This is the first time Vietnam has assumed the rotating role of Chair in the field of ASEAN sports cooperation. A term will last for 2 years and Vietnam's Chairmanship will take place in 2024 and 2025. During the 2 years of assuming the role of Chair, Vietnam will organize 1 ASEAN Sports Ministerial Meeting and 2 ASEAN Senior Officials Meetings on Sports (SOMS).
From shared vision to concrete action
After successfully hosting the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Sports in October last year, this year Vietnam continues to be the host country of the region's highest-level meetings on sports. Not just a regular meeting, AMMS-8 and related meetings in Hanoi are also an opportunity for ASEAN to review the entire cooperation journey, affirm the increasingly important role of sports in community building and shape new priorities for the sustainable development period.
The ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports is held every two years, starting in 2011 in Yogyakarta (Indonesia). Over the past decade, 7 meetings have taken place in many member countries, creating a clear roadmap from sharing the initial vision to gradually turning those orientations into concrete actions.
Looking back at the 7 Congresses, it can be seen that AMMS-1 laid the foundation with the message of considering sports as a common language to promote regional understanding and solidarity. Two years later, in Laos, AMMS-2 adopted the Vientiane Declaration, affirming the principle of cooperation on the basis of equality, non-discrimination, creating conditions for women, children and the disadvantaged to access sports. From that foundation, the following conferences continuously expanded the content, focusing on developing school sports, organizing the ASEAN School Sports Festival, and promoting traditional sports exchanges with China, Japan and Korea.
In 2019, AMMS-5 in the Philippines was themed “One Vision, One Goal, One Community: Strengthening Unity Through Sports”. This theme aimed to highlight the role of youth, women and gender equality in regional sports development strategies. When the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, AMMS-6, hosted by Singapore in a virtual format, focused on safe recovery, the application of digital technology and linking sports with sustainable development goals. By AMMS-7 in Chiang Mai (Thailand) in 2023, the focus will continue to be updated with new priorities such as sports integrity, anti-doping, digital transformation and youth development.
Looking back, it can be seen that AMMS has gone on a journey from directional statements to specific programs, thereby gradually creating a unique ASEAN sports cooperation identity.
Hanoi 2025 - a turning point for ASEAN sports
The 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports in Hanoi was held under the theme “Navigating Sports Contributing to Sustainable Development”, emphasizing the orientation of sports to directly contribute to sustainable development. This is a logical continuation of the previous process and also a clear affirmation that sports are not just about achievements or tournaments but also a tool to improve public health, create social integration and contribute to the development process of each country.
It is expected that within the framework of the Conference, ASEAN will summarize the Work Plan on Sports for the period 2021-2025, evaluate the achieved results, point out the limitations and develop orientations for the next period. The expected contents will focus on strengthening transparency and integrity in sports through strengthening anti-cheating and anti-doping measures, while protecting the rights and welfare of athletes.
The conference will include contents related to sports development associated with science and sports economics such as: Discussion on sports science research, modern management models, sports economics and sports associated with tourism. Equality and inclusion in sports - promoting the participation of women, youth and people with disabilities in regional sports activities. Preserving traditional ASEAN sports - maintaining and promoting unique values, considering this as a common cultural identity of the region.
In addition, there are contents such as aiming to establish an ASEAN High Performance Sports Center - a place to train athletes, coaches, share knowledge, create a foundation to improve regional sports achievements. Expanded international cooperation, through a joint statement with Japan, China and international organizations such as WADA, FIFA, IOC... to promote sustainable sports development.
As the host country, Vietnam has an important responsibility in leading discussions, creating consensus among members and introducing new initiatives. The success of AMMS-8 will help promote the country’s image, affirm its capacity to organize international events and turn sports into an effective soft diplomacy channel. This is also an opportunity for Vietnam to promote its own priorities, from developing community sports movements to improving top-level sports achievements, thereby contributing to the region while serving national interests.
The 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports in Hanoi can be considered an important milestone, both summarizing a period of sports cooperation and opening a new chapter towards sustainable development. Based on the achievements and challenges ahead, AMMS-8 is expected to create an important turning point, helping ASEAN consolidate its own identity in the field of sports, while affirming a stronger voice in the international arena. As the host, Vietnam not only contributes to the overall success of the Conference but also has more opportunities to bring the image of the country, people and sports of Vietnam closer to friends in the region and the world.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/dau-moc-hop-tac-va-phat-trien-ben-vung-173142.html
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