Establish a new position

Also during this period, there were dialogues between sports leaders of ASEAN countries and partners from Japan, China and related organizations such as the International Football Federation (FIFA), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)... This is an event of special significance, both to discuss policies and promote cooperation in sports development in the region, and as an opportunity for Vietnam to demonstrate its proactive role, responsibility and influence in the ASEAN community.

As host, Vietnam proposed many important discussion topics such as: Developing professional sports associated with sports science and economics , improving international competitiveness; promoting gender equality; establishing a high-performance sports center to create an environment for training, exchanging expertise, and improving athletes' skills... The topics continued to demonstrate the solidarity of the entire ASEAN bloc, aiming at the common goal of contributing to promoting cooperation, exchanging policies and actions in the field of sports among ASEAN member countries.

This conference is also an important occasion for Vietnamese sports to affirm their role and responsibility in the regional cooperation mechanism; at the same time, promote the image of the country and people of Vietnam, a country that loves sports and considers sports as a bridge of friendship and international cooperation. This is also a step to vividly implement the Party and State's multilateral foreign policy in the spirit of Conclusion No. 59-KL/TW of the Politburo , Directive No. 25-CT/TW of the Secretariat and Decision No. 161/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister, affirming that Vietnam is a proactive, active and responsible member of the ASEAN community.

Starting in 2011 at the initiative of ASEAN leaders, the AMMS and SOMS conferences have contributed to promoting the development of Southeast Asian sports. From here, the countries agreed to focus on developing Olympic sports at the SEA Games; expanding cooperation with leading Asian sports such as Japan, Korea, and China. Thanks to that, regional sports have made significant progress in both achievements and quality of organizing events such as the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games, showing an increasingly solid position on the continental sports map.

In particular, the increasing number of Southeast Asian athletes winning medals at the Olympics and ASIADs reflects the effectiveness of cooperation and resource sharing in training, sports science and athlete management - achievements that the AMMS and SOMS conferences have initiated.

In that general picture, Vietnamese sports are emerging as a bright spot and have established a new position in the region. As the fastest growing sports in Southeast Asia in the past two decades, Vietnam has twice successfully hosted the SEA Games (2003, 2021) and is continuously in the leading group in the region. The strong breakthrough in Olympic sports such as athletics, swimming, football, gymnastics, weightlifting, martial arts, etc. has brought Vietnamese sports from a "following" position to one of the typical countries, a model for the spirit of integration and reaching the regional level; helping Vietnamese sports affirm its role and international prestige; contributing to promoting the image of the country, its people and sports to friends in the region.

Once its position has been affirmed, the responsibility of Vietnamese sports towards the ASEAN community becomes even greater. The success of the AMMS-8 and SOMS-16 conferences is not only measured by the organization, but also by Vietnam's ability to promote cooperation commitments into substance, creating new momentum for the development of regional sports. Along with that, Vietnamese sports itself also needs to continue to invest in depth in science - technology, facilities, sports economics and school sports, creating a solid foundation to maintain its leading position, getting closer to continental and world standards.

With the spirit of integration, responsibility and aspiration to reach higher, Vietnamese sports are moving together with ASEAN towards a dynamic, connected and sustainable future, where sports are both a competition for achievements and a bridge to spread peace, friendship and the strength of a community moving forward together.

YEN PHUONG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/xac-lap-vi-the-moi-post817428.html