SPORTS

REMARABLE ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2002

Initially we knew little about Binh Thuan's sports. But through an interview with Mr. Do Van Ba, director of the Binh Thuan Sports Department, we learned many things. Mr. Do Van Ba started the conversation with an impressive remark and pride in his branch : "After a long way, in 2002 Binh Thuan's sports has made a remark-able progress and comprehensive over all its sport department. The achievements made put Binh Thuan's sports on a new positions in the local region and in the country".

Outstanding accomplishment:

In 2002, the greatest and most impressive accomplishment of Binh Thuan sports was the great amount of works successfully carried out: The Branch directed, guided and organized sports contests at all different levels in the province in view of the 4^th Binh Thuan provincial sports festival (opened on April 19, 2002 and closed on October 13, 2002).

The Branch hosted the 43^rd "Vanguard newspaper" national marathon championship, the traditional boat race championship, the man and women basketball championship. Also the football match between the Binh Thuan team and the Binh Duong team within the program of the 4th National Sports Festival 2002, the National Young Taekwondo Championship tournament 2002.

The Branch formed the Binh Thuan's sports delegation, made training plan and built up sports force to participate in the 4^th National Sports festival, including: marathon, traditional boat race, traditional martial arts, Vovinam, basketball, badminton, bodybuilding, taekwondo, Judo, kayak canoeing, athletics and men's football. At the same time the branch made plan for trainers and athletes selection in preparation to participate in regional and national sports competitions as requested for 2002.

Besides, the Branch carried on the works of sports training, force and material basis build - ups for districts and towns in accordance with the Decision N^o 2444/2D/CT-UBBT of the President of the Binh Thuan provincial People's Committee.

New developments of sports con- tests:

From April 19 to October 13, 2002 Binh Thuan successfully held the provincial sports festival, with 15 sports contested, 1,115 athletes, trainers and delegation leaders from 9 districts, towns, departments and branches. 34 teams and individuals were awarded certificates of recommendation of the provincial People's Committee for out-standing sports contest performance. The Organizing Committee presented flags and prizes to the best collection entities and they were Phan Thiet, Ham Thuan Bac and Ham Tan.

Previously, for the success of the provincial sports festival based on the directives of the president of the provincial Committee, the Sport Branch made guidelines for communes, precincts and towns to hold sports contests at local, district, town and branch levels.

Sports contests at different levels showed that, with responsibility, Binh Thuan sports branch successfully carried out a lasting extensive campaign to promote sports m the province, with the participation of many people of different ages and professions, especially young people, to maintain and improve their health, thus contributing to the comprehensive human development, morally, intellectually and physically.

Along with sports contests at different levels, Binh Thuan hosted successfully the 43^rd vanguard newspaper marathon championship, the traditional boat race championship, the men and women basketball championship, and the Binh Thuan - Binh Duong football match are happened in the framework of the National Sports Festival. The organization and management of the competitions were sound and regulation-binding. Sports facilities were sufficient for training and contests, results were right and fair. Propaganda. opening and closing ceremonies were serious and corresponding to sports festivals.

Further sport training for and by everyone :

In 2002, sport activities took place enthusiastically from the local level to the provincial level, especially on the occasion of the New Lunar Year festival, holidays and local traditional days. Outstanding were the 2002 New Year run; Party and Spring Felicitation sport activities such as boat race festival, Mui Ne sand hills walk, Takou Mountain climbing, ethnic cultural Tuy Phong sport festival, cultural sport contest of mountainous communes Bac Binh. Many people participated in these activities are either as players or as supporters. creating a joyful, helpful and healthy atmosphere. Districts. towns and provincial branches held their own sport contests and took part in the 4^th provincial sports festival 2002.

In addition, the sports branch organized, in cooperation with other competent institutions, the 5^th provincial Phu Dong sport competition 2002 and the provincial U15 football championship. At the same time, the sport branch helped provincial departments and branches to ho/d their sport contests and gave financial as well as profession- al assistance to districts' sport activities. Thereby, strong advances were made in the popular sport movement, the number of people who practice sport and physical exercise regularly has increased from 13% to 25% of the population and the percentage of schools that teach physical education as a subject in their curriculum was 65%.

