It's never easy...

The 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32) has always been a special sporting event for Southeast Asian nations. Over the years, it has gradually established itself as a prestigious and high-quality sporting arena, attracting the attention of a large number of fans in the region and around the world.

This year, the 32nd SEA Games are being held in Cambodia, opening on May 5th and closing on May 17th. There are 37 sports with 583 events, including 36 medal sports and one demonstration sport, Teqball. The Vietnamese sports delegation participating in the 32nd SEA Games consists of 1003 members, including 702 athletes, 189 coaches, and 10 experts, competing in 30 out of 36 sports and 487 out of 583 events.

Working at the SEA Games 32 has never been easy. (Image 1) — Young female reporter Cao Oanh from the online newspaper Dan Viet answers questions from her colleagues.

In conjunction with the event, press agencies and journalists from across the country traveled to Cambodia to cover and report on the competitions in various sports and events at the SEA Games.

Like many colleagues at other news agencies, the team of reporters from Nong Thon Ngay Nay/Dan Viet newspaper continuously updated information about the Games to bring the latest news to the public. Although when she first arrived in the host country, young female reporter Cao Oanh from Dan Viet online newspaper was still unfamiliar, worried, and nervous… however, after a short time getting used to the environment, climate, and transportation, she quickly got down to work. News articles were updated from the days of preparation for the SEA Games, the first matches, to the official days of the Games…

Working abroad is very stressful for every reporter, from the weather to the intensity of work, and the constant pressure to produce news articles in sufficient quantity and on time. With a proactive spirit, Cao Oanh trained physically for many days before leaving, and also participated in training courses on photography and reporting skills at sporting events. Besides cameras, video cameras, and specialized media equipment, what Cao Oanh was most concerned about this time was wearing heat-resistant clothing to maintain her health in the hot weather conditions abroad.

Working at the SEA Games 32 has never been easy (image 2). — Young female reporter Cao Oanh - Dan Viet online newspaper.

Reporter Cao Oanh shared: "The distances between locations are quite far, and the only means of transportation is tuk-tuks. However, for me, catching one isn't always easy. For major sporting events, especially men's football matches, the roads to the stadium are often congested, so I have to arrive a few hours early."

"Besides ensuring the timeliness of daily news articles, we always have to look for unique and unconventional perspectives that few others explore, such as competitive sports or athletes with outstanding qualities during their medal-winning competitions… only then will the articles be appealing and attract more readers," Cao Oanh shared.

Throughout the SEA Games, Cao Oanh and her colleagues provided the editorial office with many engaging news stories, sometimes focusing on side issues such as the beautiful athletes and referees competing, the preparation work, food preparation, menus, unexpected situations, and other aspects that few reporters pay attention to. However, to obtain such information and images, reporters must be dynamic, creative, and knowledgeable about the sports.

All these challenges require reporters to be quick-witted and creative in finding the optimal way to transmit images and content promptly to the newsroom team for implementation according to plan, in order to provide readers with the fastest possible information.

Working at the SEA Games 32 has never been easy (image 3). — Reporter Tran Nam - Tuoi Tre Newspaper, Ho Chi Minh City.

Like Cao Oanh, reporter Tran Nam from Tuoi Tre newspaper in Ho Chi Minh City also continuously reports on the developments of the matches, the organization, and the preparation of facilities for the athletes and delegations, all of which he keeps up-to-date. For him, lunch is simply a packed pastry and some water before rushing off to work. There are days when he and his colleagues start working from 6 am until 11 pm before returning home.

It can be said that for reporters covering the SEA Games, physical fitness remains the most important factor. They often carry a heavy bag weighing around 15 to 20 kg, containing cameras, laptops, tripods, and various filming equipment – all always with them. On some days, despite the hot Cambodian weather, reporters still have to walk 2 or 3 kilometers to reach the stadium area.

However, despite the difficulties and challenges, from another perspective, for many reporters, this is a joy and an honor to get to know colleagues from both Vietnam and abroad. It's an opportunity to learn from foreign colleagues' working methods, to learn more about skills and professionalism in reporting. Furthermore, it's a chance to receive the warm hospitality of the Cambodian people and the spirit of solidarity among Southeast Asian nations.

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