The German Olympic Committee and German Athletics Federation told the Vietnam Athletics Federation (VAF) that Germany decided to end its plan to support Vietnamese athletes one year ago, due to a shortage of finances.

In November 2009, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the German Embassy in Vietnam signed a four-year cooperation agreement on developing athletics in Vietnam through next year. This plan included training athletic coaches, seeking young talent and organizing annual plans for athletes.

Under the agreement, Germany sent decathlete Uwe Freimuth to work as a sports scientist, coach and lecturer in Vietnam.

Over the past two years, Freimuth, alongside the VAF and the National Sports Administration, has worked on developing athletics across Vietnam.

Under the co-operation agreement, Vietnam athletics was equipped with modern machines such as massage beds and cardiographs, while also receiving US$30,000 from the German government every year.

Hoang Manh Cuong, general secretary of the VAF, said Freimuth finished his two-year tenure and returned home before the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. Cuong said that although Germany has temporarily stopped its long-term plans as of the beginning of this year, Germany pledges to continue to support Vietnam's athletics through smaller scale projects.

VNA