General Secretary To Lam attends 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s Sports and Physical Training Sector

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Le Minh Tri, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and Chairman of the Commission for Internal Affairs; Mr. Pham Gia Tuc, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and Chief of the Office of the Party Central Committee; General Luong Tam Quang, Politburo member and Minister of Public Security; and Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chính. Also in attendance were members and former members of the Party Central Committee, ministers, leaders of central ministries and agencies, as well as leaders of Hanoi and various provinces and cities.

Representing the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) were: Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Secretary of the Party Committee and Minister of MCST; former Minister Hoang Tuan Anh; former Minister and Chairman of the Committee for Physical Training and Sports Ha Quang Du; Ms. Lam Thi Phuong Thanh, member of the Party Central Committee and Permanent Vice Minister of MCST; along with various Vice Ministers, former leaders of the sports sector through different periods, and outstanding coaches and athletes.

The event also welcomed ambassadors and representatives of international organizations in Vietnam.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Nguyen Van Hung emphasized that 80 years ago, when the nation had just gained independence and the revolutionary government was still in its infancy—facing countless hardships and challenges—with strategic vision and ahead-of-its-time thinking, the Party and our beloved President Ho Chi Minh affirmed the vital role of physical education and sports in the revolutionary cause.

On March 27, 1946, on behalf of the Government, he issued Decree No. 38 to establish the Youth and Physical Education Department and called upon the entire population to practice physical exercise: “To preserve democracy, build the country, and create a new life, everything requires health to be successful. If each citizen is weak, the whole nation is weak; if each citizen is healthy, the whole nation is healthy.” He also affirmed: “Practicing physical exercise and improving health is the duty of every patriot,” and declared: “A strong populace makes a prosperous nation!”

The Minister affirmed that under the Party’s leadership and the State’s patronage, the sports sector has taken the teachings of the great President Ho Chi Minh to heart, embarking on an “80-year endurance race of faith and aspiration” filled with emotional milestones.

This journey includes the “Party’s Will – People’s Heart” track, featuring nationwide movements such as “Healthy for the Country” and “Youth Mobilization Day.” these initiatives gathered the masses, especially the youth, contributing to the vibrant revolutionary spirit immediately following the August Revolution. It is also a path of “Resilience and Perseverance,” marked by movements like “Stay Healthy for the Resistance and National Construction” and “Stay Healthy to Build and Protect the Fatherland” following the National Resistance Day. Since national reunification, it has become a road of “Faith and Aspiration,” driven by the campaign “All People Practice Physical Exercise Following the Example of Great Uncle Ho,” and the confident strides of Vietnamese sports as they integrate internationally with a desire to soar high.

“On this 80-year journey, ‘marked by sweat’ and ‘ennobled by the passion, talent, resilience, and unyielding will’ of sports professionals, the mass sports movement has gradually expanded across the nation. The ranks of coaches, athletes, and referees have grown in both number and professionalism, achieving numerous high-level successes in international sports competitions,” the Minister assessed.

According to the Minister, international cooperation in physical education and sports has expanded significantly, shifting from “casual exchanges” to “authentic partnerships,” with established ties spanning over 60 countries and international sports organizations. Vietnam has become a prestigious member with active contributions to the international Olympic and Paralympic movements. The nation has twice successfully hosted the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), consistently maintaining a top position in the ASEAN region while successfully organizing numerous other major international sporting events.

“We are deeply moved looking back on this 80-year journey—a journey of faith and aspiration. From overcoming the hardships of using homemade balls driven by pure passion, to the ‘boiling cauldrons’ of stadiums filled with tens of thousands of spectators, where every step carries the colors of Vietnamese culture and solidarity, and where every goal scored causes an explosion of emotion from fans, making the national flag fly high and ‘painting the streets red.’

From the rivers of our homeland where people immerse themselves in summer swims, to the ‘mermaids and mermen’ who make waves in the blue lanes of ASEAN and ASIAD. Whoever they are, wherever they may be, and in whatever sport—from mass sports to high-performance athletics on this beloved S-shaped land—all are imbued with cultural traditions and a spirit of integration. All reflect the ‘talent,’ ‘bravery,’ and ‘will’ of Vietnam as it reaches out to the world,” Minister Nguyen Van Hung emphasized.

The Minister also noted that the development of Vietnamese sports is not limited to mere athletic achievements but also creates significant room for the growth of the service and sports economy, contributing to the nation’s overall socio-economic progress.

In recognition of the immense contributions of the physical education and sports sector to the national revolution, as well as to the cause of national construction and defense, the Party and State have bestowed numerous prestigious honors upon the sector, including the Ho Chi Minh Order and the Independence Order. Hundreds of units and thousands of officials within the sector have also been granted various noble titles.

Notably, at today’s solemn ceremony, the Vietnam Sports Authority is honored to receive the First-Class Labor Order—a testament to the recognition by the Party, State, and People of the 80-year journey of effort, construction, and growth of Vietnamese sports.

As our country enters a new era, the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress and thematic resolutions from the Politburo have clearly outlined the requirements to improve the health, physical strength, and stature of the people, fostering comprehensively developed individuals to meet the demands of national defense and construction in the new situation. Mass sports must truly become the foundation, creating breakthroughs for high-performance sports to bring glory to the Fatherland. The sports economy must develop in proportion to its potential and advantages, which increasingly poses new demands for the entire sector. It is essential to decisively overcome limitations in governance, coaching, and facility management; maintain stability in organization, faith, and ethics; and leverage intellect and bravery to create developmental momentum.

Accordingly, the Minister requested the sector to focus on several key areas. First is the unification of perception: do not become complacent or celebrate too early over achieved results, nor become discouraged or lose heart in the face of current challenges. We must inherit and promote the “Spirit of solidarity – persistent will – aspiration for dedication – creativity in thinking – proactivity in action – efficiency in governance – passion in training – ceaseless effort in learning – science in coaching – diligence in practice – bravery in competition – bringing glory to the Fatherland.”

The sector must regularly conduct political and ideological education for officials, Party members, civil servants, employees, athletes, coaches, and sports practitioners, while strictly enforcing administrative discipline and order.

Efforts must continue to review and propose improvements to the institutional framework and strengthen state management of sports. Coordination with the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Education and Training, and relevant agencies is vital to effectively implement the campaign “All People Practice Physical Exercise Following the Example of Great Uncle Ho” across society, promoting the Olympic movement and the development of sports federations and associations toward professional and methodical growth.

Simultaneously, emphasis must be placed on scientific research, the application of science and technology—especially in coaching science, sports biomedicine, sports psychology, and anti-doping. A synchronized database must be built to serve management activities in the field.

International cooperation should be enhanced, aiming for substantive and effective partnerships in scientific research, expert exchange, coaching, and the training of key athletes.

Furthermore, the sports market must be developed, promoting public-private partnerships. The sector should attract social resources, encouraging businesses, organizations, and individuals to invest in sports facilities, competition organization, and the training of athletes, coaches, and referees. Constant advisory work for the Party and State is needed to develop sports as an integrated economic sector, creating a synchronized sports economic ecosystem that radiates social values. Vietnamese sports will deliver achievements that are “Rich in economic value – Deep in cultural value – Sustainable in future development.”

The Minister expressed his confidence that with an 80-year tradition of construction and development, and with a spirit of solidarity, innovation, and an aspiration to serve, the entire sector is determined to successfully fulfill the missions entrusted by the Party, State, and People, contributing to building “A healthy nation, a harmoniously developed society, and a powerful, prosperous, and happy Vietnam.”