Determined to bring Quang Tri's sports position to new heights

Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Tri PHAN VAN HOA answers the interview

-Sir! Quang Tri sports have been restored and have had many strong and extensive developments after the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Could you tell us about the outstanding achievements of Quang Tri sports in recent times?

- Quang Tri province always pays attention to developing the sports career. Provincial leaders and all levels and sectors regularly direct the implementation of the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws on the field of sports; at the same time, issue many mechanisms and policies to build infrastructure, build and develop the mass sports movement and high-performance sports training. Socialization of sports is paid attention to, contributing more resources to develop the sports career, creating new steps of development for the sports movement in the province.

Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Phan Van Hoa (first row, right) presents awards to athletes with high achievements at the 2023 National Badminton Tournament for Excellent Racquet Players - Photo: M.D

Besides, with the solidarity and efforts of the team of sports workers of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DST), officials, coaches, and athletes always uphold the sense of responsibility and dedicate themselves to bringing the province's sports career to overcome all difficulties and challenges.

Up to now, the mass sports movement has developed widely among all subjects with many diverse and rich forms. Notably, in 2023, the rate of people regularly practicing sports reached 37.5%; families practicing sports reached 28.2% of the total number of households; there were 3 sports federations and associations, 860 clubs and sports practice points.

Sports for people with disabilities (PWDs) receive investment attention; maintaining a strong top position in national PWD sports competitions. Provincial PWD sports teams participating in the National PWD Athletics Championship won 8 gold medals (HCV), 7 silver medals (HCB), 4 bronze medals (HCĐ), ranking 3rd nationwide; won 6 gold medals, 9 silver medals, 8 bronze medals at the 2023 National Swimming Championship for PWDs...

Quang Tri disabled athletes in the colors of the Vietnamese disabled teams participating in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games for Disabled People won 10 silver medals and 3 bronze medals. High-performance sports have made much progress in both athlete selection, training, coaching and competition results.

The Provincial Sports Training and Competition Center trains 8 sports: Canoeing, Rowing, Badminton, Athletics, Wrestling, Karate, Weightlifting and Swimming, with a total of 103 athletes. In 2023, the provincial teams participated in 29 national sports tournaments, winning 19 gold medals, 35 silver medals and 39 bronze medals.

-Can you share more about the outstanding achievements of Quang Tri athletes competing successfully in Vietnamese teams, bringing glory to the country as well as the national-scale sporting events hosted by Quang Tri?

-In the past 2 years, Quang Tri sports have developed strongly in the national sports arena, with strong and key sports such as Rowing, wrestling, athletics, badminton... affirming their position in national tournaments, while providing many good athletes for Vietnam's sports teams.

The provincial multi-purpose gymnasium meets the requirements for organizing national-level sports tournaments - Photo: M.Đ

In particular, many Quang Tri athletes have competed successfully in Vietnamese teams, typically: Athlete Vo Thi Kim Chi won 1 gold medal at the 2022 Southeast Asian Wrestling Championship; Athlete Ha Ngoc Linh Nhi won 1 gold medal at the 2023 Asian Youth Rowing Championship; Athlete Phan Van Anh Kiet won 1 silver medal at the 2023 Southeast Asian Youth Athletics Championship... Besides, Quang Tri has many other promising young athletes such as: Nguyen Huu Toan (athletics), Tran Thi Thu Hang (rowing).

Although the infrastructure is still difficult, Quang Tri has many advantages for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Department of Physical Training and Sports, the federations: badminton, volleyball, Vietnamese rowing... to confidently choose to host many tournaments at national and international levels.

First of all, the provincial leaders always pay special attention and create the best conditions for the tournament to be successful; the team of sports officials and referees have the capacity and expertise to run the tournament; ensure good conditions for accommodation, security and order, and medical work; people from all walks of life love sports and always cheer for the athletes...

From 2022 to present, Quang Tri has been honored to be chosen to host many national tournaments such as: National 2x2 Beach Volleyball Championship 2022, National Traditional Boat Racing Championship 2022, National Badminton Tournament for Excellent Racquet Players 2023...

Quang Tri has done a good job of coordinating the organization of successful tournaments, which have been recognized and highly appreciated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and related units; the heads of delegations, coaches, and athletes of provinces and cities are impressed by the love of sports and the support of the people of Quang Tri.

-From the solid foundation of recovery and development of Quang Tri sports as well as making many marks in Vietnamese sports, can you tell us about the strategic orientations and important solutions to elevate the position of Quang Tri sports?

- Entering 2024, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism sets many important goals and raises the spirit of determination to firmly maintain the achievements, continue to affirm and bring the position of Quang Tri sports to new heights. Therefore, the task that is regularly focused on is to strongly, extensively and comprehensively develop the mass sports movement to meet the needs of all classes of people; at the same time, it serves as a basis for selecting young athletes to supplement the provincial sports teams.

Promote the socialization of physical education and sports by transferring physical education and sports activities to social organizations; create new motivation to promote the development of mass sports; build model points in the socialization of physical education and sports.

Thereby, increasing the rate of people participating in regular physical training and sports to 38.8% by 2024, the rate of families participating in physical training and sports to 29%; having 860 - 870 clubs and physical training points. The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism focuses on directing the Provincial Sports Training and Competition Center to continue to focus on investment, innovate management methods, and train athletes; pay attention to investing and improving achievements in national and international competitions; determined to participate in 25 - 30 national and international competitions, win 80 - 100 medals of all kinds, have 3 - 5 athletes participating in the national team.

Pay attention to taking good care of and rewarding talented athletes to avoid the "bleeding" of sports talent that has happened in the past, affecting Quang Tri's sports achievements in national and international sports arenas. Regarding sports for the disabled, the industry continues to pay attention to investing to motivate disabled athletes to have a playground to practice health and compete to contribute, maintaining the 3rd place in the country.

Athlete Phan Van Anh Kiet won 1 silver medal at the 2023 Southeast Asian Youth Athletics Championships - Photo: M.D

Attention is paid to the organization of sports tournaments. The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has developed a plan to organize 5-7 provincial-level sports tournaments in 2024; actively supporting districts, towns and cities to organize 50-60 sports tournaments/year.

In particular, in 2024, Quang Tri province is honored to be chosen by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and related units to host the National Youth Volleyball Tournament, National U9 Football Tournament, National Individual Badminton Tournament, "Journey to the Land of Fire - Quang Tri Marathon" Running Tournament, Cycling for Peace Festival, Vietnamese Ethnic Culture Festival...

To successfully complete that task, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has proactively developed a plan and assigned tasks to officers and teams working on sports and physical training to ensure facilities for the competition, while coordinating with departments, branches and localities to do a good job of security, order, health care, accommodation... for the delegations coming to compete.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is confident in completing its task of hosting the tournament, creating a good impression on the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, relevant units, and delegation leaders, coaches and athletes; serving the needs of the people to watch top competitions and meet with talented athletes, thereby bringing Quang Tri sports to a new position.

Thank you!

Minh Duc (performed)

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/van-hoa-the-thao/quyet-tam-dua-vi-the-the-thao-quang-tri-len-tam-cao-moi/182638.htm