Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - TheNational Sports Administration is applying for permission from authorities toallow important foreign experts and coaches to return to Vietnam to work.

Theadministration said it has gathered a list of foreign experts and urgent andimportant cases to be given priority to apply for permission to return towork in Vietnam as soon as possible.

Ifallowed by the likes of the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry ofForeign Affairs, the Ministry of Health and the People's Committees of theprovinces of entry, foreign experts will have to be quarantinedfor two weeks as part of the national efforts to fight the coronaviruspandemic.

Nguyen Hai Duong,head of the International Cooperation Department of the National SportsAdministration, said one of the requirements for foreign experts entering Vietnamis to have a negative coronavirus test.

WhileChinese coaches can enter the country by road, as most international air routesto Vietnam are postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, other foreignexperts must wait for flights to reopen.

“Weare carrying out procedures, sending dispatches to the northern borderprovinces which have borders with China to create conditions for Chineseexperts in swimming, table tennis and archery to come to Vietnam. WithAustralian coach Joseph Donnelly in boat racing we willregister for him to return Vietnam if there are humanitarian flights fromAustralia to Vietnam, because flights from Australia to Vietnam arenot currently available,” said Duong.

Athletes need experts

Forthe past half-year, Chinese expert Huang Gouhui who trains top swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang has had to work online.

Huanghas been tasked with raising the level of the swimming team for the TokyoOlympics and improving the performance of Hoang in particular.

Huangis one of the National Sports Administration's top priorities forreturning.

Meanwhile,Chinese expert Yu Zhiguo, who signed a contract with the Vietnamese tabletennis in the middle of last year, helped Vietnam take a Southeast AsianGames30 gold medal in the men’s doubles.

LastDecember, Yu left Vietnam for a holiday with his family in China. He was meantto return on February 15 but because of the pandemic, he remains inShenzhen City.

PhanAnh Tuan, head of the table tennissection of the National Sports Administration, said if there are no flights, Yuwill return to Vietnam by road through a northern border gate.

TheVietnamese table tennis team is planning to convene on July 12 to prepare forthe World Table Tennis Championship in September and the Southeast AsianChampionship in October.

Inother news, the National Sports Administration has held a meeting to preparefor the upcoming session of the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF).

TheSEAGF session is to make preparations for the SEA Games, as Vietnam will be thehost of its 31st edition, slated for November next year in Hanoi.

Speakingat the event, General Director Vuong Bich Thang said Vietnam has brought the COVID-19pandemic under control and curbed the spread of the disease in the community, butwhile quarantine measures stay in place, inviting delegates from otherSoutheast Asian nations to the session is not feasible.

Asa result, the session is set to be held online on July 21-22.

Thevirtual session is expected to see the participation of about 200 delegates./.