The Department of Sports and Physical Training requested the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to submit to the government a scheme to host some key sports events in Asia.

Vietnam wants to host the Asian Beach Games 2012.

Hoang Vinh Giang, secretary general of the Vietnam Olympic Committee, also proposed the ministry submit to the government that scheme.

Giang said that at the suggestion of the Asian Olympic Committee, it is a great opportunity for Vietnam to host the Asian Games 2019 (Asiad). The deadline for submitting an application is March 31.

The Asian Beach Games 2010 is said to be a chance for Vietnam to develop beach sports that are included in Olympic Games, particularly yacht racing. It is also a good opportunity to develop tourism and advertise Vietnamese culture.

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh said that the ministry would submit to the government for approval a scheme to host the ASIAD 2019 and the Asian Beach Games 2012, not the SEA Games 2013.

Officials also agreed that it is very important to prepare for the Asiad 2010 in Guangzhou, China. Vietnam plans to compete in 27 out of 42 sports and win up to six gold medals and enter the top 15 countries.

Minister Hoang Tuan Anh emphasized that the sports sector needs to quickly consider and make the list of sports that need urgent investment to prepare for ASIAD and Olympic games.

However, he said that it is unnecessary to strongly invest in traditional sports like vovinam or shuttle cock because they are not popular in the world while world popular sports at the Olympics require more funding.

VietNamNet/Tuoi Tre