More than 1,700 athletes from 20 military academies, officer schools, and universities gathered to compete as the military sports festival opened its multi-day schedule. The tournament features 20 participating institutions facing off across nine distinct disciplines, split between five Olympic sports and four specialized military competitions designed to test combat readiness and physical stamina.
Lieutenant General Nguyen Ba Luc, deputy chief of the General Staff and head of the sport festival’s organizing committee, attended and led the opening ceremony, presenting commemorative flags to the participating delegations. The event serves as a practical milestone to celebrate major national and military holidays while advancing a nationwide physical training movement modeled after President Ho Chi Minh, according to organizing officials.
Opening Ceremony and Official Directives at the Military Sport Festival
Addressing the assembled troops and academic leaders, Lieutenant General Nguyen Ba Luc emphasized that physical training directly strengthens combat readiness, unit mobility, and the capacity of future officers to handle complex duties under pressure. Regular conditioning builds the willpower necessary to overcome operational challenges and lead troops effectively in the field.
Beyond individual competition, the tournament provides party committees and school directors with a structured benchmark to inspect and evaluate the physical education results of each participating command. The games also foster cross-institutional solidarity, allowing cadets from different academies to exchange training tactics and build camaraderie across the armed forces.
To maintain operational integrity throughout the multi-sport schedule, the organizing committee instructed all participating schools to strictly enforce military discipline, competition rules, and safety regulations. Referees were specifically directed to review disputed calls using available details, including video evidence, to guarantee objective rulings. The organizing committee retained final authority over any complex disputes arising from the matches.
Early Competition Results Across Military and Olympic Disciplines
The sports program features five Olympic events—football, volleyball, badminton, pickleball, and table tennis—alongside four military-specific contests: the healthy soldier test, applied swimming, an obstacle course, a 3,000-meter run, and a 3,000-meter armed run. By the morning of October 19, preliminary competition produced several standout performances in individual and team categories.
In the healthy soldier individual all-round competition, Vu A Hung of the Political Officers Training School claimed the first-place prize with a score of 1697 points. Badminton competition also yielded early champions, with Phan Huy Long of the Political Officers Training School winning the men’s singles title. Meanwhile, Nguyen Thi Thao Ngan of the Military Technical Academy captured the women’s singles badminton championship.
Competition continues across multiple venues as teams vie for remaining titles.
Closing Ceremony Schedule
With competition underway across all nine disciplines, the tournament schedule runs toward a planned conclusion on October 23.
