Community sports in the city have seen significant positive changes, expanding widely with nearly 200 competitions held from the beginning of 2024 to date, attracting tens of thousands of participants. A crucial factor in the strong proliferation of community sports is the effective socialisation efforts made by various units and localities throughout the city.

Community sports have expanded extensively within the city, with nearly 200 competitions organised since the start of 2024. In the photo: Athletes competing in the Da Nang International Marathon 2024. Photo: P.N.

Many positive outcomes

Recognising community sports as the foundation for high-performance athletics, the Department of Culture and Sports collaborates with various departments and localities to actively promote and encourage officials, civil servants, and residents to engage in regular physical activities. The movement has been promoted through initiatives such as the launch of the campaign "All Citizens Exercise Following  Great Uncle Ho" and the Olympic Run Day for Public Health. With favourable conditions for training grounds and the commitment from local units, physical activities have become increasingly attractive to the community. Since the beginning of the year, the city has organised nearly 200 competitions and community sports exchanges, drawing hundreds of thousands of participants.

According to Mr. Tran Van Manh, Director of the Hai Chau district-based Culture and Sports Centre, the district has organised various competitions in 2024, including chess, taekwondo, traditional martial arts, volleyball, swimming, badminton, and table tennis. These sports represent the district’s strengths and are developed to compete at the city level. Additionally, to foster a vibrant competitive atmosphere and promote tourism, the district regularly holds public sports events during major holidays.

In Thanh Khe District, community sports activities are equally engaging, featuring competitions in long-distance running, chess, basketball, and badminton. At the Thanh Khe District Senior Sports Festival on October 12, Tran Thi Thu Thao from Thanh Khe Tay Ward shared, "This is my third tournament of 2024. Practising and competing in sports improves my health and lifts my spirits. Moreover, it's a great opportunity for me to connect with friends. I hope local units will continue organising regular competitions to meet the community's recreational needs."

The city is also actively hosting large-scale competitions. Since the start of the year, several international sports events have been successful, notably the Da Nang International Marathon 2024, which attracted 9,000 athletes from nearly 57 countries and territories. Additionally, the VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 Viet Nam 2024, the largest triathlon in Viet Nam, saw nearly 3,000 athletes participating, leaving a lasting impression.

According to Mr. Tran Cong Tu, Director of the Da Nang Sports Centre, the centre develops detailed plans annually to ensure the successful organisation of sporting events. Each year, the competitions expand in scale, attracting more participants than the previous year. These community sports events create an exciting atmosphere and motivate individuals to choose suitable sports for their training, leading to a significant shift in public perception of the importance and benefits of physical exercise for health and fitness.

Enhancing sports socialisation

One critical factor contributing to the widespread growth of community sports is the effective socialisation of sports by various local units and the city. With support from individuals and businesses, many training facilities for sports such as football, volleyball, badminton, gym, yoga, and martial arts have been equipped with modern facilities, enabling localities to organise vibrant sports activities. Moreover, numerous physical activities have been conducted in partnership with businesses on a large scale.

Mr. Nguyen Duy Dong, Deputy Director of Thanh Khe District Culture and Sports Centre, stated, "We are enhancing the socialisation of sports to expand the scale of competitions. Recently, with the support of sponsors, the Thanh Khe District badminton tournament attracted over 1,500 athletes. In addition to local club players, competitors from various provinces in the Central and Central Highlands regions also participated. The collaboration with businesses allowed the tournament to be organised professionally and successfully."

According to Mr. Nguyen Trong Thao, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports, to ensure the community sports movement spreads widely, the city annually improves the organisation of sports activities from the city level down to localities, focusing on enhancing the quality of competitions and investing in infrastructure to provide the best conditions for citizens to train and compete.

Additionally, the city encourages businesses, organisations, and individuals to participate in major sporting events such as running and cycling along coastal areas, attracting thousands of athletes from both domestic and international backgrounds. In the future, the department, along with various levels, federations, and sports associations, will actively seek sponsorship and funding for community sports activities, high-performance sports, and recreational sports, thereby reducing the state budget burden while enriching the vibrant sporting activities in the city.

Reporting by PHI NONG - Translating by TRUC VY