Creating sports facilities for war invalids.

(Baonghean) - Despite having to permanently leave a part of their body on the battlefield, and despite enduring daily pain and hardship due to their injuries, war invalids, like other ordinary people, also have a need to participate in physical activities and sports. Because proper exercise is a "miracle cure" that helps alleviate pain, live optimistically and joyfully, and make contributions to the community and society...

In Phong Toan Hamlet (Ha Huy Tap Ward, Vinh City), everyone knows Mr. Thai Khac Hoang (born in 1952), not only for his active participation in social activities but also as a disabled veteran who actively engages in physical exercise and sports. In 1972, during a battle in the Central Highlands, he was hit by artillery fire, losing an arm and sustaining a leg injury. After being discharged from the army and returning to his hometown, he began practicing badminton in the late 1980s. Mr. Hoang said that initially, he faced many difficulties due to his injuries, but with the encouragement of others and the enthusiasm of a soldier, he persevered in practicing badminton and has been dedicated to this sport ever since. Formerly a teacher at Huynh Thuc Khang High School (Vinh City), after retirement, he was one of the people who spearheaded the establishment of the Vinh City Association for People with Disabilities (founded in December 2012).

Besides encouraging, assisting, and creating opportunities for people with disabilities to overcome difficulties and pursue education, vocational training, and productive work, Mr. Hoang and the members of the association's executive board and the management boards of the clubs encourage people with disabilities in the city to actively participate in cultural, physical, and sports activities. Mr. Hoang shared: "I practice sports both to maintain my health and to fulfill my aspiration of promoting sports training for war invalids in particular and people with disabilities in general. Sports also give me the opportunity to socialize and meet friends, comrades, and teammates. The health that sports training brings helps me and others in similar circumstances overcome physical pain, live healthily, and contribute to the development and progress of the country every day."

Wounded veteran Thai Khac Hoang practices badminton every day.

Currently, there is a significant demand for physical exercise and sports training among people with disabilities in general, and war invalids in particular, in the city. Many exemplary war invalids have emerged who actively participate in sports and exercise to live happily and healthily, such as Mr. Nguyen Cuong Trang (born in 1943, residing in Trung Hoa block, Ha Huy Tap ward), a 2/4 war invalid who regularly plays table tennis; and Mr. Tran Nguyen Phong (born in 1953, residing in Yen Toan block, Ha Huy Tap ward), who has lost one leg but still regularly plays badminton… According to Mr. Hoang, besides sports like chess and checkers, sports requiring physical strength and movement such as table tennis, badminton, wheelchair racing, and cycling are very difficult for war invalids to train and compete in. However, if they are truly passionate and strive to overcome difficulties, sports can bring war invalids much joy in life, helping them forget their physical pain and daily feelings of disability, allowing them to live more optimistically and productively.

The Nghe An War Invalids Rehabilitation Center currently treats 72 war invalids and sick soldiers from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces, including 65 severely injured (with disability rates of 81% or higher) and 41 who were exposed to Agent Orange. When people think of the center, they immediately picture severely injured soldiers who rely daily on the care of the staff, doctors, and nurses, unaware that many of these veterans are inspiring examples of overcoming their injuries and disabilities. This is evident in their efforts to become partially self-reliant in their daily lives, and their active participation in cultural and sports activities. Since the late 1990s, the center has had a volleyball team comprised of more than 10 war invalids – many of whom spend most of their days in wheelchairs.

By now, time and age have reduced the number of members in the volleyball team, and they no longer train as regularly as before. However, many of them, in addition to actively exercising daily, occasionally still play volleyball together at the center's volleyball court, such as Mr. Ngo Xuan Kien (born 1947), Mr. Nguyen Van Don (born 1952), Mr. Nguyen Dinh Sau (born 1954)... Besides volleyball, many wounded soldiers at the center also find other sports suitable to their physical condition, such as chess, table tennis, wheelchair racing... These veterans are not only role models for other wounded soldiers and for the self-improvement movement, but also demonstrate the spirit and character of soldiers of Uncle Ho.

It is known that, depending on the severity of their injuries, war invalids can participate in various sports to improve their health, such as chess, badminton, table tennis, wheelchair racing, handcart racing, billiards, swimming, tug-of-war, and slow bicycle racing. To create a healthy and beneficial environment, facilitate the integration of war invalids into the community, and promote physical training and improve the spiritual well-being of war invalids, sick soldiers, and veterans, some provinces such as Thanh Hoa, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, and Kien Giang have organized sports competitions for war invalids. However, in our province, for a long time, no sports competition has been organized specifically for people with disabilities in particular and war invalids in general, even though Nghe An has a very large number of war invalids (over 40,000 people), leading to limited participation in sports among this group. It is suggested that local authorities and relevant departments should pay more attention to organizing physical and sports activities specifically for war invalids in order to further enhance the effectiveness of policies for people with meritorious services and improve the quality of the gratitude and repayment movement in a practical and meaningful way.

Minh Quan