Gia Lai closed its first provincial Sports Festival on Sept. 15 after competitions from June 15 to Sept. 14. The event staged 265 contests in 21 sports, attracted nearly 3,000 athletes and awarded 980 medals. Pleiku led the ward and sector standings with 33 golds, 35 silvers and 33 bronzes; Tuy Phuoc topped communes with 14 golds, 14 silvers and 19 bronzes.

Deputy director Nguyễn Văn Ý said the festival spread sport and helped identify talent for 2026–30. The province also sent over 180 athletes in 16 sports to the 10th National Sports Festival that day.