Vietnamese athletes respond to controversy over foreign brand advertisement

SAIGON — In a rare occurrence on Saigon's athletics track, several leading Vietnamese athletes spoke out against a foreign shoe brand using their images in advertising campaigns without official consent. The incident erupted over the weekend, immediately after the 'Southeast Asian Open Championship' invitational concluded at Army Stadium. Athletes reported that their images in competition gear were photographed and used on billboards across the city without any prior negotiation. "This is a matter of personal freedom and professional dignity for athletes," said Tran Van Thanh, head coach of the national athletics team. "An athlete is not just someone running on a track. They are human beings with the right to control their own image." Among those who spoke out was Vo Thi Huong, who had just won gold in the 200m with a time of 24.3 seconds. She said she had received numerous calls from friends and relatives asking about her 'endorsing' a brand she had never heard of. "I know nothing about this product and I don't want my image used to sell something I don't believe in," Huong said in a brief interview after this morning's training session. Huong's performance at last weekend's meet was notable as she finished fourth in a heat where the winning time was only 24.1 seconds — a top-tier regional result. This demonstrates her real competitive ability in the context of increasingly fierce Southeast Asian athletics. The invitational was praised as a step forward in regional sports exchange, featuring athletes from Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. However, the image rights controversy has cast a shadow over the sporting atmosphere. Representatives of the shoe brand have not yet made official comments. According to unofficial sources, the company claims photographing at public events is 'legal' and requires no permission. Le Minh Tuan, president of the Athletics Federation, said the organization is considering possible legal action. "We will protect athletes' interests. They have dedicated their lives to training and deserve respect," Tuan emphasized. This incident raises important questions about the boundary between sports marketing and athletes' personal rights — an increasingly complex issue in an era when professional sports are gradually taking shape in the region. Meanwhile, Huong said she would focus on the upcoming season. "I just want to run fast. The rest, let the law handle it," she concluded briefly before returning to the track.