At the send-off ceremony (Photo: VNA) Speaking at a send-off ceremony in Hanoi on April28, swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang, on behalf of the athletes, affirmed that they areresolved to participate in the Games with the spirit of solidarity andfriendship with international friends.
Present at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister PhamBinh Minh said SEA Games is not only a sport event but also a festival wherecountries in the region display their solidarity and friendship, and engage incultural exchanges.
Vietnam’s hosting of the Games demonstrates the country’srole and high sense of responsibility for regional sports, as well as itscontributions to the development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),he noted.
The Deputy PM commended efforts by organisations andindividuals, especially 951 athletes, 250 coaches and 30 experts of theVietnamese delegation during preparations for the event.
He asked them to use the occasion to promote Vietnam’sgood values to international friends, enhance solidarity and friendship, andexchange experience with guest teams.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: VNA) Deputy Director of the National SportsAdministration (NSA) Tran Duc Phan, head of the delegation, said with seriousand responsible preparations, the delegation is now ready for the Games.
SEA Games 31, themed “For a Stronger South EastAsia”, will be held in the capital city of Hanoi and 11 neighbouring provincesand cities from May 12 to 23.
Featuring 40 sports with 526 events, it is expectedto attract around 10,000 participants. The biennial event was initially slatedfor late 2021 but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact.
Vietnam is striving to earn 140 gold, 77 silver and 71bronze medals at SEA Games 31.
The country bagged 73, 58 and 98 golds in the lastthree Games from 2015 to 2019, respectively.
Vietnamese athletes bagged 158 golds out of 444 whenthe country hosted the SEA Games for the first time in 2003, together with 97silver and 91 bronze medals./.
VNA
