Closing of SOMS 16 Conference: Spreading the spirit of honest and sustainable sports development

On October 14 in Hanoi, the third session of the 16th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Sports (SOMS 16) took place with the participation of international partners in the spirit of sustainable development cooperation.

FIFA and ASEAN promote cooperation to develop comprehensive football

According to FIFA's report, the ASEAN-FIFA Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 will expire in October 2025 and is being extended by both sides with many expanded contents. In particular, the cooperation goal is to exploit the power of football as a tool to promote education , health and social cohesion, thereby contributing to the building of a dynamic and sustainable ASEAN.

Since 2019, ASEAN and FIFA have implemented a series of initiatives to promote regional football.

Since 2019, ASEAN and FIFA have implemented a series of initiatives in four key areas: School Football, Sports Development, Promoting Sports Integrity and Improving Technical Capacity. The implemented plans have contributed to professionalizing the organization, improving technical capacity and promoting the development of women's football in the region.

Sharing information at the Conference, Ms. Nguyen Thanh Ha - Deputy General Secretary of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) said that within the framework of ASEAN - FIFA cooperation, Vietnam is one of the active and proactive countries with many effectively implemented projects.

In particular, FIFA has supported VFF in developing grassroots football - an important foundation for the long-term development of professional football. Through the FIFA Forward Program, Vietnam continues to receive support in terms of facilities and technology: FIFA-standard artificial turf, Injury recovery system, GPS equipment to track athletes, LED lighting, team buses and VAR technology for V.League 1.

In the 2025-2027 period, Vietnam will participate in key programs such as: FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS), FIFA Women's Football Development Programme and FIFA Arena, affirming its position as a dynamic country in the ASEAN football ecosystem.

ASEAN - WADA: Cooperation to build honest and transparent sports

Besides football development, delegates at the Conference also paid much attention to anti-doping in sports from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The 2022-2025 period of ASEAN - WADA cooperation aims to build an honest, fair and doping-free sports environment.

In her speech, Ms. Mayumi Yaya Yamamoto - Director of WADA Asia/Oceania Office gave preliminary information on the results of ASEAN - WADA cooperation in the period of 2022-2025, aiming at the goal of building an honest, fair and doping-free sports environment.

The ASEAN-WADA Memorandum of Understanding signed on March 14, 2022, will be extended after 2025, focusing on supporting countries to build independent National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) that comply with the World Anti-Doping Code, while promoting education, training and awareness raising for athletes, coaches and sports administrators.

To date, five ASEAN countries have independently operated NADOs, two others have received intensive technical assistance, and dozens of GLDF training courses have been organized to help officials improve their skills in anti-doping investigation, monitoring and enforcement.

WADA, in collaboration with the Southeast Asian Regional Anti-Doping Organization (SEARADO), is reviewing and finalizing the legal framework in member countries. Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia now have independent operating systems, while Thailand, the Philippines, Laos and Cambodia are in the process of finalizing international standards.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Minh - Deputy Director of the Vietnam Sports Administration chaired the third session of the 16th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Sports (SOMS 16)

In the coming period, WADA and ASEAN will implement the World Doping Code 2027, expand the intelligence and investigation network and promote the policy enforcement support program associated with the UNESCO Convention against Doping in Sport.

Two upcoming international events, the World Anti-Doping Conference in Busan (Korea, December 2025) and the AORIM Intergovernmental Ministerial Meeting in Beijing (June 2026), will be opportunities for ASEAN to affirm its pioneering role in efforts to build clean sports.

Also within the framework of today's working session, ASEAN member countries had effective working sessions with many affiliated organizations such as: SEARADO, Southeast Asian Football Federation (AFF), ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Sangmyung University, KFA Love Sharing Foundation, Sports Alliance.

The partners shared initiatives, cooperation results and proposed development directions in the fields of training, community sports, school sports and capacity building for coaches, referees and athletes, towards a united, dynamic and sustainably developed ASEAN.

Unified orientation to prioritize the development of mass sports

After two days of active work, the 16th SOMS Conference successfully concluded, recognizing the practical contributions of member countries and international partners.

The conference agreed on the orientation of the ASEAN Sports Cooperation Strategy for the period 2026-2030, with priority given to the development of community sports, school sports, women's sports and sports for the disabled; promoting digital transformation, science and technology in sports management and training; and strengthening cooperation with partners outside the region such as Japan, South Korea, China and global organizations.

In his closing speech, Mr. Nguyen Hong Minh - Deputy Director of the Vietnam Sports Administration, Chair of the SOMS 16 Conference emphasized: "The cooperation of ASEAN countries with international partners such as FIFA, WADA and other international organizations not only contributes to improving sports capacity in the region, but also spreads the values ​​of health, honesty and solidarity - in line with the ASEAN spirit: One vision, one identity, one community".

The conference also noted many cooperation initiatives with international partners such as Japan, Korea and China, especially in the fields of women's sports, sports for the disabled, physical education, coach capacity development and preservation of traditional sports. These are important orientations to expand cooperation, contributing to raising the position of ASEAN sports in the international arena.

Tomorrow (October 15), the 16th SOMS Conference will continue working with Japan on policies to enhance sports in ASEAN member countries.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/be-mac-hoi-nghi-soms-16-lan-toa-tinh-than-phat-trien-the-thao-trung-thuc-va-ben-vung-20251014154412264.htm