Public sports are widespread
For public sports in Hanoi, in 2018, the movement “The whole people take physical exercise following the example of great Uncle Ho” continues to be widespread throughout the City. The index of public sports movement in 2018 reached the plan with 36% of people regularly taking exercise, 28% of households taking exercise. Currently, there are 3,250 sports clubs in Hanoi. In particular, 100% of districts and more than 90% of communes, wards and towns have clubs for the elderly.
Hanoi Outdoor Health Association of middle-aged and elder people officially presents itself before the public
It can be said that in recent years, the Hanoi public sports movement always has a rich and large-scale competition system. In particular, there are many sustainable activities to improve the quality of life for people. Diversity of sports under the direction of Hanoi sports industry has created an exciting atmosphere of exercise and sports competition. This movement contributes to creating talented athletes for high achievement.
Every year, Hanoi has thousands of big and small tournaments at the city, district levels, attracting a large number of participants. The major tournaments of the city have become an annual event such as: Hanoi Moi Newspaper Run – For peace, Badminton tournament in Hanoi clubs, Hanoi primary school basketball tournament, and summer tournament for students and employees such as: Summer sports, mini football tournament for employees, badminton tournament for students…
Not only aimed at young people, in 2019, Hanoi also successfully organized many tournaments for middle-aged and elder people, such as Chinese chess, table tennis, volleyball, badminton, etc. Especially, in 2018, Hanoi Outdoor Health Association of middle-aged and elder people has officially presented itself before the public. For the first time, the association has decision on establishment and a legal basis for its members to participate and create.
After 43 years of establishment and development, the number of members has reached 15,000 throughout 30 districts and towns. The Association participated in many important events of the capital and the whole country, was awarded 11 labor medals. This is really the highlight of sports for the elderly in the Hanoi public sports movement.
Affirmative expertise and organization
With the success of Vietnam National Games 2018, it can be affirmed that Hanoi has successfully completed two important objectives set out before the Games. That is, the organization is highly appreciated by delegations for its careful and professional preparation. In terms of professional work, the sports team of the Capital reached the first position of total of 65 sports delegations attending the Games with the overwhelming number of medals, including 176 gold medals, 149 silver medals and139 bronze medals, 58 gold medals higher than the second spot of the medal tally.
Hanoi leads many competitions at Vietnam National Games 2018.
Also at the Games, among 36 sports in the competition program of the Games, Hanoi also won the first place of total team in many sports, such as Athletics with 9 gold medals, 10 silver medals, 7 bronze medals; Wushu with 21 gold medals, 11 silver medals and 3 bronze medals; Archery with 8 gold medals, 8 silver medals and 9 bronze medals; Golf with 4 gold medals, 1 silver medal; Dance sports with 5 gold medals, 6 silver medals and 5 bronze medals; Springboard with 7 gold medals, 1 silver medal and 1 bronze medal, etc.
In addition, this is also a savings Games. Taking advantage of the existing material facilities of the Capital has helped the sports industry and the state budget save a significant amount of money in new construction of competition facilities.
Also in 2018, Hanoi continues to affirm its position as the main unit of Asian Games. At ASIAD 2018, Hanoi athletes dominated the medal tally of Vietnam sports. This achievement has contributed to rank Vietnam 16th out of 45 countries and territories attending ASIAD 18.
Attending the 18th Asian Games, Hanoi Sports delegation includes 122 officials, coaches and athletes, accounting for 23.4% of the total of 523 members of Vietnam sports delegation. Hanoi athletes compete in 23 out of 32 Vietnam sports at ASIAD 2018 with major sports such as Athletics, Shooting, Gymnastics, Archery, wrestling, Pencak Silat, Karate, Taekwondo , Fencing, Wushu, Boxing, Table Tennis, Badminton, Sepak Takraw, Weightlifting, Rowing, Kurash, Sambo, Jujitsu, Bowling, Golf, Men’s football, Women’s Football.
