The motivation to surpass and reach new heights

VHO - Throughout the history of the revolution, the patriotic emulation movement has become a great driving force, fostering the will and strength of the entire nation. In the field of physical education and sports, emulation is a spiritual source that urges each athlete, coach and the entire community to strive to overcome their own limits, aspiring to conquer new heights.

The emulation movement has helped Vietnamese sports surpass the threshold, contributing significantly to the successful hosting of the 31st SEA Games and shining in many international arenas. Photo: QUY LUONG

From small daily actions on the training ground to brilliant achievements in the international arena, the competitive spirit has been, is and will continue to be the driving force for Vietnamese sports to affirm its position and reach the world level .

From small daily actions

In recent times, the field of physical education and sports has continued to receive attention from the Party and the State. The Politburo issued Conclusion No. 70-KL/TW dated January 31, 2024 on the development of physical education and sports in the new period. Next, on October 15, 2024, the Prime Minister also issued a Decision approving the Strategy for the development of physical education and sports in Vietnam to 2030, with a vision to 2045, with the goal of building a sustainable and professional physical education and sports sector. This is considered a guideline for the development of the sports sector, based on two pillars: grassroots sports and high-performance sports. Thanks to the right policy and orientation to develop the sports movement for everyone, focusing on developing Olympic sports, Vietnamese sports have achieved many proud achievements in the recent period.

At 5am, when the streets of Hanoi are still quiet, the National Training Centre for High Level Athletes is already bustling with the sounds of running footsteps and warm-up shouts. Rain or shine, the training atmosphere here is always bustling from early morning until late afternoon.

On the gym walls, the slogans stand out: "Hard work makes perfect - diligence and perseverance make perfect", "Victory is only for the brave", "All for sports achievements that bring glory to the country", "With perseverance, iron will shine"... Those short lines have become a spiritual support, reminding each athlete to make constant efforts.

Gymnastics coach Truong Minh Sang shared that the emulation movement is the "secret" to training and success: "Since I was an athlete, I have been aware of the value of the emulation movement. In sports, surpassing the threshold means overcoming one's own limits. That can only be achieved by practicing hard every day, every hour. My students must compete from the smallest things to hope to reach high achievements." Growing up as an athlete, now a coach, he is even more aware that if the competitive spirit is not nurtured, athletes will find it difficult to break through and conquer higher levels.

The story from that gym is a miniature picture of Vietnamese sports. Every drop of sweat, every step, every effort to surpass the limit is the realization of the patriotic emulation movement in the field of physical education and sports where will, aspiration and sense of responsibility blend to create resounding achievements.

Nguyen Thi Oanh, one of the typical athletes of Vietnamese sports. Photo: TRAN HUAN

Overcoming difficulties to assert position

The 31st SEA Games in 2021 is a clear demonstration of the strength of the emulation movement in sports. While the Covid-19 pandemic was still raging, Vietnam took on the responsibility of hosting the largest sports event in the region. Despite many difficulties, with determination and the spirit of daring to think and dare to do, we successfully organized a safe and professional event, highly appreciated by international friends.

That success was achieved thanks to the attention and direction of the Party, the State, the close supervision of the Government, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, but above all, it was the result of a widespread emulation movement throughout the entire sports industry. The image of lights shining all night at the General Department of Sports and Physical Training (now the Vietnam Sports and Physical Training Department), the training sessions from early morning to late at night of the athletes have become symbols of the spirit of overcoming difficulties. As a result, Vietnam not only fulfilled its hosting responsibility, but also won the overall championship, affirming its leading position in the region.

That competitive spirit continued to be maintained at the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, where Vietnamese athletes continued to achieve many impressive results. In particular, Vietnamese football left a strong mark, with the men's and women's teams winning the 31st SEA Games, the U23 team winning the Southeast Asian Championship three times in a row, the women's team participating in the 2023 World Cup for the first time, and the futsal team entering the top 16 strongest teams in the world. Notably, the men's team won the 2023 AFF Cup when defeating Thailand on away ground, bringing joy to millions of fans.

