Author: zhiqi

April 16, 2022

VIETNAM STICKS TO 11 SPORTS, CITES ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AS MAIN REASON

VIETNAM STICKS TO 11 SPORTS, CITES ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AS MAIN REASON

BANGKOK, 16 April 2021 – THE Vietnam ASEAN Para Games Organising Committee (VIEAPGOC) has informed the ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) on the government’s decision with regards to the final number of sports to be contested in Vietnam at this year’s 11th ASEAN Para Games in Hanoi in December.

Citing economic reasons and difficulties in preparing venues and facilities due to the Covid-19 pandemic, VIEAPGOC has officially informed the APSF that the Vietnam government and related authorities would not be able to meet the proposal to include the additional four sports proposed for the biennial Games. 

The APSF Board of Governors (BoG), in its meeting on February 25 involving all 10 member-countries, put forward a proposal for VIEAOPGOC to include an additional of four sports – Wheelchair Basketball, CP Football, Cycling and Sitting Volleyball – to the existing 11 sports already endorsed by the BoG. 

The sports already endorsed by the Board include Athletics, Archery, Badminton, Boccia, Chess, Goalball, Judo, Powerlifting, Swimming, Table Tennis and Wheelchair Tennis.

The BOG is APSF’s highest decision-making authority with members comprising presidents or their alternates of all National Paralympic Committees (NPCs). President of the hosting nation (currently Vietnam) is automatically the chairman of the Board. Cambodia will be hosting the next Games in Phnom Penh in 2023. 

The APSF BoG, in its meeting in February chaired by NPC Vietnam president Huynh Vinh Ai, had endorsed the 11 sports but member-nations, who last competed in the Games in 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, had proposed that Wheelchair Basketball, CP Football, Cycling and Sitting Volley be included as well. 

Vietnam will be hosting the ASEAN Para Games for only the second time after a lapse of 18 years. The country last hosted the second edition of the Games in 2003 where only five sports were contested then.  In the last Games in Kuala Lumpur in 2017, 16 sports were contested while the 10th Games in Manila, originally scheduled in January 2020 with 16 sports, were cancelled due to the COVID-19 global outbreak. 

The proposal was made by member-countries based on the final findings of the Expression of Interest (EOI) stated that the four sports surpassed the criteria for selection with more than four nations supported its inclusion. 

APSF President Major General Osoth Bhavilai said the Vietnam Paralympic Association (VPA), in an official letter to the APSF, confirmed that the decision to stick to the 11 sports due to the tough economic conditions and other related difficulties caused by the current pandemic. 

The letter, signed by NPC Vietnam President Huynh Vinh Ai stated that there is insufficient time for economic recovery and to carry out efforts to improve on venues and facilities for the additional sports.

NPC Vietnam and VIEAPGOC, said Bhavilai, seek the understanding of APSF and member countries and to rally and work together to ensure the successful staging of the 11th Games in these difficult times. 

“NPC Vietnam presented the outcome of the BoG meeting and our proposal to the Vietnam Government, Head of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the Vietnam Sports Administration,” said Maj. Gen. Bhavilai. 

The chairman of Vietnam Sports Administration Mr Tran Due Phan, who is also vice-chairman of the Local Organising Committee for both the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games 2021, confirmed that Vietnam will only be hosting 11 sports for the Games due to economic reasons. 

VIEAPGOC had pledged its commitment to ensure the smooth delivery of the Hanoi Games, adding that it will step up measures to ensure the safety of participants and the masses based on the guidelines stipulated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in the organisation of multi-sport Games.

    November 13, 2021

    HANOI OFFICIALLY CANCELS GAMES, APSF BOG TO DECIDE FURTHER ACTION

    HANOI OFFICIALLY CANCELS GAMES, APSF BOG TO DECIDE FURTHER ACTION

    BANGKOK, 13 Nov 2021 – VIETNAM has officially confirmed the cancellation of the 11th ASEAN Para Games 2021, originally scheduled in Hanoi next month, citing health concerns and the difficulties in bringing in technical and specialised equipment amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The Vietnam Paralympic Association (VPA), in an official letter signed by its president Huynh Vinh Ai to the ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) President Maj. Gen. Osoth Bhavilai, stated that Hanoi is unable to proceed with the staging of the Games due to the “complicated situation following the fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country”.

