CIRCULAR NO. 09/2012/TT-BVHTTDL REGULATING THE ORGANIZATION OF POPULAR SPORTS COMPETITIONS

CIRCULAR

REGULATIONS ON THE ORGANIZATION OF POPULAR SPORTS COMPETITIONS

Pursuant to the Law on Physical Culture and Sports;

“1. Position

Pursuant to Decree No. 7841/2007/NĐ-CP dated December 25, 2007 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

At the proposal of the Director-General of the General Department of Physical Training and Sport;

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism promulgates this Circular stipulating the organization of popular sports competitions.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates the organization of popular sports competitions.

Sports competitions for high achievements as prescribed in Article 37 of the Law on Physical Culture and Sports; National Sports Congresses at all levels; school sports competitions and military sports competitions are not within the scope of regulation of this Circular.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to organizations and individuals participating in organizing popular sports competitions; organizations and individuals related to popular sports competitions organized in Vietnam.

Article 3. Popular Sports Competitions

Popular sports competitions include:

1. Sports competitions according to target groups: family, women, civil servants, employees, farmers, workers, persons with disabilities;

2. Sports competitions for age groups not included in the national youth competition system;

3. Sports contests;

4. Sports competitions during Cultural, Sports and Tourism Festivals;

5. International popular sports competitions.

Article 4. Principles of Organizing Popular Sports Competitions

1. Popular sports competitions shall be organized to attract and encourage everyone to participate in healthy physical exercise and sports for health and to improve their spiritual life.

2. The organization of sports competitions must be appropriate to the customs and traditions of the nation, promoting the noble spirit of sportsmanship and honesty.

3. Ceremonies for organizing competitions must be conducted solemnly, suitable to the scale of the competition, ensuring economy.

4. Do not organize or participate in illegal gambling.

5. Ensuring conditions regarding facilities and equipment necessary according to the professional requirements of the competition.

6. Ensuring security, safety, fire prevention, and environmental sanitation during the organization of the competition.

7. Ensuring fairness and accuracy in directing and managing the competition.

Chapter II

SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

Article 5. Establishing an Organizing Committee and Drafting Competition Regulations

1. Establishing the organizing committee for the competition

a) The agency or organization (hereinafter referred to as the organization) organizing the popular sports competition decides to establish the organizing committee for the competition consisting of members who are representatives of organizations and individuals knowledgeable about sports.

b) The number of chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, and committee members depends on the scale and nature of the competition.

2. Drafting the content of the competition regulations

a) Basis for drafting the competition regulations:

- The significance and purpose of organizing the competition;

- The rules of play for each sport issued by the General Department of Physical Culture and Sports;

- Professional level, material conditions, and funding for organizing the competition.

b) Main contents of the competition regulations:

- Name of the competition;

- Purpose and requirements;

- Time and place of the competition;

- Target group and conditions for participation;

- Content, format, and method of scoring;

- Application of competition rules;

- Awards, disciplinary actions, and handling complaints;

- Provisions on registration procedures;

- Funding;

- Other provisions (if any);

- Implementation clauses.

Article 6. Opening and Closing of the Competition

1. For popular sports competitions as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 7 of this Circular:

a) The opening and closing ceremonies of the competition shall be solemnly held at the venue of the competition. Outside the competition venues and the location of the opening ceremony, banners with appropriate content related to the competition, the name and logo of the competition, and the organizing unit (if any) may be hung.

b) Decoration for the opening ceremony:

- The national flag shall be hung on the main backdrop, flagpole, or carried by a person. For international competitions, flags of countries with participating athletes shall be hung according to the guidance of the local Department of Foreign Affairs where the competition is held;

- The name of the competition shall be displayed on the main backdrop;

- The seating arrangement for delegates and guests shall be determined based on the number of participants, and the organizing committee shall decide on the seating arrangements for delegates and guests;

- The speaker's platform may be arranged on the stage, but it should not obstruct the title on the backdrop and portraits of leaders (if any);

- Banners shall be hung in positions suitable to the space of the opening ceremony venue. The content of the banners shall be decided by the organizing committee.

c) Procedure for organizing the opening ceremony:

- Marching or gathering in place depending on the scale and nature of the competition;

- The ceremonial part shall be directed by the organizing committee, including: raising the flag, singing the National Anthem; stating the reasons, introducing delegates; opening speech; athlete's oath; referee's oath; presenting commemorative flags and flowers to teams (if any);

- The welcoming activities shall depend on the conditions of the organizing unit to implement activities such as mass gymnastics, cultural performances, and sports demonstrations.

d) The closing ceremony includes the work of summarizing, awarding prizes to teams and athletes, ensuring respect, practicality, effectiveness, and suitability to the nature and scale of the competition.

