A large number of people in different age groups, especially those from Da Nang, have become actively involved in cheering for sports competitions during the 5^th Asian Beach Games (ABG5) which ended in the city with a splendid closing ceremony at the East Sea Park tonight. 

Some local supporters in red T-shirts emblazoned with a yellow star cheering for a match

Amongst them was 80-year-old Phuong from the Son Tra District’s An Hai Bac Ward.  Despite his old age, Mr Phuong spent time cheering for Viet Nam’s national beach football team in the quarter-finals against Lebanon on 29 September.

In addition to Mr Tran Van Son, some of his friends from the SHB DA Nang Supporters’ Association went to the match to show their strong supports for Vietnamese players.  In red T-shirts emblazoned with a yellow star, these lovely fans created a vibrant atmosphere at the competition venue by waving their national flag, blowing trumpets and beating drums.

Mr Son said “Apart from football matches, I and my friends often spend our time cheering for such competitions as volleyball, handball and basketball 3x3 at the international games.  ABG5, a large-scale international sports event, provides the opportunity for local sports lovers to see breathtaking performances and some strange sports we have never heard before, through their eyes.  The enthusiasm of supporters has helped to inspire competing athletes to gain their best possible achievements, as well as to advertise the love of sports of residents in Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole, to international friends.”

Some competitions organised in a reasonable time frame, including basketball 3x3, volleyball, wrestling, bodybuilding and martial arts, have drawn a great deal of attention from domestic and foreign spectators.

Most notably, more than 100 Thai supporters have been available at most of matches of their home team.  They were mainly from the Olympic Committee of Thailand, and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand.

In addition, a group of Thai fans spent their own money visiting Da Nang to cheer for their home team at ABG5.  The group’s leader is Mr Khamthong who is a regular fan in sports events at regional and global levels.