Tạ Quang Chiến

During his long life in Vietnam Tạ Quang Chiến spent 12 years working as one of the eight special bodyguards serving Ho Chi Minh. Tạ joined the Communist Party in 1945 where he worked in multiple departments including the Youth Volunteer Union, Central Security, and the Ministry of Public Security. In the late 1960s he oversaw the Communist Youth Union, working directly with volunteers against the United States. From 1981 to 1987 Tạ was a representative of the Seventh National Assembly. He was awarded with multiple honours including the Independence Medal first class and the Anti-American Resistance Medal first class.

In 1969 Tạ was appointed as a member of the Central Sports Committee. He helped to develop the sports industry in the country, becoming the general director of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training in 1981. He was also the President of the Vietnam Olympic Committee from 1982 to 1993. Tạ died in June 2022 at the age of 98.