Operating conditions for sports businesses according to Vietnamese law

1. What are the operating conditions for sports businesses in 2024?
Pursuant to Article 55 of the Law on Physical Training and Sports 2006 (amended and supplemented by Clause 24, Article 1 of Law No. 26/2018/QH14), operating conditions of sports business enterprises include:

(i) Have a team of officials and professional staff appropriate to the content of activities.

(ii) Have facilities and equipment that meet the requirements of sports activities.

2. What are the procedures for granting business eligibility certificates to sports enterprises?
Pursuant to Article 55 of the Law on Physical Training and Sports 2006 (amended and supplemented by Clause 24, Article 1 of Law No. 26/2018/QH14), procedures for granting business eligibility certificates to sports business enterprises include:

(i) Application for a certificate of eligibility for sports activities business.

(ii) Summary of preparation of business conditions as prescribed in Section 1 above.

Within seven working days from the date of receipt of complete and valid documents, the specialized agency in charge of physical education and sports under the Provincial People’s Committee must inspect the business conditions for sports activities of the enterprise according to the provisions of Section 1 above and issue a certificate of eligibility for business in sports activities; In case of refusal, it must be notified in writing and clearly state the reason.

3. What behaviors are strictly prohibited in physical training and sports activities?
Pursuant to Article 10 of the Law on Physical Training and Sports 2006 (amended and supplemented by Points a and b, Clause 2, Article 1 of Law No. 26/2018/QH14), prohibited acts in physical training and sports activities are as follows:

(i) Taking advantage of physical training and sports activities to violate national and ethnic interests, legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals; causing damage to people’s health, life, honor, dignity, and reputation. Physical exercise and sports activities are contrary to social ethics, fine customs and national cultural identity.

(ii) Using stimulants and prohibited methods in sports training and competition.

(iii) Cheating in sports activities.

(iv) Violence in sports activities.

(v) Obstructing legal physical exercise and sports activities of organizations and individuals.

(vi) Taking advantage of position and authority to falsify sports competition results.

(vii) Organizing illegal sports betting; Illegal sports betting.

Article 58. Suspension of operations, merger, division, separation, consolidation, dissolution of sports service units – Law on Physical Education and Sports 2006

1. Sports service units are suspended from operation in the following cases:

a) Serious violations of regulations on organization and performance of tasks;

b) Failure to ensure regulations on facilities, equipment and professional staff;

c) Violating regulations on financial management.

2. Sports service units are dissolved in the following cases:

a) Failure to remedy the situation as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article within six months from the date of suspension;

b) At the request of an organization or individual applying to establish a sports service unit.

3. The person who decides to establish or authorize the establishment has the authority to suspend operations, divide, split, merge, merge, and dissolve the sports service unit.

Article 59. Duties and powers of athletes’ training and coaching centers – Law on Physical Education and Sports 2006

1. Organize training and sports competitions.

2. Care, nurture, and organize cultural learning and moral education for athletes.

3. Recruitment, management, and use of personnel.

4. Management, exploitation and use of facilities and equipment.

5. Ensure safety for athletes.

6. Receive and use funding and support from organizations and individuals.