Happiness and good health are the most important things.

(Baonghean) - Just ask any resident in this land, which is considered a "common homeland," about football, volleyball, or badminton, and you'll immediately be drawn into their unique passion. I was drawn into such a situation when I visited Ky Son commune, Tan Ky district.

Neighborhood Group No. 2, Tien Phong 2 hamlet, Ky Son commune (Tan Ky district) has 22 households, of which 17 have participated in community cultural and sports activities. The remaining households cannot participate due to age restrictions. Volleyball and badminton are two of the most popular sports. In 2012, the group independently contributed money and labor to build a badminton court. “Each family contributed 300,000 VND to buy sand and cement. Then we all worked together to build it,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Tam, a resident of the neighborhood group. “Many people participate, but we take turns playing. We don't have to go to the microbial fertilizer factory's court in Hamlet 8 to play, and we also avoid borrowing the school's court.” What's special is that the badminton court was built on land lent to the group by Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Secretary of the Tien Phong 2 hamlet Party Committee. The people of Ky Son commune are very passionate about sports. In Tien Phong 2 hamlet, besides the communal sports field within the hamlet's cultural center, residents have voluntarily contributed labor and money to build four more volleyball and badminton courts. The family of Mr. Nguyen Van Nam and Ms. Phan Thi Thuan in Group 8 (Tien Phong 2 hamlet) is a prime example. In 2012, they bought 5-6 tons of cement and sand themselves, and neighbors in the group helped with labor to build a volleyball and badminton court right in their yard, providing equipment such as balls, nets, and shuttlecocks. "It's nothing. Since we're better off than others, we take the initiative. The main thing is to have fun and stay healthy," Mr. Nam shared. For the past three years, every afternoon, around 20 people have gathered on the more than 300 square meter yard of Mr. Nam's family to play badminton or volleyball. The couple has seven members, including their son-in-law, all of whom are considered top-tier volleyball and badminton players in the commune. Recently, Nam and Thuan's twin daughters, Nguyen Quynh Trang and Nguyen Thu Trang, both in 8th grade, won the badminton championship in Tan Ky district. Both represented the district at the cluster badminton tournament in Do Luong and won third place.

A match at the Ky Son Commune Youth Football Tournament (Tan Ky).

According to Mr. Vu Xuan Viet, a cultural and sports officer in Ky Son commune, 11 out of 17 hamlets in the commune currently meet the standards for cultural and sports facilities. Each year, the commune organizes 3 to 4 tournaments, including: volleyball tournaments celebrating the Party and the Lunar New Year; men's and women's volleyball tournaments; and football tournaments for youth, teenagers, and children. The Farmers' Association and Women's Association each have their own tournaments; these are the commune-level competitions. As for the hamlet and neighborhood group level competitions, there are countless more. For example, during the recent celebration of the founding day of the Vietnam Women's Union (October 20th), there were no fewer than 20 sports competitions organized by hamlets and neighborhood groups. For instance, the neighborhood group in Dong Nay hamlet organized tug-of-war and duck-catching competitions; Dien Luc hamlet organized a women's football tournament; Ky Lam hamlet organized volleyball and badminton competitions… Currently in Ky Son commune, the percentage of people regularly practicing sports is nearly 36%, and sports families account for 22%. Participating in cultural and sports activities seems to be ingrained in the lives of the people in this barren land. Mr. Vu Xuan Viet said: “I have been a sports officer for 15 years, but the district or commune government has never had to spend money to maintain sports activities in the hamlets. We have never had to invest in building volleyball or badminton courts, not even for the National Sports Festival.” All of this is funded through social contributions from the people. And what is incredibly proud is that the people don't mind. As Ms. Nguyen Thi Tam, from group 2, Tien Phong 2 hamlet, said: “Why take money from the commune? When the Ky Son youth football team plays, you come here to watch. The players are provided with transportation and food without any worries. Winning a prize is a given. It's all free. The funding comes from the people's contributions.”

The burning passion and high level of consensus among the people have fueled the strong development of mass sports and physical education movements in Ky Son commune. With over 7,800 inhabitants, Ky Son commune has consistently been a core unit in Tan Ky district in many cultural, artistic, and sports movements and competitions. Mr. Vu Xuan Viet listed activities such as badminton, volleyball, and football. Then there are theatrical activities like traffic safety awareness campaigns and legal education; competitions organized by the Farmers' Association, Women's Association, and Youth Union… Ky Son commune has always represented the district in provincial competitions. “In district-level volleyball competitions, it’s very rare for the Ky Son team to win third place… mostly first or second. As for football, we’ve won three consecutive district-level sports festivals.”2001 – 2005 – 2009"Kỳ Sơn has consistently held the top position. Only in 2013, due to tactical errors, the commune's football team had to settle for third place," shared Mr. Vu Xuan Viet. Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong, Head of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Department of Tan Ky district, said: "In Tan Ky, not only Ky Son commune, but also Nghia Dong, Nghia Hoan, Tan Phu, Tan Long communes... have a thriving sports movement. Every year, the district organizes 9-10 sports competitions, yet it still doesn't meet the needs of the people."

Text and photos:Dao Tuan