Funding and Financial Management Challenges in Lam Dong Provincial Sports Festival

At the 1st Provincial Sports Festival held in Lam Dong province, clusters formed by communes, townships, and special zones are participating in competitions while facing significant obstacles regarding financial management and funding mechanisms.

A total of 124 communes, townships, and special zones in Lam Dong have been divided into 20 clusters for competitions in the 1st Lam Dong Provincial Sports Festival to be held in 2026. While many clusters have achieved good coordination among their members, some clusters still experience serious difficulties in their operations.

Covering a wide area, Cluster 2 consists of 10 communes and registered for 18-20 out of 23 sports disciplines. At the end of the last 14 competitions, the cluster won a total of 49 medals, including 12 gold medals, ranking 5th province-wide. Cluster 1, comprising five wards and one township, competed in 16 sports and disciplines, temporarily ranking 4th with a total of 42 medals, 14 of which are gold.

In contrast, not all clusters demonstrate smooth operations. Nguyen Duc Duy, a representative of Cluster 10, stated that due to delays in fund contributions from some communes, the cluster leader faces difficulties securing resources for training and participation in competitions.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the biggest obstacle is the funding mechanism for organizing cluster-based competitions. There are no specific guidelines regarding contribution levels, budget allocations, or allowances, meals, and accommodation payments for athletes and coaches. Cluster leaders and members struggle to proactively manage funding and settle accounts. To make the model operate more effectively, specific guidelines regarding the financial mechanisms and responsibilities of participating units are expected to be provided.