Vinh City: Leveraging its position as a sports center.

(Baonghean) - At the two most recent Provincial Sports Festivals, Vinh City was one of the localities with high achievements, ranking in the top 3 of the province. To achieve this success, in addition to overcoming difficulties to organize the tournament well from the grassroots level, Vinh City has encouraged the people and promoted the development of mass sports movements…

Maintain top position

It is no coincidence that in the two most recent Provincial Sports Festivals, Vinh City has consistently ranked among the top in the province. Notably, while at the 6th Provincial Sports Festival in 2010, Vinh City only ranked 3rd (99 Gold medals for teams and individuals, 33 Silver medals for teams and individuals, and 29 Bronze medals for teams and individuals), by the 7th Festival in 2014, with efforts to overcome difficulties, Vinh City's sports sector had risen to 1st place with 22 Gold medals, 17 Silver medals, and 16 Bronze medals.

According to Mr. Ton That Hai, Deputy Director of the Vinh City Cultural and Sports Center, achieving this success was a significant step forward, requiring the staff, coaches, and athletes to truly strive, overcome pressure and difficulties to compete and bring home achievements for the entire delegation.

The Vinh City volleyball team won the championship at the 2nd Dong Luc Cup volleyball tournament in 2016. Photo: NH

Alongside organizing regular sports festivals, the city also successfully organizes specialized sports competitions and actively participates in sports events within the provincial system. A prime example is its participation in the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth and Children's Football Tournament. Every year, Vinh City participates in the finals of the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth and Children's Football Tournament, winning the youth category eight times, the children's category once, and securing second and third place numerous times. In addition, the city organizes the city-wide Youth and Children's Football Tournament, the Television Cup Cycling Race, and various football and volleyball tournaments. Thanks to this support, Vinh City won the 2nd Dong Luc Cup Men's Volleyball Championship at the 2016 Provincial Lotus Village Festival, first place in the provincial badminton tournament, and first place in the provincial youth football tournament…

The City Youth Football Team won second place at the 2016 Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth and Children's Football Tournament. Photo: PV

Organize the City-level Sports Festival well.

As the political, economic, and socio-cultural center of the province, and a unit that has repeatedly ranked among the top at the Provincial Sports Festival, the preparation for the upcoming 8th Provincial Sports Festival in 2018 is both an advantage and a pressure for Vinh City's sports sector. Therefore, the city's sports sector is determined to organize the event seriously at the grassroots level to promote the sports movement and discover sports talents for the province.

Visiting Hung Loc commune, one of the communes with a strong sports movement in the city, which was recognized as a unit that organized the commune-level Sports Festival well and won high awards in several competitions, Mr. Le Duy Thanh - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune said: "At this point, the commune has prepared everything for the city-level Sports Festival."

Mr. Chu Van Mai, Director of the Vinh City Cultural and Sports Center, said: Following the guidance of the Department of Culture and Sports and the Vinh City People's Committee, the Steering Committee of the City Sports Festival has issued regulations and guiding documents; and has actively inspected and urged wards and communes to organize the festival at the grassroots level. It is expected that from April to August, wards will organize the ward/commune-level Sports Festival, and the Vinh City-wide Sports Festival will be held in October. According to Mr. Chu Van Mai, although the locality is considered to have resources, ensuring the success of the city-wide Sports Festival and maintaining its status as a major city in the province is not easy.

Women's volleyball tournament at Vinh City Gymnasium. Photo: NH

Hopefully, in the near future, with the province's investment and the city's political system's involvement, Vinh City's sports sector will have more resources to organize sports events effectively. This will not only encourage physical training and contribute to maintaining a top position at the provincial sports festivals, but also help to discover and nurture sports talents for the province.

Nguyen Hai