Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole, are making great efforts to make the 5^th Asian Beach Games (ABG) successful and free from cigarettes.  This statement was made by the Director of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, Mr Vuong Bich Thang,  at a press conference in Ha Noi on Wednesday.

The 5th Asian Beach Games will take place from 24 September to 3 October in Da Nang. (Source: youtube.com)

During 10-day event, all athletes, coaches, referees, officials and volunteers are not allowed to smoke in public areas as well as while being on duty, said Director Thang, who is also Deputy Head of the Games organising board.

Organisations and individuals are asked to not advertise and market cigarettes in any forms and use the image of cigarettes on publications of the Games, he added.

According to the organising board, the Games will take place in Da Nang from 24 September to 3 October. Around 2,500 athletes from 42 countries and territories will compete for 172 sets of medals in 14 sports categories with 22 events.

The opening and closing ceremonies, and competitions of 4 beach sports – football, volleyball, handball and sepak takraw – will be televised.

The ABG is one of Asia's big sports events which have been established by the Olympic Council of Asia. The biennial event was first held in 2008 in Indonesia's Bali, .

(Source: VNA/Da Nang Today)