Joint Circular of the Ministry of Culture - Information and General Department of Physical Education and Sports No. 21/1997/TTLB-BVHTT-TCTDTT dated April 2, 1997 on coordinating cultural and sports activities at the grassroots level

JOINT CIRCULAR

JOINT CIRCULAR OF THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE - INFORMATION AND GENERAL SPORT ADMINISTRATION NO. 21/1997/TTLB-BVHTT-TCTDTT OF APRIL 2, 1997 ON COOPERATION IN CULTURAL AND SPORT ACTIVITIES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL

Cultural and information activities, as well as physical education and sports, play a significant role in implementing the Party and State's policies aimed at nurturing and promoting factors that contribute to a strong and healthy population, rich in spirit, and pure in morality. Cultural and sports activities at the local level are always closely linked in building a civilized lifestyle and developing the economy and society. Although cultural and sports activities have shown positive changes in serving political purposes at the local level, the cultural and sports life at the grassroots level remains impoverished and lacks strict management and cooperation between the two sectors, especially in rural, mountainous, and highland areas.

To enhance the effectiveness of cultural and sports work, the Ministry of Culture - Information and the General Sports Administration jointly launch and direct the movement to build a civilized and sporting life at the grassroots level. Below are the guidelines for organizing cooperative activities.

I. CONTENTS OF COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIES

1. Strengthening propaganda and education among the people about the benefits and effects of cultural and sports activities on both physical and spiritual development of individuals and the construction of a civilized society and happy families. The two sectors should intensify the publication of professional materials to serve cultural and sports activities at the grassroots level.

2. Cooperating in directing and organizing biennial cultural and sports competitions from grassroots units to the national level. The target groups and competition contents are determined by the inter-sectoral Organizing Committee according to each annual cycle.

3. Cooperating in guiding the construction and development of culture and sports at the grassroots level, providing requirements for culture and sports in the establishment of cultural and sports families, family cultural and sports clubs, cultural and sports clusters, and village cultural and sports communities. Cultural and information centers at the grassroots level need to organize appropriate sports activities. Exploiting and developing traditional games, ethnic sports, and folk songs and dances through the organization of cultural and sports days.

4. Enhancing state management over cultural and sports activities at the grassroots level. Cultural and recreational activities (such as football matches, cockfighting, card playing, etc.) are managed by the Department of Culture - Information. Physical training and competitive activities (such as ping pong, table tennis, billiards, martial arts, traditional wrestling, etc.) are managed by the Department of Physical Education and Sports.

Services that charge fees for these activities must comply with the financial regulations of the State.

II. IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Ministry of Culture - Information assigns the Grassroots Culture - Information Bureau, and the General Sports Administration assigns the Mass Sports Department to organize and direct the implementation of this Joint Circular and to regularly coordinate to unify the contents submitted to the leadership of the two sectors for consideration and decision.

2. Provincial Departments of Culture - Information and Sports have the responsibility to implement the contents of this Joint Circular. At all levels, the two sectors of Culture - Information and Sports shall strengthen coordination in formulating annual content and plans for grassroots cultural and sports activities, and report experiences to guide the movement.

This Circular takes effect from the date of signature. All previous contents that conflict with this Circular are abolished.