April comes, carrying the heroic sound of glorious pages of history, when the whole nation turns towards the great historical milestone - the 51st anniversary of the Liberation of the South, national reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2026), and at the same time joins the beat with the spirit of international labor on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of International Labor Day (May 1, 1886 - May 1, 2026).
In that vibrant emulation flow, the sports movement launched by the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) has been spreading strongly throughout the army, becoming an important driving force contributing to building new soldiers - physically healthy, strong in will, ready to receive and complete all tasks.
Deeply responding to that meaningful movement, the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department successfully organized the Department-wide Men's Pickleball Doubles Tournament. This is not only an activity to celebrate major holidays but also an opportunity to arouse the spirit of physical training, improve spiritual and cultural life, and build a united, healthy, and effective working environment.
The tournament gathers 12 teams from departments, boards and Training Centers, taking place from April 14 to 24, 2026 at the S6 Multi-purpose Sports House/Vietnam Peacekeeping Department. Each match is exciting and dramatic, with fast balls, delicate handling situations, clearly showing the technical progress as well as the determined fighting spirit of the athletes.
What is worth noting is not only the professional quality, but also the noble sportsmanship spread throughout the tournament. Athletes compete honestly, unitedly, respecting each other; cheerleaders cheer enthusiastically and civilly, creating an atmosphere that is both lively and rich in humanity. From there, contributing to fostering comradeship and teamwork, building strong cohesion between agencies and units throughout the Department.
This sports movement is not separate from political tasks, but is an important part contributing to improving the overall quality of the unit. For the United Nations peacekeeping force - where each officer and soldier must operate in harsh climate conditions, complex multinational environments - physical strength, endurance and resilience are indispensable "equipment". Therefore, each hour of training, each match is not just simply physical training but also a serious and persistent preparation process for the tasks ahead.
The tournament is closed, but its aftertaste still spreads, which is the vibrant emulation spirit, the spirit of solidarity, the new belief and motivation. From today's sports field, each officer and soldier will continue to bring that spirit into work, into tasks, turning the will to practice into specific actions, contributing to building the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department to be comprehensively strong, "model and typical".
In the journey ahead, when the requirements of tasks are increasingly high and the operating environment is increasingly diverse, the foundations built from the sports movement will be a solid foundation for the Vietnamese peacekeeping force to continue to affirm the bravery, intelligence and image of Vietnamese soldiers in the hearts of international friends.
