It is necessary to pay attention to ensuring health in organizing mass sports competitions.

Medical staff of Phuong Dong General Clinic support injured player - Photo: DC

Based on practical needs

Participating in grassroots sports tournaments always carries many health risks, especially in highly competitive sports with intense movements, which can easily cause athletes to suffer from muscle, bone, and joint injuries, dehydration, exhaustion, fatigue, or fainting. It is worth mentioning that in many grassroots sports tournaments, because medical teams cannot be invited to participate, athletes who are injured cannot receive timely care and support...

The reason some tournaments do not have medical teams is because of lack of funding; the tournament regulations stipulate that units and team leaders must commit to ensuring the health of athletes during the competition; coaches and caregivers without medical expertise and skills must take care of injured athletes themselves.

Many unfortunate incidents that occurred to athletes in some grassroots sports tournaments, along with the desire for attention and support for health care of the participants, have raised the issue of the importance and necessity of sports medicine.

Recently, at the 4th Quang Tri U23 7-a-side Football Championship - 2025 taking place from April 12-19, 2025, the organizing committee (OC) and the medical team of Phuong Dong General Clinic (Dong Ha City) provided medical support to 7 teams participating in the tournament in all matches. This brought joy to the players participating in the tournament. “In amateur and amateur football tournaments, injuries are inevitable because players often have collisions when competing for the ball.

Participating in the Quang Tri U23 7-a-side Football Championship, I feel very secure when the Organizing Committee invites a medical team to accompany me. During the matches, the medical team closely monitors each player on the field and immediately comes to provide timely support when someone has a health problem. Ensuring medical care is always a great joy for each player, helping us to be more confident in competing and giving our all", player Hoang Trong Kien, Minh Thanh Club shared.

Mr. Le Manh Hung, Head of the Organizing Committee of the Quang Tri U23 7-a-side Football Championship, said that after 4 times of organization, the tournament has created a brand as a useful playground for young players across the province, while contributing to promoting the development of Quang Tri grassroots football.

To achieve that success, the tournament's Organizing Committee always strives to innovate in the organization, improve professional quality, build beautiful sports culture, mobilize resources... In particular, ensuring security and medical work is given top priority.

The Organizing Committee of the 2024 Pickleball Reunion Group Open Tournament invited excellent medical teams from inside and outside the province to treat injuries for athletes - Photo: DC

In addition to the Quang Tri U23 7-a-side Football Championship, doctors and nurses from Phuong Dong General Clinic have also attended many other tournaments in Dong Ha City to guide people on how to play sports safely, and at the same time sponsor and provide free medical care for the tournament.

Mr. Tran Tung Nha, Phuong Dong General Clinic said: "I have seen many players injured during matches without proper medical care, so I am very worried. Through direct discussions with the Organizing Committee, I decided to send my medical team to support the tournaments for free.

From 2023 to now, the clinic has participated in dozens of amateur and grassroots football tournaments such as the Quang Tri U23 7-a-side Football Championship, the Quang Tri 8X 7-a-side Football Championship, the Quang Tri Veterans Clubs 7-a-side Football Championship, the Dai Ang Quarter Football Tournament... as a medical sponsor. My colleagues and I are very happy to receive compliments and encouragement from the Organizing Committee and the players. This is also the motivation for us to continue to accompany and make more medical contributions to Quang Tri grassroots sports."

Spread the message of safe sports

Recently, annual grassroots sports tournaments organized by agencies, businesses, and individuals have paid more attention to medical work. Because most of them clearly identify the role and support of the medical team as really necessary.

Mr. Hoang Minh Dung, Head of the Organizing Committee of the Open Group Reunion Tennis Tournament and the Open Group Reunion Pickleball Tournament, said: “Medical work has always been identified as important in ensuring the success of the tournament. From 2021 to now, we have always been interested in inviting a team of good doctors and nurses from inside and outside the province to participate in the tournament to ensure the health of the athletes. The medical team quickly handles minor injuries so that the athletes can return to competition soon; with serious injuries, first aid will be provided on the spot before being transferred to the hospital.

In particular, we recently invited HandsViet Sports Medicine Center to perform medical duties at the 2024 Pickleball Reunion Group Open Tournament; at the same time, directly instructing beginners in Pickleball on how to protect themselves and avoid situations that can easily lead to injury during practice and competition. Doing a good job of medical work helps us always feel secure in providing a useful and safe playground for sports lovers."

According to Mr. Le The Hien, Head of the Organizing Committee of Huong Hoa League, despite many difficulties, the tournament has directly mobilized free sponsorship from medical facilities or hired medical teams to take care of and treat injuries for players during the competition. Over the past 8 seasons, Huong Hoa League has always left a good impression when ensuring medical work; arranging a medical subcommittee including a team of doctors and nurses fully equipped with necessary tools and equipment; wholeheartedly serving the tournament and completing the assigned tasks well.

According to the reporter's records, besides some grassroots sports tournaments that are well-organized, there are still many tournaments that do not have medical support teams. In fact, many tournaments have had athletes suffer serious injuries such as broken arms, broken legs, fainting... without direct support from doctors and nurses on the field.

This also makes the organizers confused in first aid, affecting the psychology of other players and the pace of the match. I think, when organizing a tournament, those who are passionate about sports need to pay more attention to medical work, ensuring the health and safety of the participants.

The sports industry, localities, businesses as well as medical facilities and medical staff should pay attention to funding and medical care for grassroots sports tournaments. Thereby, joining hands to create safe playgrounds for the community and spread many positive values ​​of sports.

Hoai Diem Chi

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/can-chu-trong-dam-bao-y-te-trong-to-chuc-thi-dau-the-thao-phong-trao-193059.htm