The 15th Yen Bai commune football tournament 2023

29th August 2023

Nathan Phung (ATP/IMC), Pham Xuan Quyen (ATP/IMC)

(Hanoi) – From the 13th to 21st of July 2023, the Asian Turtle Program (ATP) of Indo-Myanmar Conservation (IMC) and The People’s Committees of Yen Bai commune cooperated to host the 15th Yen Bai Football Tournament. This is an annual community activity hosted by ATP/IMC to raise the community awareness about the conservation of Swinhoe’s softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) – the world largest species of freshwater turtle. Evidence has shown that there are specimens of the species currently residing in Dong Mo and Xuan Khanh Lake, which is within the neighborhood of Yen Bai commune.

This year, there were 07 teams, divided in 02 groups. After 12 dramatic matches, the team from Quyt Village was named champion of the 2023 tournament. Mr. Nguyen Van Lap – Chairman of Yen Bai People’s Committee, shared that this year’s tournament was a huge success with no injured athletes from the teams as well as receiving the utmost support from all local villagers during the event with more than 400 people participating in each match and over 1000 spectators in The Finale.

We hope that these activities will not only give the locals a great time together in the summer but also remind them how important it is to protect the Swinhoe’s softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) specimens residing in the area, especially with the young generation.

We would like to express our gratitude to The People’s Committees of Yen Bai Commune for supporting us throughout the event. Thank you Cleveland Metropark Zoo, CEPF, TSA and Hanoi Fisheries Sub-Department for the generous contribution to the project. 

For further information please contact:

Asian Turtle Program (ATP) of Indo-Myanmar Conservation (IMC).

R.1806, CT1, Bac Ha C14 Building, To Huu Road, Hanoi, Vietnam

Tel: +84 (4) 7302 8389

Email:  info@asianturtleprogram.org

Download English article

Download Vietnamese article