This year’s event, co-hosted by Russia and nine other nations, drew the participation of 223 contingents from 39 countries across the world.
At the opening ceremony, Russian President Vladimir Putin was televised to greet participants and guests to the Army Games 2019.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin is televised to greet participants and guests to the Army Games 2019 |
Via his message, Putin underlined that the Army Games contributes much to developing international cooperation, strengthening constructive partnerships for the sake of security of the participating countries, the Eurasian continent and the world.
In his remarks to declare the opening of the Games, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu urged the participating countries to delight spectators with their best performances, show their high determination and strong will at competitions, pay respect for their peers, and heighten the honest and fair-play spirit of the Army Games.
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At the opening ceremony in Russia |
This is the first time the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) has participated in the Army Games 2019 with such a large number of contestants (127 officers) competing in eight different events, contributing to affirming the VPA’s strength and willingness to boost exchange and cooperation with other countries worldwide.
Vietnam’s participation in the Army Games 2019 is part of the Vietnam year in Russia and the Russia year in Vietnam during 2019-2020.
At the Alabino training ground in the Moscow region, not far from where the opening ceremony took place, the VPA’s Tank and Field Kitchen contingents are ready for competitions.
After the opening ceremony, the Friendship House was open for the participating countries to have their own showrooms to present their cultural and historical documents and images. The Vietnamese Field Kitchen contingent and Military Art Troupe were in charge of organizing Vietnam's showroom.
The Vietnam Corner in the Friendship House has attracted a number of visitors. On display are the VPA’s typical items such as kit-bags, bucket hats, and especially Vietnamese soldiers’ DIY surgical knives, furniture, kitchen tools, and teapots made from enemy aircraft wreckage and tanks’ oil feed systems.
Major Nguyen Tien Dung from the Vietnam Military History Museum affirmed that these exhibits reflect creativity and uniqueness of the VPA in the national resistance wars against foreign invaders for the country’s freedom and independence.
The Vietnam booth also presents video clips featuring the development and achievements of the VPA in peacetime, including Vietnam's participation in UN peacekeeping operations, regional security forums, and multilateral defense cooperation mechanisms.
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The Vietnamese Field Kitchen contingent introduces Vietnamese dishes. |
Besides, visitors have chance to enjoy Vietnamese dishes, such as Hanoi “nem” (fried spring rolls), “bun cha” (rice noodles served with grilled pork), egg coffee, and green bean cakes, which are made by the Field Kitchen contingent.
Other VPA teams to compete in Russia are the Engineer contingent (in Tyumen city) and Search and Rescue contingent (in Sergiev Posad city). They are all highly determined to achieve the best results in their competitions.
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The Vietnamese Chemical contingent at the opening ceremony in China |
* On the same day, the opening ceremonies for the Army Games 2019 were also held at the Korla Military Training Base in China’s Xinjiang Military Region and at a firing range of the 38th Guards Air Assault Brigade under the Armed Forces of Belarus in Brest city, Belarus.
In China, the VPA’s Chemical contingent will compete with their rivals from Russia, Armenia, Iran, Egypt and the host China in the “Safe Environment” event.
In Belarus, the VPA’s Sniper contingent will join a competition with 20 other teams in the “Sniper Frontier” contest.
Translated by Van Hieu