Many heads of departments in Vinh Phuc have had to borrow money…

As Thanh Nien newspaper reported, on December 23, 2024, the Vinh Phuc Sports Training and Competition Center (where "golden girl" Nguyen Thi Huong trains in rowing) issued a notice regarding the temporary suspension of regular training for sports teams from December 24, 2024, "based on the request of the sports teams and the actual situation of not yet receiving regular training nutrition for coaches and athletes." The notice clearly stated that regular training for sports teams will continue until regular training funding is provided in 2024.

What did the Vinh Phuc Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism report?

It is known that on December 23, 2024, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vinh Phuc province also submitted a report to the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee regarding the provision of nutritional support for coaches and athletes during regular training sessions.

Nguyen Thi Huong (right) and Pham Thi Hue previously secured two spots at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The report from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vinh Phuc Province states: "...some provincial policies and mechanisms have expired or been repealed, thus lacking the legal basis to provide funding and support for nutrition for coaches and athletes during regular training. Therefore, from the beginning of 2024 until now, the nutrition allowance for regular training in Vinh Phuc Province for 2024 has not been provided (funding to ensure nutrition for athletes and coaches during training and competition will only be provided in 2024 according to the regulations of Circular No. 86/2020/TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance ); salary, training support, and social insurance are currently unavailable. In recent years, the attention and support for high-achieving coaches and athletes have tended to decrease year by year and period by period."

According to the same report, the Vinh Phuc Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism also recommended: "From the beginning of 2024 until now, the leadership of the Provincial Sports Training and Competition Center has had to borrow money, and also mobilize the heads of sports departments and staff to borrow funds to maintain the canteen to ensure that coaches and athletes have the health to train. To date, this debt has been incurred by the center's leadership and staff. Therefore, addressing the difficulties related to nutrition during regular training for coaches and athletes in 2024 is a reality that needs to be addressed to avoid unwanted incidents, create negative public opinion, and affect the prestige and position of Vinh Phuc province. Currently, some of the province's top athletes have requested to leave training and competition to transfer to other units with higher benefits than Vinh Phuc; this affects the preparation of athletes to participate in high-performance sports competitions under the central system; and will not ensure the medal targets as directed." The Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee will participate in the 10th National Sports Games in 2026.

Nguyen Thi Huong's employing unit is "crying for help".

In the document, Nguyen Thi Huong's managing unit stated: "Based on the above practical situation, the Vinh Phuc Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism respectfully requests the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial Party Standing Committee, the Provincial People's Council, and the Provincial People's Committee to pay attention and direct the development of a plan to support the funding related to special nutrition for coaches and athletes of the provincial high-performance sports team who are present during regular training sessions at the Provincial Sports Training and Competition Center."

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism respectfully reports and requests the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial Party Standing Committee, the Provincial People's Council, and the Provincial People's Committee to allow the continued refinement of the draft Resolution of the Provincial People's Council stipulating a number of specific policies for the development of physical education and sports in Vinh Phuc province for the period 2025-2030 as soon as possible (including only the minimum policies that have been agreed upon by the departments and agencies; approved by the Provincial People's Committee at the July 2024 meeting, specifically: special nutritional support for coaches and athletes; reward levels for coaches and athletes; support for mass sports) and will promptly report to the Provincial People's Council at the nearest meeting."

"Golden girl" Nguyen Thi Huong requests leave from training.

In related news, Vietnamese athlete Nguyen Thi Huong has submitted a request to retire from rowing training in Vinh Phuc province starting January 1, 2025. In her resignation letter, the 2001-born athlete stated: "I started training and became a rowing athlete in Vinh Phuc province in August 2016. Over the past nine years, I have continuously strived, overcome all difficulties and hardships, and dedicated myself to Vinh Phuc province's sports, winning many prestigious medals at international and domestic competitions, bringing glory to Vietnam and Vinh Phuc province. In particular, I am honored to have secured a place at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games."

However, in the past three years (from 2022 to 2024), I have not received the prize money for medals in domestic competitions or the nutritional support allowance for 2024. Now that I am older and due to family circumstances, I am writing this letter to request permission to retire from training as a rowing athlete in Vinh Phuc province. I respectfully request that the Board of Directors of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vinh Phuc province and the Board of Directors of the Vinh Phuc Provincial Sports Training and Competition Center allow me to retire from training starting January 1, 2025, in accordance with my family's and my personal wishes."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vu-nguyen-thi-huong-xin-nghi-tap-nhieu-truong-bo-mon-o-vinh-phuc-phai-di-vay-muon-185250120165459885.htm