The Manulife Da Nang International Marathon 2022, the city’s largest outdoor sporting event after over-two-year stagnation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Sunday, came to an end with great success, closing two emotional days of competition. The event recorded positive feedback, left a deep impression on athletes, locals and visitors, and especially, signaled that life was back to normal in this hub of tourism.

Athlete Bui Van Da from the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre is the champion of the 42km race. Photo: TRUONG KY

Emotions on the running tracks

At 3.00 a.m. on Sunday, when it was not yet morning, athletes were present at the East Sea Park to prepare for two official running events at DNIM 2022, a 21km long half marathon and 42km marathon races. Running along beautiful and peaceful roads bring the joy and eagerness to many athletes participating in the tournament.

Athlete Bui Van Da from the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, the champion of the 42km event, was excited to set foot on one of the most beautiful running routes in Asia. He shared, this was the second time he had returned to Da Nang to join this competition and the first time to finish first in the 42km race in this coastal city.

In preparation for his competition at this large-scale sporting event, Da worked hard for the past 3 years under the guidance of a professional coach. With a remarkable achievement of 2 hours 57 minutes 09 seconds, far surpassing the achievement of 3 hours 11 minutes 00 seconds of the runner-up, Da pledged to make better performances in the next races.

As the first person to cross the finish line in the 21km half-marathon race with an impressive achievement (1 hour 22 minutes 22 seconds), German athlete Deichmann Florian excitedly shared: “I have run in Da Nang for many times and always prepared well for the race. In my opinion, DNIM is a great track. The scenery here is so beautiful, everything is so great. The 21km run is not the easiest, especially when running over bridges, but it is certainly an interesting race. I would continue to join next races in Da Nang.”

In the same mood, Mr. Tran Hong Quang, the host athlete, tried his best to complete the 21km race. He said: “As a Da Nang native, I am very proud when DNIM is celebrated in my hometown. I would like to thank the organisers for bringing the contest back after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 impact”.

DNIM eyes to become the largest international marathon in the region

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports Nguyen Trong Thao, DNIM 2022 attracted 5,000 athletes, including more than 400 international ones living in Viet Nam.

Under the guidance and support of the Da Nang leaders, with the responsible coordination amongst departments and agencies, the great efforts by the organisers and sponsors, DNIM took place successfully.

Athletes did their utmost to complete the races and did not surrendering themselves to any  challenges. In fact, athletes and their families, relatives and friends enjoyed fun and memorable moments in the beautiful and hospitable city of Da Nang over the past few days. Also, runners had the chance to admire the beautiful scenery during their races along the roads and bridges covered with flowers, flags and the enthusiastic cheers of spectators in a bustling and exciting ambiance.

According to Mr. Thao, DNIM is a healthy sports competition, contributing to promoting the running movement, bringing many good values and having a positive impact on society. Besides, the contest helps to promote the image of the country and people of Da Nang and Viet Nam at large.

“From this competition, it can be seen that Da Nang is not only the city of evengts but also an attractive destination for the running-loving community, ready to welcome domestic and international tourists back. We look forward to continuously accompanying and creating the best conditions for DNIM to become the signature brand of the city, aiming to be the largest international marathon competition in Southeast Asia", said Mr. Thao.

Sang Lee, CEO of Manulife Viet Nam, the main sponsor of the marathon, said that large-scale sporting events play an important role in the post-COVID recovery of the tourism industry
Lee added he looks forward to the return of the event in 2023.

With positive feedback from athletes and the expectations of the organisers, in the context of Da Nang fully reopening to tourists, DNIM acts as ‘a springboard’ for upcoming international sporting events in the city. In the immediate future is the return of the IRONMAN 70.3 in May 2022.

Reporting by TRUONG KY – Translating by A.THU