Why did Can Tho abandon the decision to reward athletes after 2 years?

On March 21, according to a reporter's source, the People's Committee of Can Tho City has just issued Decision 15/2025 (effective from March 30, 2025) abolishing the entire Decision No. 22/2022 of the City People's Committee on regulating the bonus level for coaches and athletes of the city who achieve achievements at sports congresses and tournaments at all levels.

Spectators watch a football match at Can Tho Stadium.

Decision 22/2022 issued by Can Tho City in August 2022 stipulates the bonus level for coaches and athletes who achieve achievements at sports congresses and tournaments at all levels. The implementation funding will come from the annual State budget according to decentralization.

Specifically, at national sports festivals, the reward for a gold medal is 15 million VND, a silver medal is 9 million VND, a bronze medal is 6 million VND, and breaking a record is rewarded with an additional 6 million VND.

At the Mekong Delta Sports Festival, gold medalists are awarded 1 million VND, silver medalists 800,000 VND, and bronze medalists 600,000 VND.

For national sports competitions, the highest gold medal reward is 10 million VND, the lowest is 2 million VND; the highest silver medal reward is 6 million VND, the lowest is 1.2 million VND; the highest bronze medal reward is 4 million VND, the lowest is 800,000 VND.

For the Can Tho City Sports Tournament, the highest gold medal prize is 800,000 VND, the lowest is 400,000 VND; the highest silver medal is 600,000 VND, the lowest is 300,000 VND; the highest bronze medal is 400,000 VND, the lowest is 200,000 VND.

District-level sports tournaments will cost 60% of city-level tournaments, and commune-level tournaments will cost 40% of city-level tournaments.

According to a report by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City, from August 2022 to 2024, the city sent 600 coaches and 3,041 athletes to participate in 248 national and regional sports tournaments in the Mekong Delta, achieving 1,904 medals of all kinds.

The budget for rewards for the above achievements is nearly 10.3 billion VND.

According to the reporter's investigation, a number of coaches and athletes of Can Tho City who achieved achievements during the above period have received full bonuses according to Decision 22/2022.

A football match takes place at Can Tho Stadium. Illustration photo.

After more than two years of implementing Decision 22/2022, by December 2024, the Department of Justice of Can Tho City reported on the results of self-inspection of legal documents issued by the People's Committee of Can Tho City.

This report pointed out that in the case of coaches and athletes of the city achieving achievements at national sports congresses and championships, the Chairman of the City People's Committee has the authority to decide on the bonus level according to the provisions of law, the City People's Committee does not have the authority to issue legal documents to stipulate the bonus level in this case.

Can Tho Department of Justice also proposed that the City People's Committee assign the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (the advisory agency that issued Decision 22/2022) to advise on the abolition of Decision No. 22/2022.

Speaking to reporters, a leader of the Can Tho City People's Committee said that after abolishing Decision No. 22/2022, the city will promptly issue another document to replace it and not affect the rights of coaches and athletes who have achieved achievements.

"The city will resolve this issue in a reasonable manner. Along with abolishing Decision No. 22/2022, the city is also reviewing and quickly issuing a document to replace the above Decision," said this leader.

In January 2025, the People's Committee of Can Tho City also sent a document to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; the Department of Justice requesting the two departments to coordinate to propose specific measures to remedy the consequences caused by the issuance of Decision No. 22/2022 of the City People's Committee.

Specifically, the remedial measures for the payment of bonuses for the period from August 2022 to 2024. At the same time, based on the content, nature, and level of illegality of the document and the consequences of the illegal content on society and on the basis of the level of fault of the collective and individuals advising on the presentation of the document, the organization will review and handle the responsibility of the collective and individuals who advised on the issuance of the above document.