HCM CITY – HCM City has hired 13 foreign experts to train its athletes.

The experts will coach swimming, volleyball, table tennis, shooting, basketball, aerobics, gymnastics and track and field.

According to Mai Ba Hung, deputy director of the municipal Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the city has signed one-year contracts with the experts and their average salary is US$1,500 per month.

HCM City is also planning to send young outstanding athletes abroad to hone their skills, Hung added.

The city said it would not hire a foreigner to train the badminton team because domestic coaches are prepared for the job.

"Formerly, we hired Indonesian expert Suharno Asep with a monthly salary of $5,000. He completed his job of communicating training knowledge to local coaches such as Nguyen Anh Hoang and Nguyen The Huy. At present, they are

capable of training young players," said Hung.

However, the city would consider hiring world-class badminton players to practice with the country's top player Nguyen Tien Minh to help him achieve a high level of fitness before the London Olympics this summer. -- VNS