Vietnam’s track-and-field squad have received remarkable support from sponsors to improve their skills in 2016.

Truong Hai Auto Joinstock Company yesterday pledged to sponsor the athletes in all their activities this year.

Duc Giang Garment Joinstock Company and Mekong’NTo Company will sponsor uniforms for the national team members, junior competitors and referees.

The first action that the Vietnam Athletics Federation carried out after receiving the sponsorship was to present VNĐ100 million (US$4,500) bonus in cash to two athletes, runner Nguyen Thi Huyen and walker Nguyen Thanh Ngung, and their coaches who won tickets to compete at the coming Rio Olympics.

Athletics is an official sport at all sport festivals. It is always Vietnam’s strength in any international competitions.

In the latest Southeast Asian Games in Singapore last year, Vietnamese athletes won 11 gold, 15 silver and eight bronze medals to rank second in the region.

In other news about bonuses for the Olympics, gymnasts Phan Thi Ha Thanh and Pham Phuoc Hung yesterday received VNĐ20 million ($900) each for their Rio Games’ slots.

Speaking to the media, Vietnam Gymnastics Federation General Secretary Nguyen Kim Lan said it was the first time the federation had presented bonuses to athletes. It was the federation’s strong effort to encourage them for the best result at the biggest global sport event next month.

She said some other sponsors would sign contracts with the federation in the future.

VNS