An international press conference, held in Da Nang on Wednesday, for the 5th Asian Beach Games (ABG 5) heard Deputy Minister for Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Khanh Hai affirm that ABG 5 would be a sporting event highlighting the spirit of unity, honesty and nobility.

Deputy Minister Hai also highly applauded the great efforts made by the city in ensuring good preparations for ABG 5, which will take place from 24 September to 3 October 2016.

He remarked that ABG 5, which was initiated by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), is one of the biggest sporting events in Asia.  This biannual event aims to further the development of beach sports in combination with accelerating socio-economic and tourism growth in Asia, and to strengthen solidarity and friendship amongst the Asian countries.

ABG 5’s mascot

ABG 5 is expected to attract about 10,000 participants, including a total of nearly 5,000 athletes, coaches, and heads of state from 45 countries and territories in Asia, with representatives from the OCA, the national Olympic committees in the participating countries, and other international sports organisations.

The contestants will compete for 165 sets of medals in 14 beach sports in a total of 22 different categories which will take place at 4 different competition venues.

The East Sea Park will host football, bodybuilding, basketball 3x3, muay Thai, Vietnamese traditional martial arts, shuttlecock, wrestling, sambo, jujitsu, kurash, vovinam, pencak silat, marathon swimming, water polo, kabaddi and rowing.  Volleyball, handball and sepak takraw will be held at My Khe Beach, whilst woodball and petanque will be at the intersection of Pham Van Dong and Vo Nguyen Giap streets, with athletics at the Son Thuy bathing area.

Representatives from the national Organising Board for ABG 5 and OCA have reached a final conclusion about the official mascot, logo and slogan of the sporting event.

The mascot is a salangane, a typical bird of the central coast region.

The logo is designed to simulate waves and sand in the shape of young and dynamic athletes performing sport (volleyball, handball) with the symbol of the OCA inside.

As a symbol of the power and strength of sport, all parts of the logo rise up to form a large V shape to signify 'Viet Nam', 'Victory' and 'V' - the symbol for 5 in Greek linking with ABG5.  This affirms the role of the host country, highlights the competitive spirit, as well as demonstrates the athletes’ hopes of winning.

The slogan 'Shining Ocean, Signing Future' aims to introduce international friends to Viet Nam - a beautiful country with friendly people with a desire to uphold solidarity and actively integrate into a peaceful world with a brighter future.