The 13^th ASEAN Schools Games in 2024 will take place in Da Nang from May 31 - June 9. This is the second time the sporting event has been held in Viet Nam but this is the first time Da Nang has been a host. Currently, the preparatory works for the forthcoming event have been already completed.

Badminton competition, and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 13th ASEAN Schools Games will take place at the Tien Son Sports Arean. IN PHOTO: Artistes, volunteers and students practice for the arts programme at the opening ceremony. Photo: P.N

Over 1,300 athletes from 10 regional countries

The 13^th ASEAN Schools Games will attract over 1,300 athletes and coaches from the sports delegations of 10 regional countries, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.

The athletes will compete in 107 events of swimming, athletics, badminton, basketball, pencak silat, and vovinam.

Notably, Vovinam (traditional Vietnamese martial arts) is included in the competition programme for the first time.

Aside from Viet Nam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand have registered to compete in this sport.

With the slogan "Connect to shine bright", the 13^th ASEAN Schools Games not only celebrates sporting talents but also emphasizes the connection among ASEAN students, fostering unity for a young generation of Southeast Asia that integrates and develops.

The mascot of the Games is the red-shanked douc langur, a rare animal listed in Việt Nam's Red Book and classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as “Endangered”. Through this mascot, the event wants to convey a message of environmental protection and encourages each student and the community at large to pay attention to important planetary issues.

Careful preparation

The competitions, and the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games will be organized at 6 locations in the city.

Specifically, pencak silat will take place at the Son Tra District-based Center for Culture, Information and Sports; athletics at the athletics field of the Da Nang Sports and Gymnastics Athletes Coaching and Training Centre; swimming at the Da Nang Swimming - Diving Club; Vovinam at the martial arts gym in the campus of Da Nang Swimming - Diving Club; basketball at the University of Da Nang’s Sports Center; and badminton, plus opening and closing ceremonies, at the Tien Son Sports Arena.

Mr. Tran Cong Tu, Director of the Da Nang Sports and Fitness Centre, said that 20 officers and employees from the unit have worked with environmental sanitation staff to clean and cut grass around the Tien Son Sports Arena, aimed at ensuring a green - clean - beautiful landscape during the Games.

In addition, the centre has sent an official dispatch to the People's Committee of Hai Chau District and related units to ask them to temporarily stop drinking and eating services around the Tien Son Sports Area during the Games to ensure environmental hygiene.

According to Mr. Mai Tan Linh, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Education and Training, the 13^th ASEAN Sports Games is a large-scale international sports event. Therefore, the construction, repair, and upgrading of facilities at competition venues; the scripts for the opening and closing ceremonies; and food and accommodation services for sports delegations are carefully prepared.

In addition, the city has developed a plan to ensure security and order, and food hygiene, as well as recruited volunteers to support sports delegations.

The municipal Department of Culture and Sports has recently held a meeting with relevant departments and units to recheck all facilities and equipment according to the list of sports required by the General Department of Physical Training and Sports is an organization under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Culture and Sports Nguyen Trong Thao highlighted that the hosting of the 13^th ASEAN Schools Games is not only of great significance to the development of local education, physical and sports, but also has political, cultural, social, diplomatic and tourism significance.

The sporting event greatly contributes to strengthening solidarity, friendship and understanding between Viet Nam and ASEAN countries. It promises to attract a large number of domestic and international tourists and local people, thereby advertising the image of the country, people, cultural identity, and tourism of Da Nang in particular and Viet Nam in general to international friends.

“On the occasion, sports delegations will have the opportunity to enjoy fireworks displays on the opening night of the 12^th Da Nang International Fireworks Festival in 2024 on June 8" Mr. Thao said.

Reporting by PHI NONG - Translating by M.DUNG, T. TUNG