Positive results in high grade sports:

In 2002. the Binh Thuan sports branch sent delegations to the National Sports festival and other regional, national, international sport competitions. The total delegates included 30 delegation leaders, 59 trainers and 427 athletes. And the results were as following:

At the 4^th National Sport Festival 2002, the Binh Thuan sport delegation won 7 gold, 3 silver and 14 bronze medals, occupying the 13^th position among the 64 participating delegations and the 1^st position in the 6^th sport region including the Southeastern provinces. It was also awarded Flag and certificate of recommendation of the Organizing Committee. The results were worthy with respect to the efforts made by the Binh Thuan Sports Branch in long time. Mr. Do Van Ba added : the Binh Thuan sport branch could not do it in the past; from today's achievements we learn many good expensive lessons for the future sport competition.

Beside the National Sport Festival, in 2002 the Binh Thuan Sport Branch also sent sport teams to participate in other international, national and regional sport competitions. The teams’ personnel included 347 leaders, trainers and athletes. The contested sports were: athletes, football, taekwondo, judo, badminton, traditional martial arts, body-building, traditional boat race and chess. In which traditional boat race, body- building, chess and badminton were Binh Thuan's strong - points and they have won for Binh Thuan many first prizes medals. Binh Thuan's outstanding young athletes were Nguyen Ngoc Phong and Dang Hoang Minh.

Sports training achievements:

Sport training was the responsibility of the provincial sport training school. With this role, the school required teachers, cadres, trainers and athletes to observe strictly school's regulations. The school supervised closely their activities, timely took disciplinary measures against violations and encouraged student's responsibi/1ties at the same time.

The school concentrated on training sport teams and preparing athletes for regional and national sport competitions. Recently the school focused its efforts on the improvement and upgrade of the teacher's and cadres' capabilities and on the athlete selection and training for high grade sports.

The training school of Binh Thuan Sport Branch has graduated many excellent athletes, professionally and morally, thereby contributing to the many awards and medals Binh Thuan won in high grade sports.

Perfecting sport facilities and its equipment:

Parallels with sports development. the Binh Thuan Sports Branch gathered all resources to upgrade and newly build ports facilities to create best conditions for the cause of sports in the province. A great amount of works were accomplished:

The construction of the provincial sports training school, the improvement of the Phan Thiet stadium, plan for a provincial stadium in the sports complex approved by the provincial People's Committee and plan for a national training center in Phan Thiet.

Furthermore, the Binh Thuan Sport Branch enhanced political and ideological education for cadres, trainers and athletes; carried out training plans for local athletes and sport socialization; made plan for personnel streamlining; convened founding conference to establish the Binh Thuan sport motorcycle  club, in cooperation with the Vietnam Sports Committee opened capability training course for local sport cadres, made regulations for the Binh Thuan sport delegation and promoted emulation.

Future objectives:

To implement Directive N^o 17 of the Party Central Secretariat on sports development to 2010 and Directive N^o 51/2002/CT-TTg of July 26, 2002 of the Prime Minister on fighting against negative deeds in sport activities throughout the branch.

To continue promoting popular sport movement, diversifying sport activities from local to district and provincial levels. To make a reappraisal and improve training for trainers, athletes and sport students. To increase control on, training and moral education for athletes, trainers and referees in the province. To rearrange the province's strong-point sports to make intensive investment. To prepare student athletes for the Phu Dong sport festival in Hue in 2004.

To manage competent/y sports facilities, bring regional and provincial sport activities to local neighborhood and prepare conditions for holding national sport events in Binh Thuan.

To strengthen branch's administration at local level, particularly on planning, force build - up and sport activities and experiment sport socialization in the neighborhood.

To exert efforts to achieve the following objectives: with respect to popular sports, the percentage of people who practice sport and physical exercise is 14% and the percentage of household practicing in exercise is 8%; 20 new clubs will be established. In regard to high grade sports, the target is 13 gold, 18 silver and 23 bronze medals. In connection to training, the number of the provincial selected team will be 86 athletes; the young team: 71 athletes; the promising young athletes: 171 and local athletes: 352.

To expand international sport cooperation, first/y with Southeast Asian countries, receive foreign volunteer to teach and train sports in Binh Thuan and prepare conditions to send provincial sport team to participate in international contests.

Conclusion:

Binh Thuan is changing daily, economically and socially. Therefore, Binh Thuan Sports Branch is in the most favorable conditions for development. We believe that with what it already has and the achievements it made, the Binh Thuan Sports Branch will be able to shoulder the tasks and the responsibility given to it from above. Under its leader-ship, popular sport movement will develop further and high grade sports will win renowned victories in different arenas. We knew about Binh Thuan as an emerging province with potentials for trade, services and tourism. Now we knew about Binh Thuan's sport which is developing in step with the national sport development./.

CHIEN THANG