Need to soon complete policies for coaches and athletes with disabilities

VHO - In recent years, Vietnamese sports for the disabled have achieved many remarkable achievements in the international arena. However, in order to develop sustainably and encourage coaches and athletes for the disabled, amending and supplementing appropriate policies and regimes is extremely urgent.

Policy gaps and existing shortcomings

Previously, coaches and athletes of disabled sports were entitled to special nutritional regimes according to Decision No. 67/2008/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister and Circular No. 61/2018/TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance . However, these documents are no longer valid since Decree No. 36/2019/ND-CP was issued, because disabled sports are not within the scope of Article 37 of the Law on Physical Training and Sports.

Need to add more policies and regimes for coaches and athletes with disabilities

Legally, Clause 4, Article 63 of the Law on Physical Education and Sports only stipulates that students at the Sports Talent School are entitled to a special nutritional regime, but there is no basis for applying it to coaches and athletes with disabilities outside this school system. This leaves the development of support policies for this important group of people open, lacking a full legal foundation.

In fact, in 2023 and 2024, athletes and coaches of the national disabled team will continue to train to prepare for major events such as the World Paralympics or the Asian Games for the disabled.

However, due to difficulties in policy mechanisms and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many key training programs have not been implemented. Notably, when Decision No. 67/2008/QD-TTg has expired, and Decree No. 36/2019/ND-CP does not cover athletes and coaches with disabilities, it means that they no longer have a legal mechanism to continue to enjoy the same nutritional regime as before.

This not only causes disadvantages for the athletes and coaches themselves, but also negatively affects the overall achievements of Vietnamese disabled sports.

Urgent recommendations from practice

Faced with the above situation, on October 26, 2020, the Ministry of Finance issued Official Dispatch No. 13120/BTC-HCSN requesting the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to preside over and coordinate with relevant ministries and branches to review and propose a plan to submit to competent authorities for consideration and promulgation of a specific nutritional regime for subjects not specified in Decree No. 36/2019/ND-CP, including coaches and athletes with disabilities.

However, to date, the new policy has not been issued, leading to delays in ensuring legitimate rights for this special force.

The Law on Physical Training and Sports, Clause 1, Article 14, clearly states: “The State creates conditions for people with disabilities to participate in physical training and sports activities to improve their health and integrate into the community; ensures facilities and policies for disabled athletes to practice and compete in national and international sports tournaments”.

Thus, the lack of appropriate policies not only goes against the spirit of the law but also contradicts international commitments to which Vietnam is a member, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

To overcome this situation, it is necessary to amend Decree 152/2018/ND-CP on the regime and policies for coaches and athletes during training and competition, in the direction of adding a group of people with disabilities like the Olympic group - that is, applying equivalent standards between the Olympics and Paralympics.

This is not only a worthy recognition for the efforts of disabled athletes to overcome adversity, but also a step demonstrating the State's responsibility in ensuring social justice.

In addition, the early amendment and supplementation of the Law on Physical Training and Sports is something that needs to be considered in the long term, in order to create a clear and comprehensive legal corridor for the development of sports for people with disabilities. At the same time, sub-law documents such as decrees and guiding circulars also need to be issued synchronously to avoid the situation of "the law above, but lack of guidance below".

The achievements of Vietnamese disabled sports in recent years are a testament to the extraordinary determination and tireless dedication of athletes and coaches who have overcome physical barriers to bring glory to the Fatherland. However, without specific, appropriate, timely and binding policies, it will be difficult to maintain and develop these achievements in a sustainable manner.

In the context of countries in the region and the continent investing more and more systematically and professionally in sports for the disabled, the delay in policy development will cause Vietnam to fall behind and lose the opportunity to rise up. It is time for the competent authorities to take stronger and more drastic actions, for a sport that leaves no one behind.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/can-som-hoan-thien-chinh-sach-cho-hlv-vdv-nguoi-khuet-tat-157235.html