(VOVworld) – A ceremony was held in Hanoi on Saturday to encourage and motivate the Vietnamese athletes who will be competing at the 17^th Asian Games (ASIAD 17) in the Republic of Korea between September 19 and October 4.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said ASIAD 17 is a unity day of 45 countries and territories and one of the key tasks of Vietnam’s sports sector this year. He said that the Vietnamese people hope that the athletes will unite and bring glory to the nation.