The 2026 Dedication Sports Awards: The Aspiration of Youth to Rise

On April 15th evening, at the Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Labor Cultural Palace (Hanoi), the 2026 Dedication Awards Ceremony took place in a solemn and emotional atmosphere, marking the glorious 20th season milestone of the prestigious award initiated and organized by the Sports & Culture Newspaper (TTXVN).

With the theme For a Radiant Vietnam, the ceremony was not only a night honoring outstanding figures in the fields of music and sports, but also a symphony of youthful spirit and conquering aspirations in an era of rising.

A Stage of Emotion and Connection

Before the main event, the Dedication Boulevard area with its vibrant red carpet welcomed guests, artists, coaches, and athletes. Not limited to the hall, the Organizing Committee skillfully set up an outdoor fan zone with a giant LED screen. The lively atmosphere from passionate fans was directly connected to the main stage, creating a fresh and intimate community experience.

At 8:00 PM, the program's effect screen lit up, followed by the opening artistic performance Phù Đổng Thiên Vương through the powerful voice of singer Đức Phúc and the dance troupe. The heroic melodies resonated as an affirmation of the strength and will of Vietnamese sports. As shared earlier by General Director Thu Hoài, hoping that "artistic values are connected, spread, and importantly, inspire." And that inspiration truly touched the hearts of the audience present at the Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Labor Cultural Palace hall as well as the many viewers following the live broadcast on HTV2.

Journalist Nguyễn Thiện Thuật - Editor-in-Chief of the Sports & Culture Newspaper, Head of the Award Organizing Committee emphasized - Beyond the framework of a typical honoring night, Dedication over two decades has truly established a standard "reference system," faithfully reflecting the appearance, trends, and strong transformation of contemporary cultural and sports life.

Coach Kim Sang Sik's Children and the Ambition to Reach New Heights

The focal point of the awards night, unsurprisingly, was the dominance of youth football. In a year when Vietnamese sports transformed strongly, the achievement of the U22 team at SEA Games 33 was honored as Sports Achievement of the Year. It was not just an ordinary gold medal; it was the result of a spectacular comeback against the major rival Thailand in the men's football final, a symbol of the never-give-up spirit, a softness in play style yet incredibly "masculine" in courage.

Speaking of football, one cannot overlook the name Nguyễn Đình Bắc, the winner of the award Young Sports Face of the Year. This young man born in 2004 is the most vivid proof of the rise of the Gen Z generation in football. With an impressive collection of titles in 2025: from the SEA Games 33 gold medal, U23 Southeast Asia championship, ASEAN Cup championship, to the Vietnam Silver Ball award, Đình Bắc is on the path to becoming a new icon. The rise of youth teams and Đình Bắc individually also shows a perfect succession, an era where Vietnamese football no longer plays with fear, but plays with the confidence of those mastering the game.

Đình Bắc is not merely a momentary breakout phenomenon. He is a product of a gradually perfected training system, where young players are given opportunities, challenges, and trust. That is the noteworthy point.

If football brings mass appeal, Olympic sports bring depth. Trịnh Thu Vinh, a prominent representative of shooting, is an example. The gold medals, bronze medals, and records at SEA Games or Asian arenas are not just personal achievements, but also affirmations: Vietnamese sports is not lacking athletes capable of competing at high levels.

Overcoming competition from equally outstanding faces like athletics legend Nguyễn Thị Oanh or young talent Nguyễn Đình Bắc, this 25-year-old female shooter was announced as the winner in the category Sports Face of the Year is a deserved acknowledgment of perseverance. With 1 Asian bronze medal, 1 Asian Cup gold medal, and especially 4 gold medals along with 3 records at SEA Games 33, Thu Vinh turned lifeless bullets into historical milestones.

A special highlight of this season's awards lies in the category Dedication Aspiration, when the award belonged to T&T Group Joint Stock Company. From training golden generations of players for Hanoi Football Club (6-time national champion) and national teams, to the systematic investment process for People's Public Security - T&T Table Tennis and other top-level and grassroots sports activities, this is a deserved recognition for the unit regarded as the "leading flag" in sports socialization work.

The appearance of the Group's representative on stage receiving the award served as a statement: The strength of sports comes not only from athletes' efforts, but also from solid foundations and daring aspirations from the private sector.

Aspiration to Reach New Heights for an Era of Rising

The awards ceremony concluded with distinctive artistic performances such as Always Vietnamese or the proud choir performance, where athletes stood together on stage with artists to merge into one flow: Honoring Vietnamese people of courage, talent, and rich aspiration.

20 years of Dedication are 20 years of such stories. And if one thing must be drawn from that evening, it might be this: Vietnamese sports is not lacking talent. The important thing is to create a sufficiently good ecosystem so that those talents not only shine, but also maintain their light.

The award has done its part - recognizing and honoring. The rest belongs to those stepping onto the arena of glory.

And they, are ready!