    Huynh said that the Vietnamese government has decided to officially cancel the organisation of the 11th ASEAN Para Games but retains the staging of the 31st SEA Games by moving it to the second quarter of 2022.

    The decision was reached as it feels that the current situation has affected the Covid-19 control measures especially due to the vulnerability of the disabled community/athletes with regards to their health and safety risks.

    Huynh also cited that the difficulties in bringing in technical and specialised equipment for para-athletes and the disabled community as the other factor.

    In an immediate response, APSF will convene an Emergency Board of Governors (BoG) meeting as soon as possible to discuss the next course of action. “The meeting will not only discuss matters pertaining to the cancellation of Hanoi Games, but also will deliberate on the future direction of the Games following the cancellation of two Games (Manila 2020 and Hanoi 2021) due to the pandemic,” said APSF Secretary-General Senior Colonel Dr Wandee Tosuwan, adding that invitation letters for the BoG meeting will be sent out to all president of the respective NPCs.

    Vietnam was scheduled to host the ASEAN Para Games for only the second time after 18 years. The country last hosted the second edition of the Games in 2003 where only five sports were contested then.

    A total of 11 sports have been confirmed for the Hanoi Games. In the last Games in Kuala Lumpur in 2017, 16 sports were contested while the cancelled 10th edition in Manila was supposed to feature 16 sports.

    Ends

      July 19, 2021

      APSF OFFERS DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO VIETNAM OVER PASSING OF APSF VICE- PRESIDENT MR VU THE PHIET

      APSF OFFERS DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO VIETNAM OVER PASSING OF APSF VICE- PRESIDENT MR VU THE PHIET

      THE ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) wishes to express its heartfelt and deepest condolences to the Vietnam Paralympic Association (VPA) following the passing of its Vice President (Sports) Mr Vu The Phiet, last night.

      Mr Vu breathed his last at 11.45 pm on Monday night (19 July 2021) in Hanoi due to heart complications. He was 71.

      Until recently, Mr Vu, who was elected APSF Vice President in 2015, was among the key officials tasked with the organisation of the 11th ASEAN Para Games scheduled in Hanoi in December.

      As one of APSF’s longest and most experienced members in the APSF Exco, Vu’s passing was indeed a great loss to the region’s Paralympic movement and especially, to the VPA of which he was the Vice President cum Secretary-General.

      “It is with great sadness that we learned of the sudden demise of our colleague Mr Vu The Phiet who has been instrumental in the development of the region’s Paralympic movement. Vu’s wealth of experience and contribution is without doubt, commendable and will always be remembered,” said APSF president Major General Osoth Bhavilai today.

      “On behalf of APSF and our Paralympic family, I wish to extend our deepest sorrow and may his soul rest in peace. Our heartfelt sympathy to his family, colleagues, friends and Vietnamese athletes who lost a dedicated and passionate official,” said Maj Gen Bhavilai.

      Mr Vu will always be remembered as a passionate person who has dedicated his life to the empowerment of the Paralympic movement and athletes with a disability in his country and internationally.

        June 15, 2021

        FATE OF HANOI GAMES STILL UNDECIDED

        FATE OF HANOI GAMES STILL UNDECIDED

        BANGKOK, 15 June 2021 – ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) will wait for an official confirmation from hosts Vietnam before stating its official stand on the possible postponement of this year’s ASEAN Para Games, originally scheduled in Hanoi in December. 

        APSF acknowledges the dire situation and challenges faced by Vietnam to ensure the health and safety of Para athletes and contingents following the rise of Covid-19 cases in the region.

        “APSF hopes that any decision on the status of the Hanoi Games should take into consideration the overall safety of not only athletes and contingents, but the welfare and safety of the masses in general,” said APSF president Major General Osoth Bhavilai today. 

        Maj Gen Bhavilai reiterates APSF’s commitment in ensuring opportunities for athletes to compete in a highly-competitive Games such as the ASEAN Para Games, especially after the cancellation of the Manila Games last year. 

        “At the same time, we need to also look into the huge challenges and readiness of Hanoi to cope and ensure the safety of all participants and the masses in general following the rapid rise of Covid-19 cases around the region which led to an unpredictable situation,” he said.

