For better National Sports Games | Culture-Sports

Hanoi (VNA) – The 9th National Sports Games will be held from December 9 to 21 in Quang Ninh and ten other northern cities and provinces. The General Department of Physical Education and Sports and the organizing sub-committees are speeding up the final preparations.

Speaking to the press, the Deputy Director of the General Department of Physical Education and Sports, Nguyễn Hông Minh, said: “The Organizing Committee, central-level sub-committees and host localities worked hard to ensure that the preparations were completed according to schedule. We found that the facilities, training and competition equipment, accommodation and catering conditions in Quang Ninh and other localities meet the requirements of these games. The delegations selected the most promising competitors”.

This year, nine disciplines will take place before the opening ceremony as it coincides with international tournaments scheduled for December. Namely: football, rowing, diving, sports shooting, karate, billiards, volleyball, basketball and wrestling. The technical and professional sub-committee liaises closely with the localities to manage difficulties, and to ensure that all competition events are carried out in accordance with professional requirements and regulations.

“We have worked extensively with host localities to develop and complete effective, reasonable and professional organizational plans”explained Trân Duc Phân, Deputy Director of the General Department of Physical Education and Sports and Head of the Technical and Professional Sub-Committee.

Anti-doping at the heart of concerns

One of the challenges of these games, according to officials from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is the prevention and fight against doping.

Hoàng Dao Cuong, vice-minister of the said ministry, asked to focus on the fight against doping in this 2022 edition, especially by intensifying propaganda, education, and awareness of coaches and sportsmen. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen anti-doping controls for medalists this year, in order to quickly detect violations.

This year, samples will be drawn randomly across all disciplines. “The sampling process was discussed. The organizing committee of the congress will do this according to the regulations. Once the samples are obtained, they are sent to a foreign laboratory for analysis. At SEA Games 31, we sent samples to a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) compliant laboratory in Thailand”underlined Trân Duc Phân.

Sampling for doping tests is mandatory at national sports tournaments. However, previously, doping tests did not exceed 30 samples/event due to lack of money. This year, the National Sports Games will be held in the host city Quang Ninh and in Hanoi, Vinh Phuc, Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Hai Duong, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa. It is expected that the number of samples taken in this event will be more than 30 to ensure that all athletes are clean.

With the 9th National Sports Games approaching, Vice-Minister Hoàng Dao Cuong requested that each sub-committee work closely with all stakeholders in the event (athletes, sponsors, spectators, police, etc.) to manage the problem quickly and efficiently and make this event a success.

Hanoi aims for first place

Hanoi’s sports sector has set the goal of successfully defending its first place in the final team standings. To do this, he will need to win about 135-140 gold medals.

Hanoi athletes are among the architects of Vietnam’s success on the international scene. In fact, 30% of the medals won by Vietnam during the SEA Games and during the Asian Games were won by athletes from the capital. The City of Hanoi has also consistently topped the National Sports Games on several occasions. In the last edition of this event held in 2018, his delegation dominated the final ranking with 176 gold medals, 149 silver, 139 bronze.

According to the director of the Hanoi Training and Competition Center, under the municipal department of culture and sports, Dào Quôc Thang, the preparation of the 9th National Sports Games is facing many difficulties.

Due to COVID-19, Hanoi teams’ training and competition plans have been disrupted, greatly affecting athletes’ performance. Because of this, some disciplines do not dare to set very high medal targets. Like weightlifting, a strong point of Hanoi sport, only aims for seven to eight gold medals, instead of more than ten. A similar situation for athletics, which aims for six golds, instead of nine during the 2018 season.

Maximum support

According to the Director of the Municipal Department of Culture and Sports, Dô Dinh Hông, despite many difficulties, the capital is determined to be at the top of the final ranking and provide more than 30% of athletes and coaches for the national teams.

Hanoi Sports Training and Competition Center Director Dao Quoc Thang said the National Sports Festival will bring together around 1,443 coaches, competitors, experts, performers and doctors. The Hanoi Sports Training and Competition Center has even made conditions for some athletes or teams to train abroad to prepare for this competition in the best possible time.

Faced with difficulties in Hanoi’s sports sector, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hanoi, Chu Xuân Dung, asked relevant bodies to help the city’s teams as well as sportsmen who train abroad, especially in Thailand, Republic of Korea, etc.

Thanks to the efforts of athletes and coaches as well as the concern of city officials, it is expected that Hanoi’s sports sector will achieve its goals in these times. 9th National Sports Games. -CVN/VNA