Official does not deny hand in Olympic failure

Lam Quang Thanh, the leader of Team Vietnam at the London Olympics, said he and other administrative officials do not deny their responsibility for the team’s failures.

Thanh, who is the deputy head of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, frankly asserted that while there are many causes for the country’s empty medal haul at the Games, his general department holds the largest responsibility.

He added that it is unfair to see the fact that Vietnam failed to bring home any Olympic medals as a failure.

“The problems lie in the unprofessional management system, the training and coaching tasks, and the preparation for the event,” he said.

Vietnam sustained huge failures at the Beijing 2008 Olympics and the SEA Games 2009, after which sporting officials developed plans to increase the team’s performance at the 2010 Asiad competition and London 2012.

The country managed to bring home only one gold medal at the Asiad, held in China’s Guangzhou, but snatched 17 silvers in sports that are competed in at the Olympics.

“This proved that our sporting investment and development had taken effect,” said Thanh.

As for the London Olympics, Thanh said the general department had set a target for Team Vietnam to win medals at the weightlifting and shooting events.

“In the end, our shooter and weightlifter both ranked fourth, almost reaching the target,” he said.

Thanh also said Team Vietnam will hold a meeting to review their London journey, where the success and failure in every sport will be carefully evaluated.

“The lessons drawn from the Olympics will be helpful for the athletes prior to their participation in the 2014 Asiad, and further, the 2016 Rio Olympics,” he stated.