Quảng Ninh ready for National Sports Games

The Games will be the largest in history, with more than 17,000 athletes, coaches, officials, referees, and staff across 43 sports.

Quảng Ninh Province is the main host of the ninth National Sports Games (NSG) and, after months of preparation, the province is ready for a successful quadrennial competition.

The NSG will be officially held from December 9 to December 21 in 11 cities and provinces of Hà Nội, Hải Phòng, Hải Dương, Bắc Ninh, Bắc Giang, Nam Định, Ninh Bình, Thanh Hóa, Hòa Bình, Vĩnh Phúc.

The Games will be the largest in history, with more than 17,000 athletes, coaches, officials, referees, and staff across 43 sports.

Some, such as rowing and shooting, have finished, while basketball, billiards and volleyball are ongoing in different localities.

"After the interruption of training due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we can't wait to be back in training and competing," said swimmer Nguyễn Thị Kiều Oanh of Quảng Ninh.

"My teammates and I have been training hard, improving our technique and fitness for the NSG. Hope that we will reach our best form to win medals and contribute to Quảng Ninh's medal tally," she said.

Quảng Ninh will take charge of organising the ceremonies and 21 sports.

The opening ceremony will be held on December 9 at the Sun Carnival Square in Hạ Long City, while the closing ceremony will be on December 21 at the provincial multi-sport gymnasium.

Almost 1,000 artists and dancers have been working hard for days for the opening ceremony. They promised to bring beautiful songs and artistic dances to around 11,000 audiences.

"Activities concerning to organisation are in good progress. Final touches will be made to make sure the NSG is held perfectly," said Dr Đặng Hà Việt, deputy head of the organising board.

"Facilities and equipment for training and competing are well prepared. Logistics such as hotels, food and transportation in Quảng Ninh and all other localities are under control and strictly follow requirements of the NSG organisers," said Việt.

According to Deputy Chairwoman of Quảng Ninh People's Committee Nguyễn Thị Hạnh all 14 competition venues have almost finished the upgrading and decorating activities. All will be done and ready before the opening ceremony.

Quảng Ninh is home to a 5,000-seat Đại Yên Gymnasium for indoor sports and an aquatic palace to host diving. Tuần Châu international entertainment resort can cover golf and beach volleyball. Cẩm Phả Stadium has a standard football field and 16,000 seats for supporters.

The provincial library, museum, the Exhibition of Planning and Expo Centre, and local university sport training campuses and groups meet demands to hold competitions.

Most of the sports are organised in three cities of Hạ Long, Cẩm Phả and Uông Bí, which are home to up to 360 hotels along with nearly 900 hostels, providing thousands of rooms for the Games participants and their families and friends, as well as tourists and supporters.

After Quảng Ninh, Hà Nội will host the second-largest number of seven sports. The city is in favourable conditions after hosting the recent 31st SEA Games. As a result, all gymnasiums and competition fields are still in good shape to welcome athletes.

"All concerning units and agencies are asked to build up suitable plans for the NSG when we are awarded the right to organised seven sports," said Đỗ Đình Hồng, director of the municipal Culture and Sports Department.

"With our good venues that just served the SEA Games months ago, we are confident to give the best conditions for tournaments," he said.

Speaking to reporters recently, Dr Việt, director of the Việt Nam Sports Administration, said the NSG was the country's biggest sports event every four years. It was to promote the sports training movement while finding talents for national teams who will represent Việt Nam in international competitions.

He said that despite many challenges, sports people and concerned authorities all determined to make a successful Games this December.