Dong Nai City’s first Sports Festival concludes

On the afternoon of September 15, at the gymnasium of the Dong Nai City Sports Training and Competition Center (Facility 1) in Tan Trieu Ward, the Dong Nai City People’s Committee held the closing ceremony of the 1st Dong Nai City Sports Festival 2026.

Delegates attend the closing ceremony of the 1st Dong Nai City Sports Festival. Photo: Huy Anh

The ceremony was attended by Thai Bao, Deputy Secretary of the Dong Nai City Party Committee, Head of the City Party Committee’s Organization Commission; and Le Truong Son, Member of the Standing Board of the City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee, Head of the Steering Committee for the 1st Dong Nai City Sports Festival.

Also attending were leaders of the City People’s Council, City People’s Committee, City Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and City National Assembly Delegation; representatives of city departments, agencies, mass organizations and armed forces; leaders of 95 communes and wards; local businesses; and a large number of athletes, coaches and referees.

Le Truong Son, Member of the Standing Board of the City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee, Head of the Steering Committee for the 1st Dong Nai City Sports Festival, delivers the closing remarks. Photo: Huy Anh

According to the organizing board, the 1st Dong Nai City Sports Festival 2026 took place from January 1 to September 15, with 25 competitions across 24 sports, fulfilling 100% of the set plan. The festival featured 373 events and attracted 6,080 athletes from 86 of the city’s 95 communes and wards, along with athletes from two armed forces units. Upon completion of the competitions, the organizing board presented 373 sets of medals and certificates to teams and individuals who achieved outstanding results. The festival helped promote the mass sports movement and identify and select talented athletes with outstanding performances for further training and preparation for higher-level competitions.

Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Head of the City Party Committee’s Organization Commission Thai Bao presents overall ranking flags to the five highest-performing delegations. Photo: Huy Anh

At the ceremony, the organizing board presented flags of the overall ranking to the five highest-performing delegations. Tam Hiep Ward ranked first overall with 58 gold, 20 silver and 31 bronze medals. Phuoc Binh Ward came second with 40 gold, 41 silver and 37 bronze medals. Tran Bien Ward ranked third with 32 gold, 36 silver and 43 bronze medals. Trang Bom Ward finished fourth with 27 gold, 20 silver and 30 bronze medals, while Thong Nhat Commune placed fifth with 19 gold, 15 silver and 10 bronze medals.

Le Truong Son, Member of the Standing Board of the City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee, Head of the Steering Committee for the 1st Dong Nai City Sports Festival, presents flags to mountainous communes and wards that made significant efforts to organize grassroots-level sports festivals. Photo: Huy Anh

The organizing board also presented flags to mountainous communes and wards that made significant efforts to organize grassroots-level sports festivals and achieved high rankings. Nghia Trung Commune took first place with 11 gold, eight silver and six bronze medals, followed by Phu Nghia Commune with seven gold, eight silver and 14 bronze medals. Phuoc Long Ward finished third with four gold, two silver and seven bronze medals.

Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Head of the City Party Committee’s Organization Commission Thai Bao and Member of the Standing Board of the City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee Le Truong Son present certificates of merit from the City People’s Committee to teams and individuals with outstanding achievements in organizing and participating in the 1st Dong Nai City Sports Festival. Photo: Huy Anh

Speaking at the ceremony, Le Truong Son, Member of the Standing Board of the City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee, Head of the Steering Committee for the 1st Dong Nai City Sports Festival, praised the athletes for their determination, honesty and sportsmanship, as well as the efforts of coaches, referees, sports delegations and support staff. Every match and every achievement reflected the athletes’ perseverance in training and determination to push beyond their own limits. The festival became an occasion showcasing the spirit of solidarity, determination, resilience and aspiration for progress among the people of Dong Nai City.

Le Truong Son stressed that every healthy citizen is an important resource for building a rapidly developing, sustainable and civilized Dong Nai City. He called on all levels and sectors to continue making sports a regular part of people’s daily lives; encouraged every resident to choose at least one sport for regular exercise; and urged every agency, school, business and residential community to create a healthy sporting environment.

Organizing board representatives present letters of thanks and flowers to sponsors. Photo: Huy Anh

For athletes who achieved outstanding results, Le Truong Son called on them to continue training, develop their talents and strive for new heights. In the immediate future, they are expected to focus on preparing for the 10th National Sports Festival 2026, thereby helping raise the profile of Dong Nai sports at national competitions.

Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Member of the City Party Committee, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Standing Deputy Head of the Steering Committee for the 1st Dong Nai City Sports Festival, launches an emulation campaign to prepare for the 10th National Sports Festival 2026. Photo: Huy Anh

At the ceremony, Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Member of the City Party Committee and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Standing Deputy Head of the Steering Committee for the 1st Dong Nai City Sports Festival, launched an emulation campaign calling on athletes to train and strive for outstanding achievements at the 10th National Sports Festival 2026. The campaign carries the slogan: “Dong Nai Sports Affirm Its Position — Striving Forward with the Nation.”

Coach Vu Dinh Tien, representing the coaching staff, pledges to strive for the highest achievements at the 10th National Sports Festival 2026. Photo: Huy Anh

Dong Nai’s delegation to the 10th National Sports Festival 2026 comprises 824 members, including 15 heads of delegation, 144 coaches and 665 athletes. The delegation will compete in 44 of the 48 sports and 751 of the festival’s 973 events. Based on the existing athlete pool, training and competition results, and the competitive prospects of each team, Dong Nai has set a target of winning approximately 100–112 medals and striving to finish among the Top 10 of the 36 provinces, cities and sectors taking part.

Athlete Thi Lai, representing the athletes, pledges to strive for the highest achievements at the 10th National Sports Festival 2026. Photo: Huy Anh

Le Thi Ngoc Loan, Member of the City Party Committee, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Standing Deputy Head of the Steering Committee for the 1st Dong Nai City Sports Festival, emphasized that every training session today is a step toward tomorrow's achievements. Every effort made today will contribute to Dong Nai sports' success at the 10th National Sports Festival 2026.

Therefore, the Sports Training and Competition Center and the Sports Talent High School are tasked with continuing to review and assess their athlete rosters; setting specific goals and targets for each sport, event and athlete; and concentrating resources and targeted investment on sports and events with strong medal prospects.

City leaders present flowers to representatives of the teams competing at the 10th National Sports Festival 2026. Photo: Huy Anh

Coaches are expected to further promote their role in imparting professional knowledge, inspiring athletes, providing emotional support and accompanying them on their journey toward sporting excellence. Athletes, meanwhile, are expected to push beyond their personal limits, maintain their composure, compete honestly and in the spirit of sportsmanship, and give their utmost in representing Dong Nai and bringing pride to the city’s sports sector.

An artistic performance at the closing ceremony. Photo: Huy Anh - Thanh Nhan

With solidarity, aspiration for progress and the combined efforts of the entire political system, local residents and the sports sector, Dong Nai aims to achieve strong results at the 10th National Sports Festival 2026, further affirming its position and contributing to the development of Dong Nai City in the new period.

By Huy Anh, Thanh Nhan, Giang Nam – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho