PANO - The 5th ASEAN Schools Games were kicked off on the evening of June 23rd at the Hanoi Track and Field Centre in the presence of Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Education and Training and Chief of the organizing panel Tran Quang Qui said that the event was a healthy playground for ASEAN students to exchange with each other and a good opportunity for Vietnam to boost solidarity, cooperation and friendly ties with regional countries, as well as uphold and bring national cultural identity, spirit of martial arts into full play. Through sports activities, Vietnam’s image and its people were hoped to be promoted among international friends.

The 5th ASEAN School Games will last until June 30th, with the participation of around 1,500 students, technical experts, coaches and reporters from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, the Philippines, Laos, and the host Vietnam.

248 athletes will compete in nine events, including track and field, sepak takraw, badminton, basketball, gymnastics, table tennis, volleyball and pencak silat.

This event’s mascot is a chick, common in ASEAN countries.

The ASEAN School Games has been organized annually since 2009 with the aim of promoting sports among member countries.

Translated by Chung Anh