The opening scene of the Sports Festival in Kien Giang Province. — VNA/VNS Photo

KIÊN GIANG — The Mekong Delta province of Kiên Giang held the opening ceremony of its provincial Sport Festival at Kiên Giang Gymnasium on Monday.

The event, the ninth of its kind, runs from September 19 to September 24 with the participation of more than 1,700 athletes from districts and cities of the province.

Teams will compete to win 164 sets of medals in 18 sports, including marathon, fitness, swimming, Chinese chess, chess, tennis, badminton, women's futsal, badminton, karate, Vietnamese traditional martial arts, women's volleyball,  men’s volleyball, vovinam, taekwondo, Men’s football, tug of war and athletics.

Nguyễn Lưu Trung, deputy chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said at the ceremony that the event has an important meaning in the spiritual life of the people.

Through the event, the province will select excellent athletes to add to the province’s sports teams to prepare to compete at the National Sports Festival.

The deputy chairman asked teams and related units to work with the provincial Department of Culture and Sport to organise thoughtfully and ensure safety for the event. 

Referees and athletes must strictly abide by the rules and regulations of the organisers. 

The closing ceremony will take place on September 24. — VNS