Vietnamese athletes determined to succeed at Olympics

A delegation of 39 members under Chef-de-Mission Dang Ha Viet has been established for the most important sporting event of the year.

Among them, 16 athletes will vie for glory at the 33rd Summer Olympic Games due to take place in Paris, France, from July 26 to August 11.

They will compete in 11 sports of cycling, swimming, shooting, archery, judo, rowing, canoeing, athletics, weightlifting, badminton and boxing.

While for most athletes this is their first time at an Olympics, archer Do Thi Anh Nguyet, swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang and badminton player Nguyen Thuy Linh will enjoy their second time at the event.

At 36, rower Pham Thi Hue is the oldest athlete. She has twice qualified for the Olympics in 2016 and 2020 but due to the organisers’ rules and the national selection she was not picked.

The youngest is runner Tran Thi Nhi Yen. The 18-year-old received a wildcard to take part in the women's 100m.

Most of competitors have trained locally but swimmer Hoàng, two shooters and two boxers are sharpening their techniques abroad.

"The Olympics is the largest and the fiercest competition in the world, gathering the leading athletes of all sports," said Viet, director of the Sports Authority of Vietnam (SAV).

"Taking part in the Paris Olympics is Vietnam's most important task of 2024. It is also the biggest challenge and a toughest target that Vietnamese athletes have worked hard to take their official spots.

"After having 16 athletes qualified, SAV and concerning units have created the best conditions to support and help them to gain the highest results at the Olympics.

"They also received care and encouragement from the sport managers which are a big motivation to push them overcome challenges and difficulties to have high results in training and try to have medals in Paris."

Badminton player Linh represented all athletes when making an oath at the ceremony.

"As representative of Vietnam in Paris, we promise to compete with sport spirit, high determination and creation under the regulation and rules of the host country and the organisation," she said.

"We will give our best to earn highest results and bring home victory."

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong, praised athletes' efforts and assigned tasks for them at the Olympics.

"Olympics is the most wanted event of the year. Taking part in the games is a pride and honour of all athletes who passed challenging qualification for their berths," he said.

"On behalf of the leaders of the Party and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, I hope Vietnamese athletes' and coaches will unite, be confident and try their best to have successful competitions."

The majority of the team will leave for Paris on July 23 while the rest will follow later based on their competition schedules.