Ba Ria – Vung Tau: SE Asia freestyle skating champs kicks off
The fifth South East Asia (SEA) Freestyle Skating Champs officially kicked off at Hera Palace in the southeastern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau on June 22.
Vung Tau (VNA) - The fifth South EastAsia (SEA) Freestyle Skating Champs officially kicked off at Hera Palace in thesoutheastern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau on June 22.
The tournament attracted 120 roller skaters aged 7to 25, coming from Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar,Singapore, Thailand, mainland China, Vietnam and other countries.
Skaters will compete in two major contents:slalom—a highly technical field of skating that involves performing tricksaround a straight line of equally spaced cones—and roller skating—crossing thehindrances placed on stage. Forty-three sets of medals are up for grabs.
Within the slalom field, there are categories likeclassic slalom, speed slalom and slalom battle, with regulations issued byInternational Skateboarding Federation.
The tournament is co-organised by the province’sdepartment of Culture, Tourism and Sports and Viet Passion Sports andEntertainment Joint Stock Company.
Eddie Chua, chairman of the World Skateboardingand Roller Sports Association, said the local facilities of the provincemeet the requirements of competitors.
“Previously, roller skating was popular in manycountries around the world with tournaments in Europe, Asia and later, we haveorganised in the southeast Asian region. Through the tournaments, players havethe chance to exchange their experiences,” said Chua.
After the launching ceremony, skaters will competein the slalom category.
The tournament lasts until June 24 at twolocations: Hera Palace convention centre and the back beach area of Vung Tau. -VNA
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
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The U23 competition will run from June 16 to 22, followed by the U17 event from June 23 to 28, while athletes competing in the U23 category will undergo weight and skill checks ahead of the matches starting June 18, while similar checks for U17 athletes will take place before June 23.
Vietnam continues to sit just behind continental powerhouses Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, China, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The event served as a vibrant display of solidarity, promoting peace, cooperation, and development through cultural dialogue, and reaffirmed HCM City's role as a dynamic hub for cultural diplomacy and international friendship.
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An art exchange programme between Vietnam and Cambodia was held on the evening of June 13 in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long as part of the 2025 Cambodia Culture Week in Vietnam.
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Illustrative image (Source: internet) 
