River city sports

>>> V.League 1-2021 to restart in mid-March

>>> Vietnamese athletics eye reign defence at SEA Games 31

>>> Two Vietnamese match officials shortlisted to officiate at 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

Explaining the reason for proffering the honour, football’s world governing body said Vietnam successfully organised the national women’s tournaments in 2020 thanks to its effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling referees and assistant referees to maintain their professional activities and form as well as to improve their capabilities.

Those objective assessments have contributed to affirming the prestige of Vietnamese sports as a whole in terms of not only women’s football but also other events, in the context that the country is well implementing pandemic prevention and control measures to bring society back to normality. Last year, Vietnam’s sport sector successfully organised 148 national competitions, especially the V.League 1-2020 national football championship with stadiums full of spectators, producing great surprise and winning admiration from international friends. In addition, Vietnam sent many teams to compete in 18 international tournaments, earning a haul of medals and five official berths at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020. Vietnam maintained a stable training programme for national teams in all sports at the national sport training centre, while opening 16 referee and coach training classes, thus enabling referees, trainers, and athletes to continue improving and honing their professional skills. The aforementioned achievements are prideworthy as many international competitions and also national tournaments in other countries, even developed ones, were either cancelled or suspended for a long time, even for the whole year, significantly affecting the training, competition and professional qualifications of coaches and athletes.

International friends have recognised and highly appreciated Vietnam’s COVID-19 prevention and control efforts, and are placing their trust in the country to host many international and regional sporting events this year. Specifically, Vietnam plans to host about 175 domestic and international tournaments in 2021, particularly the 31 ^st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) and the 11 ^th ASEAN Para Games (ASEAN Para Games 11). Vietnam’s efforts to prepare for the hosting of these two competitions in the context of multiple difficulties have demonstrated its sense of responsibility in uniting the ASEAN Community for the sustainable development of regional sports as well as its confidence in the good control of the pandemic and effective plans to successfully organise the Games.

Referee Bui Thi Thu Trang (second from right) and assistant referee Truong Thi Le Trinh (L) are the two Vietnamese representatives shortlisted to officiate at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia/New Zealand 2023. (Photo: VFF)

To date, despite the complicated development of COVID-19, with timely prevention and control measures, Vietnam has put the disease under control, thereby step by step bringing socio-economic activities back to normal in the new situation, both combating the pandemic and maintaining socio-economic development. That is also the dual task of the nation’s sport sector in 2021. Shortly after the Lunar New Year holiday, 17 national teams with 300 athletes have returned to training at the National Sports Training Centre in preparation for upcoming international competitions. V.League 1-2021 and the National First Division Tournament (V.League 2) will officially restart from March 13 and 19, respectively, with the strict observation of pandemic prevention and control regulations. In addition, the 62 ^nd Tien Phong Newspaper Marathon will be held this month in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai with the participation of more than 5,000 runners from 50 delegations. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is planning to launch the “All people take exercise following Uncle Ho’s example” campaign for the 2021-2030 period and the Olympic Run Day for Public Health 2021 throughout the country if conditions allow.

Although the pandemic has been well controlled, there is no room for self-satisfaction and negligence, and top priority must be given to ensuring the safety of athletes and fans as sport activities are resumed. The experiences in pandemic prevention and control and sports management in 2020 should be promoted in a more drastic and thorough manner and maintained towards ensuring COVID-19 fight in parallel with the work of training, practising, and organising competitions. The General Department of Sports and Physical Training needs to regularly inspect and monitor units, tournament organisers and localities, while closely following the instructions of the health sector and the Government to prevent violations of regulations. In addition, members of the reconvening national teams must receive careful COVID-19 testing, perform medical declarations, and seriously implement pandemic prevention and control measures. It is the responsibility of the Department to constantly update information on the COVID-19 situation, apply timely solutions to adjust or suspend the tournaments, and carry out quarantine at training centres if the pandemic evolves complicatedly.

What is important is the joint efforts and unanimity of everyone, from sports managers at all levels to localities, the coaching staff, athletes and fans, in upholding a sense of responsibility and proactivity in combating the disease and protecting the health of their own and of the community.

The good resumption of sports training and competition in a safe community environment will offer a premise for Vietnam to prepare for important international tournaments in 2021 and continue to be one of the prominent examples of rising above the pandemic in regional and global sports.

Residents in Block 112, Dư Hàng Worker’s Residential Area, Lê Chân District celebrate after the lockdown is lifted. — VNA/VNS Photo An Đăng

HẢI PHÒNG — Hải Phòng City has removed the 14-day lockdown for the last two locations of Hamlet 4 of Lôi Động Village, Thủy Nguyên District and Block 112 of Dư Hàng Worker’s Residential Area, Dư Hàng Ward, Lê Chân District from midnight on Tuesday.

