It had earlier postponed the multi-sport event for disabled athletes twice. After hosting the SEA Games in December last year the country was supposed to host the Para Games in January, but pleaded financial problems to move it to March. It postponed the event again to May when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out.

Vietnamese weightlifter Nguyen Binh An wins gold medal in ASEAN Para Games 9 in Malaysia on September 18, 2017.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has cut the entire budget meant for the Para Games as an emergency financial measure. PSC president William Ramirez said the money would instead be used to help athletes during the pandemic period.

The Philippines has had the third largest number of Covid-19 cases in Southeast Asia of over 9,000 and more than 600 deaths.

Now the region’s disabled athletes, including Vietnamese, have to stop training and return to their daily life, and wait for the 2020 Paralympics, which will take place in 2021 summer in Japan, and the ASEAN Para Games in Vietnam in December 2021.

Vietnam aims for 10-12 slots in the 2020 Paralympics. Five have already qualified, four swimmers and a runner.

Hanoi to host SEA Games 31, Para Games 11 in late 2021

The 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) and the 11th ASEAN Para Games (Para Games 11) are scheduled to take place in Vietnam in late 2021.

Vietnam to upgrade My Dinh Stadium ahead of 2021 SEA Games

My Dinh Stadium will undergo a VND150 billion ($6.4 million) renovation in late October to prepare for the 31st SEA Games.

Vietnam eyes 20 berths at 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games

Vietnam has set itself a target of 20 berths at the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, said the Vietnam Sports Administration on February 10.

Weightlifters on way to berths at Tokyo Olympic Games

Vietnam’s weightlifters bagged 10 gold medals on the two competition days of the recent 2020 Weightlifting World Cup in Rome, signalling a good start for the sport in the year, according to the Vietnam Sports Administration.

Bac Giang Museum reenacts Moc Cau ritual and folk games

(BGO) – Bac Giang Museum has recently held several cultural activities to cherish the Party and New Year of the Rat 2020 with a focal point to reenact the ritual and performance of unique traditional folk game of Moc Cau (Vietnamese traditional field hockey) in Noi communal house festival in Viet Lap commune, Tan Yen district (Bac Giang province).

Source: VnExpress