Sports contribute to sustainable development.

VHO - The Vietnam Sports Department recently held a press conference to provide information about the 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sport (AMMS-8) and related conferences in 2025. The conference is expected to welcome approximately 200 delegates, including Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and heads of sports agencies from ASEAN countries and Timor Leste; senior ASEAN officials on sports; representatives from the Ministries and agencies of sports in Japan and China; and relevant international organizations.

Orientation for the Development of ASEAN Sports in the New Period

According to information from the Vietnam Department of Sports and Physical Education, in 2025, under the rotation mechanism, Vietnam will officially assume the role of chairing the 16th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Sport (SOMS 16), the 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sport (AMMS-8), and related meetings, including: the 5th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sport + Japan (AMMS + Japan 5) and the 2nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sport + China (AMMS + China 2), along with other related events expected to be held immediately before AMMS-8.

Sports contribute to strengthening the bonds between ASEAN countries. Photo: QUY LUONG

Officially taking place from October 13-17, with the theme: “Navigating Sports - Contributing to Sustainable Development,” this conference focuses on discussing many important issues, comprehensively reflecting the development of regional sports in the new phase. The main focus includes developing professional sports linked to sports science and economics to enhance international competitiveness; promoting gender equality and encouraging the participation of women, youth, and people with disabilities; preserving and promoting traditional sports, linked to ASEAN culture and identity; and establishing an ASEAN High-Performance Sports Center to create an environment for training, professional exchange, and elevating athletes.

Simultaneously, the role of sports in improving public health contributes to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and sustainable development; promotes cooperation between ASEAN member states and dialogue partners (Japan, China, South Korea, etc.) and international organizations; enhances Vietnam's role and responsibility in ASEAN's specialized cooperation mechanisms; promotes the image of Vietnam and its people to international friends, and strengthens friendship and mutual understanding within the ASEAN community.

The Conference is expected to adopt Joint Statements and other important documents, assess the results of the implementation of the ASEAN Sports Action Plan 2021-2025; discuss and develop directions and plans for ASEAN sports activities for the next period; approve the results of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meetings on Sports; and develop a plan for ASEAN sports cooperation with Japan, China, and other partners. In addition, reports and related documents from SOMS 15 and SOMS 16, along with cooperation plans for the period after 2025, will also be considered and approved.

One of the key highlights at AMMS-8 was coordinating with the ASEAN Secretariat to provide input on documents and promote cooperation with various partners such as South Korea, the International Football Federation (FIFA), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and the Regional Anti-Doping Organization (SEARADO).

Promoting ASEAN sports cooperation

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Danh Hoang Viet, Director of the Vietnam Sports Department, emphasized: “Hosting the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sport and related conferences is an opportunity to affirm Vietnam's role and position in the region, while promoting ASEAN sports cooperation. This is also an opportunity for Vietnam to access international management experience, development models, and resources. Fields such as sports science , physical education, sports for people with disabilities, and school sports will be promoted through international cooperation, thereby enhancing the overall capacity of Vietnamese sports.”

Hosting AMMS-8 is not only a responsibility within the ASEAN sports cooperation mechanism but also an important opportunity for Vietnam to affirm its role and international prestige; promote the image of Vietnam, its people, and its sports to friends in the region; and strengthen friendship and mutual understanding within the ASEAN community. This is also an opportunity for Vietnam to effectively implement the major policies of the Party and State on multilateral foreign relations, in the spirit of Conclusion No. 59-KL/TW of the Politburo, Directive No. 25-CT/TW of the Secretariat, and Decision No. 161/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister.

The ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sport (AMMS) was first held in 2011 in Indonesia, establishing a mechanism for holding it every two years. After 14 years, AMMS has become an important high-level forum, contributing to promoting cooperation, policy exchange, and action in the field of sport among ASEAN member states.

Hosting AMMS-8 provides Vietnam with deeper access to resources, management experience, and advanced sports development models from countries in the region. Areas currently lacking, such as sports science, sports medicine, physical education in schools, and sports for people with disabilities, will be strongly promoted through exchange and cooperation, thereby enhancing the overall capacity of Vietnamese sports. In particular, the initiative to establish an ASEAN High-Performance Sports Center, expected to be discussed at the Conference, promises to open opportunities for Vietnamese athletes and coaches to train and interact in a regional environment, thereby improving their expertise and ability to integrate on the international stage. This is an important preparatory step for Vietnamese sports to aim for higher goals in the future.

Successfully hosting AMMS 8 will project an image of a positive, responsible, and dynamic Vietnam, ready for deep integration through sports. Sports will become an effective channel for people-to-people diplomacy, helping to bring ASEAN nations closer together and strengthen internal solidarity. The message of a proactive, responsible, and integrated Vietnam emanating from this conference will affirm our country's determination to contribute to building a strong and sustainably developing ASEAN community based on cooperation and friendship. This effort and spirit of deep integration are elevating Vietnam's position not only on the regional sports map but also in the eyes of the international community.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/the-thao-gop-phan-phat-trien-ben-vung-173761.html