The 10^th Capital Sports Congress officially opened on October 7 at the Hanoi Athletics Palace with the theme “Togetherness – Shining Bright”.

Athletes carry the photo of the late President Ho Chi Minh doing exercises on the stage. Photo: Ngoc Tu

The sports congress is among the landmark events celebrating the 68^th anniversary of the Liberation of Hanoi, which falls on October 10.

Some 7,000 athletes will compete in 25 sports during the event, which runs between October 7 and 23, 2022.

Athletes partake in the sporting event as members of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union. Photo: Ngoc Tu

The presence of more than 800,000 athletes at the congress is the successful result of the qualification that has spanned across all 30 districts and towns in the city, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Xuan Dung said in his opening remarks.

Ba Dinh District's athletes march into the sports center. Photo: Ngoc Tu

Through the district-level qualification, many talented athletes are revealed, and they will surely have great efforts and contributions to the successes of Vietnam and Hanoi in the future, he said.

Hanoi has remained one of the most successful localities in sports, with many achievements recorded in recent international and regional competitions.

Art performances in the opening ceremony. Photo: Ngoc Tu

At the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) in 2021, Hanoi athletes and coaches won 213 medals or 30% of Vietnam’s total. The medals included 62 gold medals, 35 silver medals and 116 bronze medals.

“The 10^th Capital Sports Congress is a key event that promotes physical training among the people of Hanoi,” vice chairman Dung said.

Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh (right) receives the torch from a Hanoi athlete to inaugurate the 10th Capital Sports Congress. Photo: Ngoc Tu

“The joint participation of players, coaches and officials in the sports event will build a profound sporting spirit among local people, promote professional sports training, and propel Hanoi to achieve better results in future competitions,” he said.