Olympics 

HÀ NỘI — Electronics corporations TCL has become a main partner of the Việt Nam Olympic Committee following a signing ceremony on March 17 in Hà Nội, marking a move to boost funding, visibility and support for national athletes ahead of a packed international calendar.

At the same event, the Việt Nam Olympic Committee, TCL and Vietcontent announced a strategic cooperation agreement aimed at mobilising social resources and promoting grassroots sports development.

Under the agreement, TCL, a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, will support the committee’s activities, including communications efforts to promote Vietnamese sports and leading athletes to a broader audience.

Vietnamese competitors are set to take part in a series of major events in 2026, including the Asian Beach Games from April 22 to 30 in China, the ASEAN Football Championship from July 24 to August 26 in Indonesia, the Asian Games from September 19 to October 4 and the Asian Para Games from October 18 to 24 in Japan, the Youth Olympics from October 31 to November 13 in Senegal and the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in December in Saudi Arabia.

With TCL’s backing, athletes are expected to receive additional cash bonuses and in-kind rewards from sponsors alongside state-funded prizes.

VOC Secretary General Trần Văn Mạnh said cash bonuses for athletes competing at the 20th Asian Games, the key event in the cycle, would be on a par with or higher than previous editions.

Under current regulations, Asian Games medallists receive VNĐ280 million (US$10,600) for gold, VNĐ170 million for silver and VNĐ110 million for bronze, with an additional VNĐ110 million awarded for breaking a record.

At the previous Asian Games in 2023, Việt Nam won three gold medals and finished 21st in the overall standings.

"For over 40 years, TCL has believed that sports are a universal language that connects the world through determination and excellence. This is why we have officially become a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner through 2032," said Johnny Yi, general director of TCL Smart Device Việt Nam.

"In Việt Nam, a strategic market for nearly 30 years, TCL aims to contribute even more to the local community. Becoming a partner of the Việt Nam Olympic Committee today is a proud step in that journey. We are honoured to support Vietnamese athletes as they reach new heights and bring pride to the nation.

"With our slogan Inspire Greatness, TCL hopes to inspire the younger generation and promote the Olympic spirit through technology and innovation. We believe that when technology, sports and human spirit come together, they create lasting value for society.

"TCL looks forward to a long-term journey of empowering Vietnamese sports and its fans," he said.

Speaking at the event, Trần Thuỳ Chi, chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Vietcontent, a financial consulting company, highlighted the potential of Vietnamese sport.

"Sponsorship is not simply about asking businesses for money; we need to create value systems that help businesses and partners increase interaction and spread their image to the public," she said.

"With financial resources from society, Vietnamese sports will have the opportunity to receive stronger investment and make breakthroughs in the future. We are also very fortunate to receive the support of the sports sector, the Sports Authority of Việt Nam and the Việt Nam Olympic Committee in our cooperation." — VNS