Overview of the Opening Ceremony of the 11th Hanoi Capital City Sports Festival

On the evening of December 15th, at the Hanoi Athletics Stadium (Tu Liem Ward), the Organizing Committee of the Hanoi Sports Festival solemnly held the Opening Ceremony of the 11th Hanoi Sports Festival with the participation of more than 1,700 delegates and athletes.

Attending the ceremony were: Vu Dai Thang (Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi City Party Committee, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee); Hoang Dao Cuong (Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism ); Nguyen Danh Hoang Viet (Director of the Vietnam Sports Department); and Tran Van Manh (Secretary General of the Vietnam Olympic Committee).

The parade included processions carrying portraits of President Ho Chi Minh, the Red Flag contingent, and delegations from emulation blocs such as the Hanoi Capital Command, Hanoi Police, Youth, Farmers, Women's Union, and outstanding athletes... With the theme "Brilliant Hanoi - Aspiration to Soar High," the opening ceremony of the 11th Hanoi Capital Sports Festival attracted more than 1,700 officials, coaches, and athletes from 11 emulation clusters of 126 communes and wards, along with departments, agencies, and organizations participating in the parade; nearly 1,000 artists, actors, and athletes participated in synchronized sports performances and welcoming artistic performances.

The 11th Hanoi Sports Festival in 2025 is a key event aimed at promoting the "National Movement for Physical Training Following the Example of the Great President Ho Chi Minh," developing mass sports, and linking it with the "National Movement for Unity in Building a Culturally Rich Life." The Festival contributes to building elegant, civilized, physically healthy, and intellectually sound Hanoians, meeting the requirements of national construction and defense. At the same time, the Festival serves as an opportunity to select and train outstanding athletes in preparation for the 10th National Sports Festival in 2026.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Thu Ha said that the Hanoi City Sports Festival is the city's largest sports event, held every four years. Over 10 editions, the Hanoi City Sports Festival has grown significantly in scale, quality, number of sports, and number of participating athletes, setting many records. The 11th Hanoi City Sports Festival in 2025 will feature 25 sports, the highest number of sports ever, with nearly 8,000 eligible athletes participating. These athletes will compete wholeheartedly, in the spirit of "sportsmanship, unity, honesty, and nobility," showcasing their talents to achieve the best possible results.

The torch-lighting ceremony was solemnly performed by outstanding athletes from Hanoi at the event.

Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Dai Thang took to the stage to pass on the flame, joining the athletes in lighting the Games' torch.

Athlete Le Anh Phuong – in the sport of ballroom dancing – took the oath on behalf of all the athletes participating in the Games at the ceremony.

Referee Tran Van Hau - Volleyball, took the oath on behalf of all referees officiating at the Games during the ceremony.

Following the ceremonial part, the festivities unfolded vibrantly with an artistic program welcoming the Opening Ceremony themed "Hanoi Radiant - Aspiration for Greater Heights," featuring spectacular performances celebrating the sporting spirit and the capital's aspirations for development.

The Games will be held over 42 days, from November 4th to December 15th, 2025, in 12 communes and wards and 4 sports facilities under the Department. The Games will feature competitions in 25 sports, including: Swimming, athletics, table tennis, football, badminton, Taekwondo, wrestling, tennis, volleyball (leather and air), basketball, Karate, aerobic gymnastics, Wushu, billiards & snooker, chess, Chinese chess, sports dance, Pencak silat, Vovinam, roller sports, esports, traditional martial arts, sepak takraw, health-promoting gymnastics, and tug-of-war.

Source: https://znews.vn/toan-canh-le-khai-mac-dai-hoi-the-duc-the-thao-thu-do-lan-thu-xi-post1611801.html