These successive achievements are not only a testament to the strength of sports, but also show the practical value of the emulation movement that turns difficulties into motivation, turns challenges into opportunities to affirm Vietnam's position on the regional and world sports map.

Shooter Trinh Thu Vinh wins the right to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics Photo: QUY LUONG

Spread throughout the population

The emulation movement not only ignites the fire on the top stage, but also spreads strongly in social life. The slogan "Healthy to build and protect the Fatherland" has become a guiding principle for generations. In the past 5 years, the campaign "All people exercise following the example of great Uncle Ho" has continued to be promoted, creating a vibrant sports movement from urban to rural areas, from plains to mountains.

Mass sports activities have developed in a diverse and rich way: from Olympic Running Day for the health of the people, marathons, volleyball, Pickleball, to safe swimming programs to prevent drowning. In particular, many traditional sports and folk games have been restored, legalized and included in competitions at festivals, contributing to the preservation of traditional culture.

The statistics show a clear spread: In 2021, the rate of people regularly exercising reached 35.5%, by 2024 it had increased to 37.5%; the rate of families exercising also increased from 26.8% to 28.3%. This is not just a dry number, but is proof of the change in awareness of physical exercise becoming an essential need, associated with the quality of life. During the Covid-19 pandemic, physical exercise has helped people improve their health and prevent diseases. This is also the period when the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism organized extensive propaganda, guiding people to exercise properly to improve their health.

The emulation movement also arouses the will of disabled athletes. Weightlifter Le Van Cong is a shining example with three consecutive Paralympic medals, becoming a symbol of extraordinary willpower. That achievement not only brings glory to the Fatherland, but also spreads a strong message that anyone can overcome their limits to affirm their own worth.

The emulation movement in the field of physical education and sports has demonstrated its strong vitality and great practical value. From small actions in the gym, to brilliant achievements in the international arena, from the spread in the community to the example of the determination of disabled athletes, emulation has become the red thread running through, fostering the courage and aspiration to rise of Vietnamese sports.

In the context of the country entering a new stage of development, the spirit of emulation needs to be expanded and deepened, becoming a driving force for Vietnamese sports to not only stop at the current achievements, but also reach further heights, contributing to building a strong and powerful nation, as beloved Uncle Ho advised: "Each weak citizen means the whole country is weak, each healthy citizen means the whole country is healthy".

Historic moment of Vietnamese women's football

The year 2023 marked a brilliant milestone in the history of Vietnamese sports when the Vietnamese national anthem was played for the first time at the Women's World Cup - the most prestigious playground on the planet for women. That achievement is not only the pride of football but also the crystallization of the spirit of overcoming difficulties, indomitable will and above all, a vivid demonstration of the strength of the patriotic emulation movement in sports.

This is clear evidence that, in all fields, from sports to social life, the patriotic emulation movement is always the driving force that urges each individual and each collective to overcome limits, contributing to affirming Vietnam's position and aspirations to reach new heights in the international arena.

Le Van Cong's three Paralympic medals

The 2024 Paralympics ended with great pride when Paralympic weightlifter Le Van Cong brought home a precious bronze medal for the Vietnamese sports delegation. This achievement became even more special as this was the third consecutive time he won a medal at the world's largest sports arena for people with disabilities, after the gold medal at the Rio de Raneiro Paralympics 2016 and the silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympics 2021.

Le Van Cong’s feat not only added to the golden record of the country’s sports achievements, but also clearly depicted the significance of the patriotic emulation movement in today’s life. It is the spirit of overcoming difficulties, constantly striving and the desire to reach new heights, contributing to affirming the image of a resilient and strong-willed Vietnam on the international stage.

(Department of Organization and Personnel, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/dong-luc-de-vuot-nguong-va-vuon-tam-169510.html