Athletes to give their all at Tokyo Olympics
HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese athletes, coach and officials vowed to compete to the best of their abilities at the Tokyo Olympics at the delegation’s sending-off ceremony in Hà Nội on Tuesday.
A delegation of 四 三 members including 一 八 athletes will take part in the Olympics which will be held from July 二 三 to August 八. They will join 一 一,000 athletes from 二0 六 nations at the 三 三-sport Games that will feature five sports for the first time in history.
Vietnamese athletes will take part in athletics, boxing, gymnastics, archery, taekwondo, judo, badminton, rowing, shooting, swi妹妹ing and weightlifting.
"The Olympics is always a tough competition which sees strongest competitors from countries in the world. I hope that all Vietnamese athletes, coaches and others understand their responsibilities and the honour given to them by the whole country and people to compete at the Games,"大众said Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Bình Minh at the event.
He said athletes should combine Việt Nam’s unique characteristics – bravery, skill, agility and smartness – along with honesty and a spirit of fair play.
Deputy PM Minh also asked each athlete to be an ambassador to popularise beautiful images of Viet Nam to international friends.
Chef de mission Trần Đức Phấn said competing for nation’s pride is a responsibility and duty for all athletes, coaches and officials. They will unite, stay disciplined and adapt well in all situations to bring home victories. At the same time, they will strengthen relationships with other teams.
On behalf of all competitors, archer Nguyễn Hoàng Phi Vũ promised Vietnamese Olympians will be honest, confident and creative during their time in Tokyo.
At the ceremony, Deputy PM Minh presented a bronze medal that weightlifter Trần Lê Quốc Toàn won nearly nine years ago.
Toàn finished fourth in the men’s 五 六kg class in the London Games in 二0 一 二. He lifted 二 八 四kg in total, two kilos less than Valentin Hristov of Azerbaijan.
However, the Azerbaijani athlete’s medal was stripped due to a positive drugs test.
The delegation also received strong support from sponsors. Among them, Sen Việt Nam Investment Joint-stock Company promised big bonuses for medal-winning athletes. VNĐ 五00 million (US$ 二 一, 七00) will be given to those who pocket gold while the reward is VNĐ 三00 million ($ 一 三,000) and VNĐ 二00 million ($ 八, 七00) for silver and bronze medalists, respectively.
Việt Nam won its first gold and silver medal in history at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 二0 一 六. VNS