Previously, a 26-year-old female nurse, who worked at the city’s Transport Hospital was found positive for SARS-CoV-2 after the city conducted tests for medical staff on February 21. The nurse lives in Hamlet 4 of Lôi Động Village.

Also the same day, the city’s Preventive Medicine Centre took samples of a male nurse, 28, who worked at the city’s Transport Hospital, which were positive for SARS-CoV-2. He lives in Block 112, Dư Hàng Ward, Lê Chân District.

Therefore, the areas, where the two patients live, were locked down for 14 days.

According to a report by the city’s health department, the two patients tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 and have been under active treatment now.

A total of 2,557 samples of people, who directly contacted the two patients, already tested negative three times, the report said.

On Monday afternoon, the city administration also removed the lockdown of the city’s Transport Hospital, where the two patients worked.

Speaking at the announcement of the end of the lockdown, Trần Việt Tuấn, Lê Chân District’s Party Committee Secretary, said people in the area would return to normal life after the lockdown ended.

However, local people were told to seriously implement the Ministry of Health’s 5K message: Khẩu trang (face mask) – Khử khuẩn (disinfection) – Khoảng cách (distance) – Không tụ tập (no gathering) – Khai báo y tế (health declaration), he said. — VNS

United won thanks to an early penalty from Bruno Fernandes and a second-half strike from Luke Shaw with the result narrowing City’s lead at the top of the table to 11 points over United with 10 games remaining. It was City’s first defeat in all competitions since Nov 21.

* Liverpool slumped to a club-record extending sixth consecutive home league defeat as they lost 1-0 to Fulham after a first-half goal by Mario Lemina in the Premier League on Sunday. The defeat by the relegation-threatened visitors marks the first time since the 1953-54 season that the Reds have lost six games at Anfield in a league campaign.

* Two goals apiece from Harry Kane and Gareth Bale helped a resurgent Tottenham Hotspur to beat Crystal Palace 4-1 and move into sixth spot in the Premier League on Sunday (Mar 7).

* West Bromwich Albion’s hopes of avoiding relegation were dented as they missed several chances in a 0-0 draw at home to fellow strugglers Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday.

* Gianluca Mancini’s first-half goal was enough to earn AS Roma a 1-0 home win over Genoa on Sunday, with the victory moving Paulo Fonseca’s side up to fourth in the Serie A standings.

* Spectacular goals either side of half time earned AC Milan an important 2-0 victory at Hellas Verona on Sunday, as Stefano Pioli’s side closed the gap on rivals Inter Milan at the top of the Serie A standings to three points.

* Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema struck an 88th-minute equaliser to snatch a 1-1 draw at La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid on Sunday (Mar 7) and keep his side in the title race.

* Bundesliga strugglers Arminia Bielefeld earned a point on coach Frank Kramer’s debut with a goalless draw against European hopefuls Union Berlin on Sunday to remain in the relegation playoff spot.

* Russia’s Andrey Rublev won his eighth career title on Sunday when he eased past Hungarian qualifier Marton Fucsovics in the Rotterdam ATP final. The 23-year-old Rublev, ranked eighth in the world, won 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.

* Danish 18-year-old Clara Tauson captured her maiden WTA title in Lyon on Sunday, sweeping from qualifying to the trophy without dropping a set. World ranked 139 Tauson saw off Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic 6-4, 6-1 to guarantee a top 100 debut on Monday.

* Jan Blachowicz bounced back from a slow start to outpoint Israel Adesanya and retain his light-heavyweight title after an enthralling tactical battle at UFC 259 in Las Vegas on Saturday.

* Former international Stephen Ng has been appointed the new head coach of the women’s national team, said the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) on Sunday (Mar 7).

* Rangers celebrated their first league triumph since 2011 after Celtic were frustrated by Dundee United in a 0-0 Premiership draw on Sunday to hand their bitter Glasgow rivals the title.

* Joan Laporta was set to be named FC Barcelona’s President for a second time after taking an unassailable lead in Sunday’s election. Barcelona said Laporta had won 57.6per cent of votes of 96per cent counted.

* Olympique de Marseille crashed out of the French Cup to semi-professional fourth-tier side Canet Roussillon as the minnows stunned the Ligue 1 side with a 2-1 victory in the last-32 on Sunday.

It moved Brendan Rodgers’s side above Manchester United into second place with 53 points from 28 games with United away to runaway leaders Manchester City on Sunday.

* Earlier Southampton ended a horrendous run of form as they beat bottom club Sheffield United 2-0. Burnley also secured an important point in their quest to stay clear of trouble as they drew 1-1 with Arsenal.

* Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Romain Saiss provided a contender for miss of the season during a 0-0 Midlands derby stalemate away to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday. The draw left Villa in ninth place on 40 points from 26 games with Wolves in 12th spot on 35 points.

* Paris St Germain geared up for their Champions League last-16 second leg against Barcelona with a no-nonsense 3-0 victory at Stade Brestois in the French Cup last 32 on Saturday. Elsewhere, RC Lens, who are fifth in Ligue 1, slumped to a 3-2 defeat at third division Red Star. Olympique Lyonnais advanced by beating Ligue 2 side Sochaux 5-2.

* Barcelona continued their rampant run of domestic form to beat Osasuna 2-0 away from home on Saturday and move to within two points of La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid, with Lionel Messi setting up goals scored by Jordi Alba and teenager Ilaix Moriba. The victory followed Barca’s heroic second leg comeback win over Sevilla to reach the Copa del Rey final on Wednesday and notched a 13th league win in 16 games, while they are unbeaten since losing at Cadiz on Dec. 5.

* Faced with a poor penalty record this season, Eibar again turned to goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic in Saturday’s La Liga game at Cadiz but the move did not pay off as they suffered a 1-0 defeat. Eibar dropped to 18th in the standings and into the relegation zone having failed to win any of their last nine league games.

* Two goals from Alvaro Morata helped Juventus come from behind to beat Lazio 3-1 in Serie A on Saturday, closing the gap on leaders Inter Milan to seven points. The win moved Juve on to 52 points, one behind AC Milan. Milan and Inter are in action on Sunday and Monday respectively.

* Champions Bayern Munich roared back from two goals down to beat Borussia Dortmund 4-2 on Saturday with a hat-trick from Robert Lewandowski, to remain two points clear at the top of the Bundesliga. Bayern are on 55 points, two ahead of RB Leipzig, winners 3-0 at Freiburg. Dortmund dropped to sixth on 39.

* A 77th-minute goal by Patrik Schick gave Bayer Leverkusen a 1-0 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday to snap a five-game winless run and lift them back to fifth place in the Bundesliga. Leverkusen are fifth on 40 points, three behind Eintracht Frankfurt, who drew 1-1 against VfL Stuttgart. VfL Wolfsburg are third on 45 points following their 2-1 loss to Hoffenheim.

* Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng suffered a knee injured in their 4-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Saturday but the extent of the damage is not yet known, coach Hansi Flick said. The central defender went down injured without an opponent involved when his left foot seemingly got stuck in the grass and he was taken off in the 70th minute.

* Southampton forward Danny Ings could face a few weeks out after sustaining a muscle injury in their 2-0 Premier League win at Sheffield United, manager Ralph Hasenhuettl said on Saturday. Ings went to ground early in the contest at Bramall Lane and was replaced by Che Adams in the 13th minute, as Hasenhuettl was left frustrated by another injury to his influential striker.

* Norwich City forward Teemu Pukki struck a brace while midfielder Todd Cantwell marked his return from a calf injury with a goal as the Championship leaders beat Luton Town 3-0 to stay 10 points ahead of second-placed Watford. Norwich have 76 points from 35 matches, with Watford their nearest rivals following a 1-0 home win over Nottingham Forest in an early encounter where defender Adam Masina netted his first goal in more than a year.

* Rangers fans flouted coronavirus lockdown restrictions to gather outside Ibrox before and after their team’s 3-0 win over St Mirren to move within a point of the Scottish Premiership title on Saturday. Goals by Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos and Ianis Hagi continued Rangers’ 100% home record with a 16th win and they will be champions if Celtic fail to beat Dundee United on Sunday.

* Sevilla slumped to a surprise 2-1 defeat at struggling Elche in La Liga on Saturday to complete a miserable week of three consecutive losses. Sevilla head to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday with the daunting task of overturning a 3-2 deficit from the first leg of their last-16 tie.

* The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) has decided to suspend this month’s double header of World Cup qualifiers for Qatar 2022 amid concern over the COVID-19 pandemic and strict quarantine restrictions. The 10 South American teams were due to play two games on March 25/26 and March 30.

* Real Madrid’s top scorer Karim Benzema is back for Sunday’s derby away to La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid, coach Zinedine Zidane said, no doubt hoping the striker can restore some attacking flair to the side, which has struggled for goals in his absence.

* Norway’s Therese Johaug put in another blistering performance to win Saturday’s 30km classic race, streaking away from the start to take her fourth gold medal of the FIS Ski World Championships. Her compatriot Heidi Weng took second and Sweden’s Frida Karlsson followed with the bronze.

* American boxer Claressa Shields scored a unanimous points victory over Canada’s Marie-Eve Dicaire on Friday to become the first undisputed world champion in two different divisions in the four-belt era. Shields, 25, retained her WBC and WBO light-middleweight titles, won the vacant WBA belt and also took Dicaire’s IBF crown after all three judges at the Dort Federal Event Centre in Flint, Michigan, scored the fight 100-90 in the American’s favour.

* Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy is irreplaceable and the club will look to ease the goalscoring burden on the English striker by strengthening the squad in the summer transfer window, manager Brendan Rodgers said. Vardy is Leicester’s top scorer with 14 goals in all competitions this season but has netted just once in his last 13 appearances.

* World number one Novak Djokovic has said he will return to the court at this month’s Miami Open having recuperated from a muscle tear suffered during his Australian Open title defence. The 33-year-old Serbian suffered the injury during a third round match at Melbourne Park but that did not stop him from clinching a record-extending ninth Australian Open title and his 18th Grand Slam.

Hanoi-Exhibition: Those who do not move, do not notice their chains

Opening (online launching): Mar 5

Hanoi-Online exhibition featuring shared culture of Vietnam, Australia

HCMC-Exhibitions: ‘Within / Between / Beneath / Upon’ & ‘Home: Looking inwards to the outer world’

HCMC-Exhibition: Art and Peace

Opening: Mar 10, 6 pm

HCMC-Saigon Interplay Exhibition

Until Mar 21, 8 am – 5 pm

The exhibition offers 22 different ideas presenting through different mediums including conceptual models, videos, photographs that provide a unique experience for visitors. Come and explore with us!

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CINEMA

Screening of seven French movies

Mar 1-Dec 31

Featuring seven classic and modern French movies.

The films will be screened in 10 cities and provinces nationwide, including Hanoi, Hai Phong, Thai Nguyen, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Lao Cai, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat, and Can Tho.

Dtinews/Hanoigrapevines

In particular, the UN stressed that a commitment to cutting emissions is no longer an option, but an inevitable trend globally.

In his opening remarks at the virtual summit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the undeniable fact that the world is facing a dramatic emergency on climate, calling on countries to “declare a state of climate emergency” to promote effective actions towards containing global warming and preventing it from causing catastrophic consequences.

The summit was held five years since the Paris Agreement on climate change was adopted by more than 190 countries, creating an important turning point for the world to build a greener, cleaner and more sustainable future. However, according to a UN report released ahead of the conference, most of the current commitments to emission reduction are not strong enough to effectively respond to the rising global heat. Signatories to the Paris climate accord have pledged actions to limit global temperature increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial level, towards limiting temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, the UN report pointed out that even if countries implement their commitments to cutting emissions, it is still unlikely to help reverse the global temperature rise trend at a “catastrophic” level of 3 degrees Celsius in the 21 ^st century. This situation will lead to a much more serious crisis than the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The warning of danger from the UN is quite comprehensible. After five years of the implementation of the Paris Agreement, many commitments to reduce emissions have been made, but have proved to be not strong and effective enough. Carbon pollution remains serious, with global temperatures hitting record highs in November, making it the hottest month in history. The Earth’s temperature rises has seen the emergence of unprecedented and extreme weather patterns across all regions with an increasing frequency. 2020 has seen fierce wildfires in the US and Australia, as well as a record number of storms forming in the Atlantic Ocean.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres speaks during the virtual Climate Ambition Summit 2020.

The Paris Agreement stipulates that participating countries must increase their commitments to reducing emissions every five years, also known as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The deadline for the first five years is this December 31, but only less than 20 countries in the group, accounting for about 5% of global emissions, have so far announced their new NDC plans. A positive point in 2020 is that many major economies have committed to achieving “carbon neutrality” with a clear roadmap. Up to now, more than 110 countries and territories have pledged “net-zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with 77 countries, 10 territories and 100 cities promising to complete the target by 2050. China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, hopes to reach “carbon neutrality” by 2060, while the European Union (EU) is committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to the 1990 level. However, in addition to the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, there are still a number of major economies that have not made “carbon neutrality” commitments or set their goals too low or over too long a period, contributing inadequately to the overall efforts against climate change.

The UN estimates that in order to achieve the goal of limitting global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius, the world will need to reduce 7.6% of its emissions annually in the next decade. The raging COVID-19 pandemic has paralysed economic activities, helping the world meet the target of cutting global emissions by 7% in 2020. However, increased spending on economic recovery packages aimed at fossil fuel-dependent areas will quickly reverse the aforementioned positive trend. The UN stressed that the post-pandemic recovery process must be utilised to accelerate the transition to the low-carbon economy. Without proper policies and efficient use of resources, economic recovery packages worth trillions of dollars will burden future generations.

The Paris Agreement on climate change shows the world’s solidarity for the common goal of preventing global warming. To realise the goals of the agreement, major changes are needed, from how natural resources and technology are used to the issuance of general policies and collective efforts to tackle the climate change problem.