        “After the cancellation of the Manila Games last year, it is simply unfortunate that we are now faced with a similar situation. We are adopting a wait and see approach and will only make an official stand after consultation with our member-nations and stakeholders,” he said.

        APSF, according to Maj. Gen. Bhavilai, is in contact with the Vietnam ASEAN Para Games Organising Committee (VIEAPGOC) and aware of the current situation in Hanoi which could eventually lead to the postponement of the Games.

        It was recently reported that Vietnam has proposed to postpone the 31st Southeast Asia Games and the 11th ASEAN Para Games due to the pandemic.

        The SEA Games Federation (SEAGF) had convened virtual meetings to seek feedback from all 11 nations with majority of the its members rejecting the postponement proposal. Vietnam is expected to decide on the status of both Games in the coming weeks. 

        Following the cancellation of the 10th ASEAN Para Games in Manila last year, nations and athletes are looking forward to the Hanoi Games after last seeing action in 2017 in the Kuala Lumpur Games.

        “Preparations for the 2021 Games are still ongoing with APSF secretariat and VIEAPGOC embarking on a series of virtual meetings since early this year to coordinate operations in various functional areas including sports and technical, classification and anti-doping and other administration and organisational matters,” said Maj. Gen. Bhavilai, adding that APSF will act accordingly to the needs and benefits of its members and to ensure continuous development of para-sports and movement in the region. 

        Vietnam is scheduled to host the ASEAN Para Games for only the second time after 18 years. The country last hosted the second edition of the Games in 2003 where only five sports were contested then.  

        A total of 11 sports have been confirmed for the Hanoi Games. In the last Games in Kuala Lumpur in 2017, 16 sports were contested while the cancelled 10th edition in Manila was supposed to feature 16 sports.

          May 13, 2020

          10th ASEAN PARA GAMES PHILIPPINES 2020 BOARD of GOVERNORS (BoG) TO RATIFY CANCELLATION OF 2020 GAMES

          10th ASEAN PARA GAMES PHILIPPINES 2020 BOARD of GOVERNORS (BoG) TO RATIFY CANCELLATION OF 2020 GAMES

          Monday, 13 May 2020

          1.         The ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) has received official notification on the cancellation of the 10 th ASEAN Para Games from the Philippines Paralympic Committee (NPC Philippines) on 6th May 2020 following its recent announcement on the status of the biennial Games in Manila. 

          2.         Whilst regretting such move, the region’s Paralympic movement governing body expressed its gratitude to NPC Philippines, saying that the federation fully understands that the decision was unavoidable to the worsening COVID-19 crisis in the country.

          3.         APSF will now hold a Board of Governors emergency meeting to deliberate, ratify and endorse the cancellation of the 10 th ASEAN Para Games and move on towards the organisation of the 11 th  ASEAN Para Games 2021 scheduled in Vietnam. 

          4.         NPC Philippines president Michael Barredo, in an official notification to APSF President Major General Osoth Bhavilai in Bangkok, stated that the cancellation was unavoidable due to the “uncontrollable circumstances caused by the COVID19 pandemic.” 

          5.         The NPC Philippines derived at the decision following Philippines Sports Commission’s (PSC) announcement to withdraw financial support to the hosting of the Games due to “the present health crisis and directives from the national Government”.  All respective NPCs have been informed on the cancellation along with a copy of an official letter from Mr. Barredo, Chairman of Philippines ASEAN Para Games Organizing Committee, an official letter from PSC and a copy of the National Budget Circular. 

          6.         The biennial Games, traditionally held after the SEA Games, has been held since its inaugural Games in 2001 in Kuala Lumpur.  Manila was supposed to host the 10 th  edition for the second time after first hosting it in 2005. 

          7.         Acknowledging all preparation efforts taken prior to the cancellation, the APSF expressed its gratitude to the organising committee for its commitment towards the hosting of the Games. 

          8.         APSF would like to thank the Philippines for all efforts which have been taken prior to the cancellation of the Games. We fully understand that the decision had to be made due to the COVID19 pandemic and the uncertainties it present. 

          Thank you.

          MAJOR GENERAL OSOTH BHAVILAI
          President
          ASEAN PARA SPORTS FEDERATION (APSF)

            APSF

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