, arms slung across each other's shoulders, their competitive fire giving way to fellowship.

"Sport is a bridge," said Rovaniemi Mayor Ulla-Kirsikka Vainio. "It helps young people see how much they have in common."

And that bridge extended beyond football.

The visiting Chinese children, many of whom had never encountered snow sports before, were introduced to Rovaniemi's beloved pastime: ice hockey. Kimmo Tuunala, head coach of the local U11 RoKi ice hockey team, guided them through the basics - skates, sticks, helmets and the all-important puck.

Tuunala also introduced them to a uniquely Finnish concept: sisu, a word with no direct translation, embodying quiet strength, tenacity, and perseverance.

"SISU means never giving up," Tuunala told the eager newcomers. "Go full out, until the last second."

Song Yuhang, one of the Chinese players, took the message to heart. "It's amazing how similar football and ice hockey are in spirit. The sports are different, but the goals are the same."

Still, no lesson or match could eclipse the moment when the children met Santa Claus. "I thought he was just in fairy tales," Lu said, eyes wide. "But today I saw him. For real."

After the match, the kids swarmed the bearded ambassador of joy, peppering him with questions.

"Do we get candy if we win?" one asked.

"Will you come to our Christmas match in China?" another chimed in.

Santa smiled warmly. "When people are working together, we can make miracles," he said, adding with a twinkle that he just might visit China someday to watch their games.

And for a fleeting moment at the edge of the Arctic Circle, beneath a June sky that refused to darken, the world felt a little smaller and a lot kinder - bound by a ball in motion, a spark of friendship, and a shared spirit of grit and "SISU." ■