VietNamNet Bridge – The sports development strategy that has just been approved by the government seems to fail, for now.

Vietnam’s track-and-field dreams high

The compiler, the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, split the strategy into over 30 plans and assigned sports federations to continue developing these plans.

While these plans are being compiled, the London 2012 Olympics are coming, and the goal to have 30 Vietnamese athletes at the 2012 Olympics is a big challenge.

At present, it is estimated that Vietnam may have two track-and-field athletes, (Vu Thi Huong and Truong Thanh Hang), and one athlete each for shooting, taekwondo, judo, women’s wrestling, weightlifting, gymnastics and women’s boxing events at the Olympics.

Even with exceptional tickets granted by the International Olympic Committee to disadvantaged countries, including Vietnam; Vietnam may have up to 15 representatives at the London Olympics next year.

Some said that the Sports Development Strategy 2011-2020 would fail to achieve the first goal: having 30 athletes at the 2012 Olympics.

In 2008, Vietnam had 21 representatives at the Beijing Olympics, including 8 wushu artists, while wushu was only a performance event. Thus, the real number of athletes was only 13.

It is necessary to have a sports development strategy, but to develop Vietnam’s sports well, writing a strategy is not enough.

PV