Socialization of sports in Quynh Luu

(Baonghean.vn) - For many years, at the provincial sports festivals, Quynh Luu has consistently been the leading unit in the province. Sports movements here are increasingly developing with the participation of a large number of people from all walks of life. This is the result of many years of promoting the socialization of sports...

Passing through localities such as Son Hai, Cau Giat town, Hoang Mai, Quynh Xuan... one can find volleyball and football fields, and lively fitness clubs. To date, the entire Quynh Luu district has over 121,000 people participating in regular sports training, and nearly 18,000 families have been awarded the title of "Sports Family".

Every year, the district organizes 8-9 large-scale sports competitions with the participation of thousands of amateur athletes. From these competitions, 20-25 talented athletes from Quynh Luu are selected each year to join the Provincial Sports Training Center and the SLNA football club. In 2011, the district's two youth football teams reached the provincial finals. In the provincial cross-country running competition, Quynh Luu won 4 first prizes in various events and ranked first overall. In badminton, karate, and traditional sports competitions at the provincial level, the Quynh Luu team won gold, silver, and bronze medals.

To achieve these results, the Quynh Luu Sports Center annually plans and coordinates with departments, organizations, and businesses in the district to organize sports competitions. These competitions are linked to major holidays and other activities specifically from the beginning of the year, such as: boat racing and stick pushing competitions held at the Corn Temple Festival; badminton tournaments for civil servants and employees to commemorate the August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd; the "Golden Rice Spike" men's and women's volleyball tournaments for farmers; and volleyball tournaments to commemorate Entrepreneurs' Day... Depending on the organizational format and structure of each competition, the district's Sports Center will coordinate with relevant departments, units, and localities to jointly organize and mobilize benefactors to provide funding.

Quynh Luu was the first district to organize a large-scale district-level youth and children's football tournament, which has become an annual tradition, hosted by the district's radio and television station. The tournament is linked to the "Month of Action for Children" to mobilize socio-political organizations to participate. At the annual awards ceremony, various departments and units such as the Education Department and the District Youth Union present awards to underprivileged children who excel in academics and football, as well as outstanding football and academically gifted youth team leaders. In addition to valuable prizes for the first, second, and third place winners, each year various levels of government, departments, and sponsors also donate 50-55 additional gifts to the children.

To date, the Quỳnh Lưu District Youth and Children's Football Tournament has entered its 16th year. Each season features over 40 teams with more than 500 athletes participating. The tournament is held in clusters of communes with over 70 group stage matches before selecting teams to participate in the final round at the district stadium. From this grassroots football tournament, the Quỳnh Lưu Sports Center annually selects 20-25 athletes to participate in the Nghệ An Newspaper Cup Youth and Children's Football Tournament.

To date, the Quỳnh Lưu District Youth and Children's Football Tournament has contributed 56 athletes to compete at the provincial and national levels. Many athletes have become star players such as Hồng Sơn, Công Vinh, Văn Bình, Đắc Khánh, Ngọc Anh, Quốc Tuấn... With these results, Quỳnh Lưu has been recognized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism as "a cradle for nurturing football talent for the province and the nation"!

Quynh Luu district also successfully organizes its annual traditional cross-country race with the participation of amateur athletes from all 43 communes and towns, with over 500 participants each year. In its strategy for developing the athlete network, the Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has designated sports such as football, sepak takraw, martial arts, badminton, volleyball, athletics, and archery in Quynh Luu as a selection point for top-level athletes for the province. This is thanks to the involvement of various units, departments, localities, and benefactors such as Hoang Mai Cement Factory, Central Vietnam Construction Joint Stock Company, Thang Lien Electronics Company, and companies like Chien Ket, Hong Dao, and Truong Thinh...

Each year, district-level tournaments raise between 80-100 million VND, while sports competitions in the 43 communes and towns raise over 1 billion VND annually from sponsors and social organizations. Besides investing in organizing mass sports events, Quynh Luu also mobilizes contributions from various levels, sectors, and localities to build infrastructure serving the sports movement. To date, Quynh Luu has over 200 stadiums, 450 volleyball courts, 118 badminton courts, 3 gymnasiums, 1 swimming pool, and in 2011, 1.7 billion VND was raised to renovate 2 tennis courts.

Mr. Dang Ngoc Kim, Director of the District Sports Center, said: "To develop the mass sports movement strongly and receive the attention of everyone, it is important that those working in sports must be dedicated and know how to mobilize the participation of departments, agencies, and organizations. Organizing grassroots sports activities suitable to each locality and unit, along with promoting and encouraging each person to choose a suitable sport to respond to the 'National Movement for Physical Training Following the Example of the Great President Ho Chi Minh'."

Duc Chuyen