The development of sport in Vietnam

Abstract

The outcome of this research has been to gain insight into the sport development processes in Vietnam since 1858 to present. Through the analysis, several key questions are addressed. In pointing out that the development of sport in Vietnam involved more than just political steering, I thought that it is useful and necessary to examine how the present state of sport has emerged out of the past. Using the analytical approach and the research questions, this thesis examines empirical evidence gathered from official documents, such as sport strategy, media reports, some books and reports to show how sport has developed in Vietnam. The approach focuses on examining the figuration of sport as a network of interdependencies and how its development creates more and more interconnections with other social figurations. The widening network of interdependencies shapes the culture of sport in Vietnam but it also reveals similarities and differences with the development of wider Vietnamsociety. Although the seeming under-development of Vietnamese sport appears to be at odds with the wider social development, parallels between the two can be drawn. Underlying both developments is the increasing regulation of practices and tightening of the chains of interdependencies. Medals may mark the level the sporting nationalism, but they do not indicate the increasing differentiation and integration of practices, identities and images of the disparate social groups. The aim of the this thesis is to examine the history of sport in Vietnam. Through the analysis, several key questions are addressed. In pointing out that the development of sport in Vietnam involved more than just political steering, I thought that it is useful and necessary to examine how the present state of sport has emerged out of the past. How did the germination of sport by the French for their own recreational pleasure 9 develop into the more recent establishment of a sport clubs, school. Sport in Vietnam became centralized and the direction and form of its development became more and more situated in the country. Centralization of sport gathered momentum when Vietnam became an independent country. The construction of a national identity was relatively more successful for the independent country than when it was a French colony. The construction of a national identity was neither achieved through cultural distinction of the social groups nor by international competition to create an established group and outsider dynamics. The globalization processes have an uneven effect in the development of Vietnam social habitus. As sport becomes an increasingly powerful image and representation of national identity, social development and economic muscle and the global-local tension intensifies, sporting success provides the connection with the rest of the world. And, as important as achieving sporting success is, the struggle, tension and conflicts in achieving an Olympic medal provide the nation with collective memory which is integral to the reinforcement of a national identity. Through analysing the development of sport in Vietnam, issues of global-local, state citizenry, integration and distinction of local ethnic identities are addressed.