This is a project within the ASEAN-Japan Action Agenda for Sports, which was developed based on the consensus on four priority areas at the 1st ASEAN + Japan Ministerial Meeting on Sports in October 2017. The four areas include physical education teacher and coach development, women’s participation in sports, sports development for people with disabilities, and anti-doping in sports.
ASEAN-Japan Workshop on Physical Education Teacher Development (PETE) and Sports for People with Disabilities held in Vietnam
This project is jointly implemented by Nippon Sports Science University (NSSU) and Tsukuba University in Japan. In preparation for the project, a survey on the need for cooperation in developing physical education and sports teachers for people with disabilities in ASEAN member countries was conducted. Based on the results, the Government of Japan has officially launched the second phase of the project, focusing on the development of physical education teachers (PETE) and sports teachers for people with disabilities (SPD).
The core objective of this project is to improve the quality of physical education and sports teachers for people with disabilities across the region. Since the implementation of the second phase in 2021, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the workshops have been held online for three consecutive years (2021, 2022, 2023). In early 2024, the workshop was held in person for the first time in Cambodia. In particular, in 2025, Vietnam is honored to be the co-host of this important event, taking place from February 24 to 27. The event is an important step forward, demonstrating the continuous efforts of the parties towards a comprehensively developed ASEAN community, where sports play an essential role in socio-cultural development, community connection and peace promotion.
Professor, Dr. Yoshinori OKADE, Project Director
At the Workshop held in Vietnam, Professor, Dr. Yoshinori OKADE, Director of the Project on Developing Teachers of Physical Education and Sports for People with Disabilities, highly appreciated the role of Vietnam, especially as the host, together with the ASEAN Secretariat, Japan and regional member countries throughout the project implementation.
All members of the project have made great efforts over the past nearly four years to achieve encouraging results in the issues of developing teachers of physical education and sports for people with disabilities.
It can be said that the ASEAN-Japan Workshop on Developing Physical Education and Sports Teachers for People with Disabilities held in Vietnam has marked a new step forward in bilateral cooperation in this field. The workshop has received high appreciation from representatives of ASEAN countries for its serious and elaborate research with data and examples of high practical value.
The workshop is not only a forum for delegates to exchange and update information on physical education and sports for people with disabilities in each country, but also helps countries have an overall view of this field in the region.
Professor, Dr. Yoshinori OKADE believes that the valuable experiences gained from the workshop will continue to be shared and applied in each country, further promoting the development of teachers and contributing to consolidating the strong position of the ASEAN region, while also being a clear demonstration of the commitment to close cooperation between Japan and ASEAN.
The important role of the project in Vietnam
In the context of increasingly deep international integration, cooperation between countries in the region and around the world has opened up many development opportunities for many fields, especially sports. The ASEAN-Japan Action Project on Sports is a clear demonstration of this, playing an important role in promoting and improving the quality of sports for people with disabilities in Vietnam. The project not only contributes to improving training and competition conditions, but also has a positive impact on physical education teachers and raising public awareness of sports for people with disabilities.
The delegation visited the training site and listened to the sharing about the current situation of Vietnamese disabled athletes.
One of the most obvious impacts of the project is the creation of a valuable learning environment and experience exchange for Vietnamese physical education teachers. Activities such as seminars and professional training have helped teachers access advanced knowledge, modern teaching methods and specialized techniques in sports for people with disabilities. As a result, they can apply this knowledge in practice, helping disabled athletes to train more scientifically and effectively. This cooperation also helps Vietnam build a team of doctors with in-depth expertise in classifying injuries, a key factor to ensure fairness and safety for athletes when participating in competitions. In addition, the project also has a strong impact on disabled athletes. The exchange between delegates and disabled athletes in Hanoi within the framework of the Workshop held in Vietnam in early 2025 clearly demonstrated the optimism and extraordinary will to train of the athletes. The interest of regional delegates is not only a great source of encouragement, but also an opportunity for athletes to learn, share and compete with international friends. These activities help them improve their skills, become more confident and nurture their passion for sports, thereby contributing to improving the overall achievements of Vietnamese sports in the international arena. Vietnam's proud achievements at the recent Paralympics are a living testament to these tireless efforts.
Delegates visit and interact with disabled athletes in Hanoi
At this event, the difficulties that Vietnamese disabled sports are facing, such as limited social awareness, lack of specialized sports clubs and inadequate facilities, were also shared. These are challenges that the international cooperation project can continue to support, through activities such as developing the club system, organizing tournaments and raising community awareness.
This shows that the ASEAN-Japan Sports Cooperation Project has been playing a key role in developing disabled sports in Vietnam. The project not only brings practical benefits in terms of expertise, but also contributes to spreading the sportsmanship, confidence and aspirations of people with disabilities, helping them integrate and contribute more to society.
Ha Phuong