The power of belief

VHO - Vietnamese disabled sports, under the leadership of the Vietnam Paralympic Committee, has gone through 30 years of formation and development, full of difficulties but also brilliant achievements.

From its early days of hardship and scarcity, the movement has gradually spread strongly, contributing not only to improving the health and spirits of millions of people with disabilities but also bringing glory to the nation on the international stage.

More than just medals, it's a story of extraordinary resilience, an indomitable will to live, and the proud journey of Vietnamese sports ' integration into the global Paralympic community.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong presented Certificates of Commendation from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to collectives and individuals who achieved outstanding results.

A proud achievement

On September 11, 1995, the Prime Minister signed a decision to establish the Vietnam Association of Sports for People with Disabilities – the only social organization representing the sports movement for people with disabilities nationwide. After 30 years, this organization has developed into the Vietnam Paralympic Committee, officially joining the international Paralympic system and affirming its position in the region as well as in the world .

During that period, the disabled sports movement spread to dozens of provinces and cities, attracting tens of thousands of people to participate in regular training, and hundreds of clubs were established. From small domestic tournaments, Vietnamese disabled sports gradually reached international levels: winning second place at the ASEAN Para Games 2001, making its mark at the Asian Para Games 2010 and 2014, and especially at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games with the historic gold medal won by weightlifter Le Van Cong.

Speaking at the 30th anniversary celebration of the Vietnam Paralympic Committee on September 22nd, former Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Chairman of the Vietnam Paralympic Committee, Huynh Vinh Ai, emphasized: “Over the past 30 years, from the early days when there were many difficulties, the disabled sports movement has gradually risen strongly.”

Each medal, each record, each story of overcoming adversity is a vivid testament to the power of belief, willpower, and love of life. We are immensely proud that the red flag with a yellow star has repeatedly flown brilliantly in the Paralympic, Asian Para Games, and ASEAN Para Games arenas… not only bringing glory to the nation, but also inspiring millions of hearts, affirming that there are no limits to dreams.”

At the 30th anniversary celebration of the Vietnam Paralympic Committee, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh emphasized the special significance of the event in the context of the lingering echoes of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd. “This is a special event with significant meaning not only for the disabled sports movement, but also for the journey of building a compassionate, inclusive society where no one is left behind,” the Deputy Prime Minister stated.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, the Deputy Prime Minister extended congratulations and gratitude to the generations of officials, coaches, athletes, as well as organizations, businesses, and international friends who have accompanied and created a movement rich in humanistic values, contributing to promoting the image of a compassionate, resilient, and aspirational Vietnam.

The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnamese disabled sports not only bring glorious achievements on the international stage but also foster willpower and inspire the spirit of millions of people. Each time the red flag with a yellow star flies at the Paralympic Games, Asian Para Games, or ASEAN Para Games, it is not only a personal glory but also the pride of the entire nation, a message that "no matter the circumstances, Vietnamese people will always rise up and dare to assert themselves."

Besides acknowledging the achievements, the Deputy Prime Minister also frankly pointed out the bottlenecks and outlined six key directions for Vietnamese disabled sports to make longer and stronger strides.

This includes perfecting mechanisms and policies to ensure equality, fairness, and timeliness in remuneration and rewards so that athletes and coaches can focus on training and contributing; investing strategically in infrastructure, equipment, and human resources; building specialized training centers; and providing nutritional and biomedical support for sports and post-retirement careers.

Let's move forward together.

Entering a new phase, Vietnamese disabled sports face both opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, competitive achievements are increasingly being affirmed, and the attention of the Party, the State, and society as a whole to people with disabilities is growing. However, on the other hand, the movement still faces limitations in terms of infrastructure, specialized coaching staff, and a lack of abundant young athletes to succeed the current generation.

According to its plan for 2030, the Vietnam Paralympic Committee aims to develop at least 16 sports, attract approximately 40,000 people with disabilities to participate in training annually, expand the network of clubs in localities, and aim for 1 million people with disabilities to benefit from sports activities. The focus is on maintaining 55-60 key athletes, adding 10-15 young athletes each year, and striving to have athletes meet the qualifying standards and win medals at the 2028 Paralympic Games.

In parallel, the Committee will focus on specialized training programs, developing human resources for trainers and disability classification experts, while strengthening international cooperation to learn from experience and improve professional skills.

Communication efforts will also be intensified to change public perception, shifting from viewing disability sports as a charitable activity to seeing it as an important field contributing to human development and building a humane and equitable society.

All these directions demonstrate a great aspiration to make Vietnamese disabled sports an indispensable part of the national sports system, contributing to affirming the country's position on the international stage, while simultaneously igniting hope and providing opportunities for integration for millions of disabled people in the community.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/suc-manh-tu-niem-tin-169949.html