Elderly people with the health exercise movement

(Baonghean) - The diversity of sports movements for the elderly has encouraged the "tall trees" to practice sports following the example of the great Uncle Ho, helping the elderly live happily and healthily, setting a good example for their children and grandchildren to follow...

It has become a habit that every day at 5 pm, the elderly in My Thuong hamlet, Hung Loc commune (Vinh city) gather at the hamlet's cultural house to practice sports. Those with good physical strength play badminton, some play chess, and the majority participate in physical exercises. After the practice session, the elderly stay to ask each other about their health, then discuss good remedies for old age. Ms. Pham Thi Ninh, a member of the Hung Loc commune Elderly Association, shared: "My husband and I have joined the physical exercise club since its establishment (in 2012). Participating in the practice with the club, I feel more comfortable and healthier. Practicing sports is also an opportunity for me to interact, make new friends, and share life experiences."

Elderly people perform together at the 2nd Internal Qi Competition, 2015.

According to Mr. Tran Huu Ich, Chairman of the Provincial Elderly Association, recognizing the important role of sports training in improving the health and spiritual life of the elderly, the Elderly Association at all levels has established clubs for physical exercise, badminton, table tennis, chess, volleyball, sports dancing, etc., encouraging members to choose appropriate forms of exercise according to their health and economic conditions. Up to now, out of 3,600 elderly clubs, there are nearly 1,500 sports clubs, attracting more than 170,000 members to participate. Every year, the Provincial Elderly Association organizes a preliminary and final summary, promptly commends individuals with achievements, and replicates effective clubs. Elderly members in the province are increasingly participating in collective sports, with 55% of members currently participating in regular exercise (3 sessions/week or more). To maintain and expand the form of sports activities among members, the association at all levels regularly organizes exchanges between clubs, performances on holidays, New Year, anniversaries of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly, International Day of the Elderly, longevity celebrations of members, etc.

The most popular health exercises for the elderly are still the internal Qi, Thuc Vu Kinh, Tai Chi Truong Sinh Dao, Tai Chi Quan... These are the exercises with gentle, flexible movements, many benefits, so they attract more and more members. Among them, Internal Qi (belonging to Vo Nhat Nam sect) and Thuc Vu Kinh are the two most popular health exercises for the elderly in Nghe An. From 2010 to now, the whole province has developed more than 110 Internal Qi clubs at ward, commune and town levels in 9 districts, cities and towns, namely Vinh City, Cua Lo Town, Hoang Mai Town, Dien Chau District, Yen Thanh, Quynh Luu, Hung Nguyen, Nam Dan and Thanh Chuong, with more than 14,500 members participating. With a dynamic and creative spirit, depending on the circumstances of each locality, the Association of the Elderly in the districts has had many ways to do it with many different models to quickly replicate the exercises not only to the communes but also to the hamlets and branches; promptly meeting the requirements of the practitioners... For example, the Association of the Elderly in Yen Thanh and Quynh Luu districts has opened a concentrated class for the whole district, by each commune sending 2-3 people with a quick learning level and passion for practice, these people will directly teach the branches and the elderly in the commune. Or in Hung Nguyen and Nam Dan districts, Cua Lo town, they chose a commune with a sports movement as a pilot, thereby both promoting the exercises and drawing on experience to serve as a basis for replication throughout the district...

The Thuc Vu Kinh exercise, launched by the Vietnam Association of the Elderly in collaboration with the Bach Gia Community Health Care Association in 2012, has also been positively responded to by the elderly and has developed strongly. Up to now, the whole province has had 473 "Thuc Vu Kinh" health clubs at the commune level, over 1,700 clubs in blocks, hamlets and villages with nearly 120,000 elderly people participating.

In addition to the health clubs, some clubs in other sports also attract a large number of elderly people to participate. A typical example is the Vinh City Cycling Club. Although it was not established or managed by the Association of the Elderly, out of 50 members of the Club, there are more than 30 elderly members (from 60 to 72 years old). Mr. Mai Van Quang, Chairman of the Club, said: "The elderly are the most active members, contributing significantly to the maintenance and development of the Club. They are role models for young and middle-aged members who regularly and enthusiastically participate in the Club's activities such as participating in tournaments and organizing social activities..." In addition, table tennis and badminton clubs for the elderly have also developed strongly in Vinh City and Quy Hop; chess in Do Luong, Nam Dan, and Quynh Luu districts... In particular, since the end of 2014, the elderly in the province have welcomed a new sport, which is volleyball. This is a sport that is very suitable for the elderly. Playing this sport does not require high speed, strength, or investment costs for the field or training equipment, the rules are simple and safe... Dien Chau district is the leader in developing this sport and so far has had over 150 elderly members from the communes of Dien Phu, Dien Tho, Dien Loc, Dien Minh, Dien Thanh, Dien Thinh... participating. Mr. Ha Huy Cau, Chairman of the Association of the Elderly in Dien Chau district, said: "Although it has only been popularized to members for less than a year (since October 2014), volleyball is attracting many elderly people to practice enthusiastically to improve their health. In the near future, we will guide the Association of the Elderly in communes and towns to establish elderly volleyball clubs and will organize tournaments between clubs on holidays and Tet".

To promote the movement of physical exercise for the elderly, since 2008, the Provincial Association of the Elderly has coordinated with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to organize the Badminton, Table Tennis, and Chinese Chess Competition for the Elderly three times in 2008, 2011, and 2014. In addition, in 2013, the association also coordinated to organize the Thuc Vu Kinh Health Exercise Competition, attracting 500 athletes from 17 districts, cities, and towns to participate. In mid-August, the Provincial Association of the Elderly coordinated with the Vo Nhat Nam Representative Board in Nghe An to organize the 2nd Internal Qi Exercise Performance Festival with the participation of 360 athletes. In addition, every year, the Provincial Association of the Elderly also selects outstanding elderly athletes to participate in the national championships of physical exercise, table tennis, badminton, and Chinese chess. It is hoped that the diversity in the physical training and sports movement will help the elderly live happier and healthier lives, thereby actively responding to patriotic emulation movements and campaigns; worthy of the 18 golden words awarded by the Party and State "The older the age, the higher the ambition, setting a shining example for the cause of building and defending the Fatherland".

Article and photos:Minh Quan