VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam has been and is going to flex its muscles to set up a rare record in 16 years: holding a large-scale sports games with huge funds in over two years on average.

Expenses of hosting ASIAD causes public concern
Is that a joke?



Nine years have passed since the 22nd Southeast Asia Games but the sport sector seems to be still living in the lightheaded feeling of the days when the country joyfully embarked on preparation for the event; world-class sports works were built; exciting competitions held in the cities of Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Ninh Binh, Ho Chi Minh City,etc.

Since then, consecutive sports games have been and are being organized in Vietnam with dizzying speed. From 2003 to 2019 - the time for Vietnam to host the 18th Asian Games (ASIAD), up to seven major sports games with huge funds will take place in the country.

They include: the 22nd SEA Games (2003), the Asian Indoor Games (2009), the 6th National Sports Congress in Da Nang (2010), the 7th National Sports Games in Nam Dinh (2014), the Asian Beach Games (2016), the 8th National Sports Games, perhaps in An Giang (2018) and ASIAD 18 (2019).

Before the 22nd SEA Games, in the context of the country's economic difficulties, the National Sports Games was held in the spirit of savings. In the first four times, it was held in Hanoi because the capital city had relatively good sports facilities. The 5th games in 2004 was moved to Ho Chi Minh City for the first time, which also managed to complete a system of spacious sports facilities to serve the needs of people as well as the development of the one of the largest sports centers in the country.

But it was not until 2010, when the 7th National Sports Games was held in Da Nang, the phenomenon of provinces invested in building a new system facilities with huge budget. After Hanoi, the central city of Da Nang built a sports complex named Tien Son, which consists of the most modern sports house in Southeast Asia with 7,000 seats. The initial construction cost is up to VND825 billion ($45 million). Da Nang also upgraded its aquatic sports center, built Dong Nghe boat racing complex and upgraded a series of stadiums.

In 2014, the National Sports Games will travel to Nam Dinh and this small city is building new new sports facilities on 27ha of land, including a stadium of 4,000 seats, 15,884 m2 of floor; a tennis court with 2,000 seats, 5.830m2 floor; a covered roofed swimming pool with 1,000 seat, 10.329m2 floor; accommodations for athletes; auxiliary works and transportation systems, trees. The city considers this international-standard complex as its cultural icon.

Nam Dinh does not have 4-5 star hotels yet so it will have to prepare accommodations for athletes though the city plans to organize competitions for 20-25 sport events.

In 2016, Nha Trang, Mui Ne and Da Nang will jointly host the Asian Beach Games. With 19 events, the estimated expenditures for the games is nearly VND1,000 billion ($50 million). However, there will have no new sports works to be built, only temporary works on the beach. These outdoor facilities will be removed after the games.

Two years later, the 8th National Games will continue, perhaps with a huge fund, especially when An Giang province has asked the Prime Minister’s permission to host the event with a budget of VND3,425 billion ($171.2 million), including VND3.28 trillion from the central and local budgets to build new sport works.

The works that are expected to be built in the province include a 25,000-seat stadium worth VND950 billion ($47 million), a gymnasium of 3,000 seats worth VND300 billion ($15 million), a pool of 1,000 seats worth VND200 billion ($10 million), a cycling facility with 5,000 seats worth VND150 billion ($7 million), a water sports center, two stadiums with 15,000 seats each and a dozen of sports houses with 1,000-2,000 seats worth over VND1 trillion ($50 million).

In 2019, ASIAD 18 - the largest sport event in Asia – will take place in Vietnam for the first time. The host country plans to spend $150 million in this event. Accordingly, a number of new sports facilities such as a cycling, hockey, horse racing, sailing facilities, tennis courts, etc.

After the 22nd SEA Games, the 3rd Asian Indoor Games and the 6th National Sports Games, within five years from 2014 to 2019, there will be a row of four major sports events to be held.

In that situation, the risk of wasting of sport facilities is obvious.

Compiled by Nam Nguyen