ASEAN students for cooperation, creativity and success

The Festival was kicked off with an art and sport performance of three acts respectively named –“Welcome to Vietnam”, “Students’ Tempo” and “Integration and Shining” – which was assessed imposing, impressive, modern, and imbued with Vietnam’s cultural identities, showing the sporting spirit, hospitality, youthfulness, and readiness for international integration and cooperation of Vietnamese students in particular and Vietnam in general to ASEAN students and peoples.

The opening ceremony was attended by Vietnamese Communist Party, State and Government leaders, officials of the ASEAN Student Sports Council, representatives of diplomatic corps and embassies in Hanoi, and an audience of over 20,000.

The ASEAN Universiade is organized by the ASEAN University Sports Council every two years. The 13^th Festival attracts 1,467 athletes from nine ASEAN members (East Timor and Myanmar excluded). The host Vietnam’s 248-strong team set the target of ranking in the top three.

The athletes will compete in 157 events of 12 sports: football, athletics, pencak silat, taekwondo, karate, tennis, swimming, chess, badminton, basketball, table tennis, and volleyball. The contests will be held at seven Hanoi-based stadiums and gymnasiums as well as the sporting halls of some universities.

The ASEAN Universiade is a chance for ASEAN students to play up their team spirit, encourage their participation in sports as part of comprehensive education, and contribute to strengthening the relationship among ASEAN countries. The event also shows the image of a friendly and dynamic Vietnam on the way of international integration with ever-improving status and prestige in the eyes of international friends.

By Nguyên Hồ