Under a brilliant display of fireworks and before a crowd of more than 10,000 spectators, the Sports Festival 2026 officially commenced on the evening of August 1 at Bikini Beach Square in NovaWorld Phan Thiet (Tien Thanh ward, Lam Dong province). Co-organized by the Vietnam People's Public Security Sports Association, the People's Committee of Lam Dong Province, and NovaGroup, the grand opening ceremony marked the explosive start of a massive national and international multi-sport initiative running continuously from July through September.

The scale of the opening night matched the ambitions of the organizers. High-ranking dignitaries filled the VIP stands, including Senior Lieutenant General Le Van Tuyen, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Deputy Minister of Public Security; Ho Van Muoi, Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee; Lieutenant General Nguyen Ngoc Toan, Assistant to the Minister of Public Security and Vice President of the Vietnam People's Public Security Sports Association; and Bui Thanh Nhon, Executive Board Member of the Association and Founding Chairman of Novagroup and Novaland Group. They were joined by foreign ambassadors, international organization representatives, and police and security delegations hailing from 13 countries and territories.

Addressing the gathered athletes and guests, Lieutenant General Nguyen Ngoc Toan emphasized the diplomatic and cooperative core of the gathering. The participation of international delegations not only confirms the growing appeal and prestige of the Sports Festival but also reflects confidence, solidarity, and the desire to strengthen cooperation among law enforcement agencies of different countries through sports, cultural activities, and people-to-people exchanges, Lieutenant General Nguyen Ngoc Toan stated.

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The ceremony delivered on both theatrical and statistical fronts. A major milestone of the evening was the official announcement and presentation of a Vietnamese Record Certificate by VietKings, recognizing the event as the multi-sport festival with the highest number of independent national and international tournaments held simultaneously in Vietnam, seamlessly integrating cultural, community, and tourism activities. Spanning a 12-sport roster—including golf, running, tennis, clay pigeon shooting, kickboxing, pickleball, cycling, sports dance, volleyball, and triathlon—the festival brings together approximately 17,000 athletes, coaches, referees, and delegates.

Highlighting the socioeconomic integration of the festival, the opening night also featured a charitable handover. Lieutenant General Nguyen Ngoc Toan presented a 2 billion VND fund toward the Building Compassionate Houses for Compatriots in the Border Areas of Lam Dong Province initiative to Major General Truong Minh Duong, Director of the Lam Dong Provincial Police, aiding families in the region's border zones.

Following protocol addresses, a two-hour artistic program unfolded utilizing modern stage technology, large-scale LED screens, and high-powered lighting and sound systems. Renowned artists such as My Linh, Hoang Bach, Pham Anh Khoa, the Tuyen Tap music group, Oplus, and athlete Chau Tuyết Van performed thematic numbers celebrating athletic spirit and national pride. The evening culminated in the traditional torch-lighting ritual, symbolizing unity and resilience, followed by a dramatic fireworks display lighting up the Phan Thiet sky.

With the opening ceremonies concluded—broadcast live to a national audience via VTV6—the festival shifts immediately into high gear. The packed competition calendar spans deep into late summer and early autumn:

  • ASEAN Police Open Golf Tournament 2026: July 31 – August 2
  • ITF Masters Tour 100: July 30 – August 2
  • Summer Shooting Cup 2026: August 1 – 2
  • '81st Journey – For National Security' Running Race: August 2
  • ATP Challenger 50: August 5 – September 2
  • Southern Region Open CAND Pickleball Tournament: August 13 – 16
  • International Women's Beach Volleyball Tournament: August 14 – 16
  • Beach Tennis Tournament: August 18 – 22

For Lam Dong province, the convergence of elite and mass sports alongside coastal tourism infrastructure serves a calculated economic design. Provincial Chairman Ho Van Muoi noted during the ceremonies that hosting concurrent high-level tournaments actively exploits local sports and hospitality infrastructure, driving commerce, trade, and regional tourism into a new developmental phase.

Sources

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  1. Công an Nhân dân - Hệ sinh thái truyền thông đa nền tảng original
  2. Báo Công an Nhân dân original
  3. VnExpress original
  4. Ảnh: Nguyễn Thanh - TTXVN original