A golden opportunity for sports.

Decree 349/2025/ND-CP, recently issued by the Government and effective from February 15th, is considered the biggest boost to Vietnam's sports policy in many years.

For the first time, the salaries, allowances, nutritional benefits, and bonuses of coaches and athletes were adjusted to be commensurate with the effort they put in. The tiered compensation system based on achievement – ​​from qualifying for the Olympics to winning prestigious gold medals – created a clear value system, demonstrating a professional and scientific approach to investing in human resources for sports.

In the context of increasingly demanding international performance requiring comprehensive preparation in physical fitness, psychology, and biomedical aspects, nutrition and recovery are no longer supplementary details but decisive factors. This shift shows that Vietnamese sports are adopting a "invest to compete" mindset, where performance is directly proportional to the value of the investment. A noteworthy point is that the increase in performance for athletes in youth teams is quite high, equal to or nearly equal to that of the national team. This demonstrates Vietnam's long-term investment orientation in sports, seeking to bridge the generational gap, continuously rejuvenate athletes, and, more importantly, promote training and encourage children to choose sports as a career.

From a governance perspective, Decree 349 should be seen as a strong commitment, fitting the new era of the country. The new financial structure for training and competition will lay the foundation for coaches and athletes to dedicate themselves long-term with peace of mind, while also creating conditions for the sports sector to restructure towards professionalism. Resources only truly become valuable when coupled with the organizational and operational capacity of each sport, each national sports federation, and each sports association. If the allocation, supervision, or selection mechanisms remain unchanged, then even the best policies will struggle to create substantial change.

The most profound impact of this policy lies in changing societal perceptions of sports careers. For a long time, many families have viewed sports as a more risky profession than a sustainable one. Clearly defining salaries, allowances, and insurance benefits will help sports overcome this prejudice.

This transparency not only reassures parents about their children pursuing professional sports, but also creates a foundation for businesses to easily participate in sponsorship or sign commercial contracts with athletes. A highly skilled athlete with substantial compensation will have greater brand value, thereby attracting social resources and contributing to reducing the burden on the sports sector's budget in the long run.

Decree 349 serves as the launching pad for the Sports Development Strategy for the period 2025-2030, with a vision to 2045. This reflects the strategic vision of the Party and the State in building a strong sports foundation, contributing to enhancing the nation's position on the international stage. The State is not only setting directions through strategic documents, but is now demonstrating this through concrete actions: prioritizing investment in human resources, improving professional conditions, and building a professional sports environment.

Decree 349 is a golden opportunity and a leverage for Vietnamese sports, especially in the context where we are still maintaining a leading position in Southeast Asian sports, thanks to ensuring the continuity of generations of talented athletes.

YEN PHUONG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/co-hoi-vang-cho-the-thao-post832787.html