Hanoi athlete Bui Thi Thu Thao helped Vietnam’s athletics win a medal for the first time at ASIAD.
At the end of ASIAD 18, the Capital’s athletes had excellent competitions and contributed 16 medals of all kinds (1 gold medal, 6 silver medals and 9 bronze medals) to the overall performance of the Vietnam’s sports delegation (4 gold medals, 16 silver medals and 18 bronze medals). Among these 16 medals, the most prominent is the gold medal of long jumper Bui Thi Thu Thao, who helped Vietnam’s athletics win the medal for the first time at ASIAD.
It can be said that, through regional and continental sports, Hanoi has made a great contribution to the development of the sports of the country. This is also something that in the peak sports development strategy of Hanoi by 2020, Hanoi athletes are always the core of the National teams at the Games in region, continents and the world.
Breakthrough in the world tournament
In 2018, the event that Hanoi – Vietnam became the 22nd member of Formula One World Championship (F1) was mentioned by the world for nearly 1 year. Since the Prime Minister agreed to host the F1 on May 4, 2017, Hanoi has just over a year to complete the process of preparing, negotiating, signing contracts and announcing the right to host on November 7, 2018.
When making the application for the F1 – the world’s leading prestigious sports event, Hanoi had to race against the time while many other big cities of the region which had all conditions of the facilities, infrastructure and finance have submitted application to host earlier than Hanoi.
To become the 22nd member of the F1, Hanoi City People’s Committee had to go through hundreds of meetings, negotiations and field surveys with the F1 Organization Committee. Formula One World Championship Limited (the company that owns the commercial right to hold F1) has also repeatedly sent senior experts to survey and evaluate Hanoi’s ability to meet the race.
With serious, careful and meticulous preparation of Hanoi as well as the determination of the negotiators and finally the F1 Organization Committee affirmed that Hanoi has enough infrastructure conditions to hold the F1.
Hanoi’s organizational competence and ability are affirmed in international tournaments.
On November 7, 2018, Hanoi officially announced the host of the F1 Championship and became the 22nd member of the world’s most famous championship.
Organizing this event not only marked an important milestone in the journey to reach out to the world but also a great effort of Hanoi City and Vietnam government in bringing one of the most speedy tournaments in the world to Vietnam’s audience, help people experience the prestigious race.
According to the design diagram of the F1 race track, F1 Hanoi – Vietnam will become part of the F1 World Championship system; is the third track on the street and is the only race in the world partially driven on new roads, partly on existing ones.
With a length of 5,565 km designed by the German Tilke Group, the race in Hanoi is not only a challenge for racers but also brings audiences and fans interesting and exciting performances for both racers and fans.
Along with that, in 2018, with the approval of the Prime Minister, Hanoi – Vietnam officially hosted the 31st Southeast Asian Games (31st SEA Games), the 11th Southeast Asian Games for athletes with physical disabilities (the 11th Para Games) in 2021. Sports event is held every two years with the participation of the best athletes from 11 countries in Southeast Asia. The 31st SEA Games are estimated to take place for about 17 days and the 11th Para Games is estimated to take place about 11 days at the end of 2021, with about 16,000 participants.
To host the 31st SEA Games – 2021, Hanoi shall invest more carefully in all aspects. With this event, Hanoi will receive up to tens of thousands of people, including officials, referees, reporters, international tourists, etc. However, through the successful organization of Vietnam National Games 2018, or the experience in successfully hosting major international games in the past such as the 22nd SEA Games – 2003, the 3rd Asian Indoor Games – 2009, certainly, Hanoi will successfully fulfill the host of the SEA Games 2021.
It can be affirmed that the host of two major international sporting events contributes to introducing and promoting the image of Hanoi and Vietnam; affirming the capacity and qualifications and facilitating Hanoi – Vietnam to continue to host international political, diplomatic, cultural, sports and tourist events in the future.
Minh Tuan