Mountain bike trails in Hòa Bình Province have been upgraded in preparation for the 31st SEA Games. Photo thethao.sggp.org.vn

SEA Games

HÒA BÌNH  The mountainous northern province of Hòa Bình is ready to host the cycling events of the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games next month.

According to the organising board, work on cycling venues is almost complete.

The province will host mountain biking on May 14-17 and road cycling on May 19-22, with the participation of about 400 athletes and officials.

Bình Nguyễn Văn Toàn, vice chairman of Hòa Bình's People’s Committee and head of the province's SEA Games organising board, said agencies and localities have spared no efforts in preparing for the major sports event, and consider it an important task.

The Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Bùi Thị Niềm, said that this is an opportunity for the province to introduce the potential and advantages of Hòa Bình tourism, culture and people, on an international stage, thereby promoting its tourism industry.

The province has devised a plan to ensure traffic order and safety and will strictly handle violations of traffic law, especially on roads related to activities within the framework of the tournament, Niệm said, adding that a COVID-19 prevention and control solution has also been prioritised. 

The coaches and 14 athletes of the Vietnamese national cycling team have been practising hard on the track, in the hopes of taking the lead in the Games.

Coach Trần Đại Nghĩa of the national cycling team said that the athletes are now familiar with the track and have achieved quite good results.

To prepare for the region's biggest sport event, the national team participated in the Dalat Victory Challenge mountain bike tournament to hone their skills and experience. Until the competition day, the team will focus on intensive training, ensuring the fitness of the athletes.

Cyclist Đinh Thị Như Quỳnh, who won a gold medal at the 30th SEA Games, said she is familiar with the track in Hòa Bình and is ready for the event.

“Compared to the previous SEA Games, this year's track has many high and winding climbing points. I will train hard to secure the highest achievement,” said Quỳnh. VNS