SPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE CLEARING MORE HURDLES

Sport in Vietnam is moving beyond entertain- ment into a multi-layered economic ecosys- tem, spanning media rights, lifestyle brands, international events, and digital engagement.

- Nguyen Huong reports.

Ata sports economy conference held in Hanoi last week, it was noted that large-scale sporting events are emerging as powerful economic drivers.

Lim Song, chairman of Vietnam Sports Platform (VSP), highlighted the outsized local impact of sports infrastructure and events. His organisation is currently pursuing a $200 million infrastructure project to build a velodrome at the My Dinh National Sports Complex, while also staging professional events.

In May, VSP will host the Global Boxing Convention in Ho Chi Minh City, bringing together around 300 international participants, including fighters, coaches, and business leaders. “Within just one week, hundreds, possibly thousands, will plan trips to Vietnam,” he said. “The direct cost of organising an event may be modest, but the spillover effects can reach hundreds of billions of VND.”

These benefits extend beyond tourism, Song added. Events foster cultural exchange, knowledge transfer, and new pathways for Vietnamese athletes to engage with global partners.

If physical events are one pillar, digital transformation is another. Chu Tien Dat, chairman of Vietnam Multimedia Corporation, described esports as part of a broader digital sports ecosystem comprising three segments.

The first, digital sports media, currently generates the largest revenues, driven largely by broadcasting rights across television and online platforms. At the same time, income from fan engagement, particularly via social media and digital merchandise, is growing rapidly.

“Vietnam has monetised broadcasting rights relatively well,” he noted. “But revenue from digital engagement still has significant room to expand.”