2. For popular sports competitions as prescribed in Article 8 of this Circular:

Depending on specific conditions, organize the opening and closing ceremonies solemnly and economically based on applying the provisions of Clause 1 of this Article.

Article 7. Organizing mass sports competitions at the national level and provincial level

1. Mass sports competitions at the national level and provincial level include:

a) National mass sports competition is a mass sports competition organized by central ministries, agencies of political organizations, political-social organizations, social organizations, economic organizations, federations, and national sports associations (hereinafter referred to collectively as central organizations) for athletes from all regions across the country;

b) Regional mass sports competition is a sports competition organized by central organizations, provincial-level organizations for athletes from regions and units located within the territory of provinces and centrally-administered cities in the region;

c) Inter-provincial mass sports competition is a sports competition organized by organizations of several provinces and centrally-administered cities that collaborate for athletes from areas within the territories of the collaborating provinces and centrally-administered cities;

d) Provincial mass sports competition is a sports competition organized by provincial-level organizations for athletes from regions and units located within the territory of the province or centrally-administered city;

đ) Expanded provincial mass sports competition is a provincial-level mass sports competition that invites some regions and units outside the province to participate;

2. Organizations organizing competitions as stipulated in points a, b, and c of Clause 1 of this Article shall be responsible for reporting in writing to the General Department of Sports and Physical Training and the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of the locality where the competition is held; organizations organizing competitions as stipulated in points d, đ, and e of Clause 1 of this Article shall be responsible for reporting in writing to the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of the locality where the competition is held. The report must be submitted at least 15 (fifteen) working days before the opening day of the competition.

3. The report must clearly state the purpose, name of the competition, time, location, content, schedule, financial sources for organizing the competition, security conditions, health conditions, technical equipment meeting the requirements for organizing the competition.

4. Within 15 (fifteen) days after the end of the competition, the organization organizing the competition shall be responsible for submitting a written report on the results of the competition.

Article 8. Organizing mass sports competitions at the district level (commonly referred to as county level) and grassroots mass sports competitions

a) County-level mass sports competition is organized for athletes from regions and units located within the county's territory;

b) Commune, ward, and town cluster mass sports competition is organized by local organizations that collaborate for athletes from regions and units located within their territories;

The content of the competition organization report must clearly state: purpose, name of the competition, time, location, content, schedule, financial sources for organizing the competition.

Within 10 days after the end of the competition, the organization organizing the competition shall be responsible for submitting a written report on the results of the competition to the Cultural and Information Office of the locality where the competition is held.

3. Grassroots mass sports competition is organized by organizations for athletes from regions and units located within the commune, ward, and town territories.

4. Organizations organizing competitions as stipulated in Clause 3 of this Article must report in writing to the Cultural and Information Office of the locality where the competition is held at least 15 (fifteen) days before the opening day.

The content of the competition organization report must clearly state: purpose, name of the competition, time, location, content, schedule, financial sources for organizing the competition.

Within 10 (ten) days after the end of the competition, the competition organizing unit shall report the results of the competition organization to the Cultural and Information Office of the locality where the competition is held.

5. Internal mass sports competitions among agencies and organizations do not need to be reported to the competent state management agency for physical training and sports, but when organizing the competition, they must ensure the principles prescribed in Article 4 of this Circular.

Article 9. Organizing International Mass Sports Competitions in Vietnam

1. An international mass sports competition organized in Vietnam with the participation of foreign athletes invited by Vietnamese agencies or organizations shall be considered an international mass sports competition.

2. Competition organization report:

a) The entity organizing the international mass sports competition in Vietnam shall submit a written report to the General Department of Physical Training and Sports at least twenty (20) days before the opening day of the competition.

b) The report shall clearly state the purpose, name, time, location, content, competition program, financial sources for organizing the competition, security conditions, medical services, technical equipment meeting the requirements for organizing the competition; accompanied by a written opinion from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism where the competition is held and opinions from other relevant agencies (if any).

c) Within fifteen (15) days after the end of the competition, a written report on the results of the competition shall be submitted to the General Department of Physical Training and Sports.

3. The entity organizing an international mass sports competition between localities sharing a border shall have the responsibility to submit a written report to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism where the competition is held at least twenty (20) working days before the opening day of the competition.

Within ten (10) days after the end of the competition, it shall have the responsibility to submit a written report on the results of the competition to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism where the competition is held.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 10. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The General Department of Physical Training and Sports shall be responsible for disseminating, guiding, and inspecting the implementation of this Circular.

2. Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism of provinces and centrally governed cities shall be responsible for organizing the implementation, inspection, and urging relevant agencies and organizations to strictly comply with the provisions of this Circular.

Article 11. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from January 1, 2013.

2. During the implementation process, if any difficulties arise, agencies, organizations, and individuals are requested to promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for consideration and resolution./.