On March 27, the Prime Minister signed the Directive No. 15/CT-TTg on the implementation of the peak phase of the COVID-19 pandemic control, clearly stating that Chairmans of the provincial People’s Committees must direct the adoption of the measure to limit crowds from 0:00, March 28 to the end of April 15, 2020, specifically, stopping meeting activities and gatherings of 20 people or above in one room; permitting no gatherings of 10 people or more outside workplaces, schools and hospitals; stopping all cultural, sports and recreational activities in public places.
Athletes of Hanoi Sports Training and Competition Center washing their hands before and after training. Photo by KTĐT.
After the Prime Minister’s Directive, many Sports Training Centers including Hanoi Sports and Competition Center have strictly followed the direction of the Government, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, General Department of Sports as well as recommendations of the Ministry of Health on COVID-19 prevention and control. Accordingly, the centers have ordered all coaches and athletes not to go out; strictly controlled people going in and out of the centers, and cleaned and disinfected the whole centers. Teams that go abroad for training and competitions have complied with the requirements of the Ministry of Health on local and concentrated isolation; therefore, all centers have so far been safe from the disease.
In living activities and training, athletes are strictly controlled in terms of the schedule. Since the directive took effect, the centers have tightened their medical work. The training has also been carried out thoroughly in a way that permits no more than 20 people in a room no more than 10 people in the practice and keeps the specified distance.
In addition to sports training centers, implementing the Prime Minister’s Directive, many football clubs have also suspended their practicing activities since March 28 to cope with the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yesterday afternoon – March 27, Hanoi FC Club held a meeting with the professional units and decided to suspend the team’s training plan from March 28. Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem and his trainees will return to the practice when a new notice is given.
The leadership of the Capital’s football team realized that the football practice and playing was included in must-not-do things at this time and Hanoi FC would recommend VPF to persuade other clubs to seriously comply with such directive.
Vietnamese football is also complying with the Prime Minister’s Directive on the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by PVF.
Following Hanoi FC, many other clubs also suspended all collective training activities on and off the pitch. The players have kept staying in the headquarters and practiced in their own rooms, with 2 people per room according to the training plans of the coaching staff.
Previously, in response to the complicated revolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 24, the Chairman of Hanoi City People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung sent an express document to the directors of departments and disciplines and chairmen of People’s Committees of districts and towns in the area regarding strengthening measures to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to such document, people are advised to stay home, work, practice sports and study online with the use of information technology and television.
Implementing this document, on March 25, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports issued Document No. 758/SVHTT-QLTDTT on strengthening measures to prevent and combat COVID-19 to People’s Committees of districts and towns.
Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports requested People’s Committees of districts and towns to closely work with each other to promote the propagation of the danger of the COVID-19 pandemic in sports establishments within their jurisdiction, encourage people to voluntarily practice physical training and exercise at home to improve their health and fight against the pandemic.
Also, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports proposed districts and towns to strengthen inspection, detection and handling of disobedience in preventing and controlling COVID-19 in the field of festivals, culture and sports.
Hoang Vinh