The "double" benefits of developing traditional sports.

(Baonghean) - In recent years, in addition to promoting mass sports and physical training movements, Quy Chau district has also focused on developing traditional sports of ethnic minorities in the area such as throwing the "con" (a type of ball), archery, stick pushing, etc. These sports not only attract a large number of people to participate but also have practical significance in preserving and promoting cultural values.

Chau Thuan commune is one of the areas that still preserves many traditional cultural values ​​of the Thai ethnic group in Quy Chau and is also the "cradle" of many outstanding ethnic sports athletes, contributing to the overall achievements of the district's sports sector. We met Mr. Vi Thanh Hoai, a cultural officer of Chau Thuan commune and also a typical ball-throwing athlete, achieving high results in many competitions at various levels. Listening to him share about the ball-throwing game, it's easy to see the love and passion shining through in his stories from his childhood. He said that, like many other Thai people, the brightly colored ball has been associated with him since he was 5 or 7 years old, from afternoons spent with his grandmother and mother sewing pieces of brocade to make the ball's shell; a little older, he joined his older siblings in playing ball-throwing games during spring festivals, holidays, and Tet...

In 2001, when the district's sports department organized a throwing competition at the Hang Bua Festival, he was selected by Chau Thuan commune to participate. To date, after nearly 15 years of competing in various competitions and tournaments at all levels, Mr. Hoai has achieved significant accomplishments: a gold medal at the Ethnic Culture Festival in Nghe An for many consecutive years, a bronze medal at the National Thai Ethnic Culture Festival in Lai Chau in 2014, and gold medals in individual and team throwing at the Central Vietnam Ethnic Culture Festival in 2015… “Although it’s called a competition, throwing the ball is actually a game, a familiar sport to the Thai people, so I and everyone else participate very comfortably and happily. The good thing about throwing the ball is that everyone knows the rules, regardless of age or gender, and it doesn’t require much investment in fields or equipment… so it’s very popular and widespread. Everyone enthusiastically participates in the throwing competitions,” shared Mr. Vi Thanh Hoai.

The traditional ball-throwing competition at the Hang Bua Festival 2014. Photo: Tran Ngoc Lan

Not only in Chau Thuan commune, but also in many other areas of Quy Chau district, traditional sports such as throwing the "con" (a type of ball) and stick pushing are developing strongly, receiving support and participation from a large number of people. In Chau Hanh commune, Ms. Luong Thi Thao (Minh Tien village) is "famous" for her "100% accurate" "con" throwing skills and her dexterity and effectiveness in stick pushing, winning many high achievements at competitions. "Throwing the 'con', stick pushing, crossbow shooting... many people in the village and commune know how to play these sports, not just me. These are traditional sports of the Thai people, so people play them to improve their health and to help the younger generation remember the culture of their ancestors," Ms. Luong Thi Thao shared.

Many years ago, the youth in Minh Tien village in particular, and Chau Hanh commune in general, were swept up in the whirlwind of modern entertainment, leading to several negative consequences for social welfare and affecting their spiritual lives, distancing them from traditional culture. As the head of the Minh Tien village Women's Association, Ms. Thao advised the women's association and other departments and organizations in Chau Hanh commune to organize many sports competitions, integrating the promotion of preserving cultural identity, not only during the Lunar New Year but also during commemorative holidays throughout the year such as March 8th, April 30th, May 1st, September 2nd... She said that on days with such sports activities, the competition grounds were packed with people watching like a festival, everyone eagerly discussing and anticipating the event. In particular, after a long period of maintaining activity, the majority of young people in the area have returned to community activities and immersed themselves in traditional sports.

The "double" effectiveness of developing traditional sports in Quy Chau stems from a long and decisive process of implementing many solutions simultaneously. Mr. Tran Viet Duc, Head of the Culture and Sports Department of Quy Chau district, said that in recent years, Quy Chau district has innovated in the way it organizes traditional sports competitions. Accordingly, instead of organizing them at the district level, from the beginning of the year, the sports sector plans to organize tournaments at the grassroots level, divided into three clusters. Organizing tournaments in clusters allows for greater participation from the people compared to organizing them in the town center as before, and is enthusiastically received by the people. This increases the spread of cultural and sports activities and discovers many outstanding talents.

In particular, for the Thai ethnic minority people in Quy Chau district, sports such as throwing the "con" (a type of ball), stick pushing, and crossbow shooting not only help improve health but also serve as a source of spiritual nourishment and a cultural identity. "Developing ethnic sports is the right and effective direction, positively impacting the preservation and promotion of cultural identity in the area. In the coming time, we will actively promote this activity to create a highlight and build a brand for ethnic sports in Quy Chau district," Mr. Tran Viet Duc affirmed.

Phuoc Anh