According to the Holiday Beach Danang Hotel & Resort, the company-funded installation of a clock at the roundabout of Ngo Quyen and Pham Van Dong streets, which will count down to the 5^th Asian Beach Games (ABG 5), is on schedule.

The clock’s digits, which indicate the days, hours, minutes and seconds left to go, will be clearly visible during daytime hours, but also in the evenings because they are illuminated by LED (light-emitting diode) lights.

The installation of the clock in progress

Given its durability of between 3 and 5 years, the clock can be used again for a countdown to the 25^th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit which will take place in the city in October 2017.

Representatives from the General Department of Sports and Physical Training recently suggested that a ceremony to officially start the countdown should coincide with the Coordination Committee meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and an international press conference for ABG 5.  This will help to effectively publicise this biennial event to both domestic residents and international friends around the world.

ABG 5 is expected to attract nearly 4,600 athletes from 45 countries and territories in Asia who will compete in 14 beach sports in a total of 22 different categories.  Of these, 12 sports and a total of 20 categories have so far been identified, whilst the remainder will be announced soon following discussions between the OCA and Viet Nam about selecting sports which match the country’s current situation.

The OCA decided to organise ABG 5 from 23 September to 4 October 2016 in order that the event would not coincide with the 2016 Summer Olympics, which will take place from 5 to 21 August in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the holy Muslim month of Ramadan from 6 June to 5 July 2016.

The contestants at ABG 5 will be doing their utmost to win berths at the first World Beach Games which will be held in 2017.  So far, Cannes in France and Barcelona in Spain have registered to host this major international event.