Vietnam Sports and the Olympic Top 50: Potential from 'Emerging Sports'

GameGladiator

26/02/2026 17:02:49 GameGladiator

During the Lunar New Year period, as national squads were already "in gear" with their training regimens for the Asian Games 20 at various Training Centers, public life outside was bustling with running competitions, pickleball... These events, filled with Spring's vitality and competitive spirit, energized the sports scene with immense dynamism. This truly depicts the image of Vietnam Sports (TTVN) in the modern age, where "new sports" are sharing potential alongside aspirations for international recognition.

This trend is clearly observable through the sports included in the regulations for the National Sports Games scheduled for late this year. This premier national sports event, held every four years, will take place in Ho Chi Minh City and appears to be an opportunity for VN sports administrators to conduct a pivotal experiment for future development strategies.

The National Sports Games is a competition among local and sectoral delegations, but in essence, it serves as a summary of the four-year investment in high-achievement sports for each province and city.

The anticipated number of sports is up to 48 disciplines with 973 events, yet only 22 are Olympic sports. The decision to incorporate sports like Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), pickleball, Esports, or roller sports into the official competition system isn't merely about expanding the event catalog for a games festival. It reflects a mindset wanting to "open the door" to sports of the era, where the boundaries between physical activity, entertainment, and technology are increasingly blurring.

If one pays attention, these "new sports" primarily belong to "urban sports," accompanied by their entertainment value and quick accessibility for youth. Their inclusion in the National Games is an act of "recognizing" their potential for advancement, or possibly a targeted investment focus for Vietnamese sports in the 2030-2045 strategy.

This innovation stems from the need to adapt to global trends. While traditional sports like athletics, swimming, or weightlifting remain core, VN sports face a significant gap compared to powerhouse nations.

At the Olympics or Asian Games, we often achieve numerous medals only in some "niche segment" sports like karate or pencak silat, disciplines not yet widely popular globally. Introducing MMA, a highly dramatic and popular combat sport in America and Europe, or pickleball, is seen as a "shortcut" strategy.

MMA is experiencing extremely robust growth in Vietnam. Photo: Hoang Linh

Esports, with its millions of young players, and roller sports – an Olympic discipline since 2020, further emphasize this urban-oriented approach, where Vietnamese youth are increasingly interested in modern recreational activities over traditional sports.

Naturally, not everyone agrees. One side sees a great opportunity to reach young audiences, develop new infrastructure, and stimulate the domestic sports market. The other side worries about professional quality, the ability to control standards, and the potential neglect of traditional sports.

The risks are not small. Firstly, resource dispersion. When investment is spread too thinly across many sports, key disciplines may suffer in depth development. Secondly, the issue of expertise: not every "trending" sport has a training system, coaches, and referees meeting international standards.

If organized hastily, the National Games could easily become a "showcase playground" rather than a competition that genuinely tests capability. Finally, there's the mindset issue, where many localities still view medal counts as the sole measure of success, and local training systems persist with outdated models.

However, looking at the positive side, this bold experimentation helps VN sports broaden its development scope. In nations with advanced sports systems, integrating modern sports into national programs not only boosts spectator appeal but also stimulates the sports industry, attracts private investment, and, most importantly, nurtures a new generation of athletes.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has done something similar by including Esports, breaking dance, or skateboarding in the Olympics, as a way to keep the Games vibrant and relevant to the times.

Ultimately, these "new sports" are gaining their place within the community, and from a certain perspective, they are effectively inspiring sports participation, pioneering professional competitive activities, and opening a "niche" avenue for medal ambitions on the international stage.

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