A variety of exciting sports activities and tournaments will be organised citywide to celebrate the 49^th anniversary of the Liberation Day of Da Nang.

A traditional boat race will be held on the Han River on March 30 to celebrate the Liberation Day of Da Nang. IN PHOTO: Teams competing in the boat race on the Han River organised by Son Tra District’s Nai Hien Dong Ward in 2023. Photo: P.N

The Cam Le District People's Committee will host an open traditional boat race 2024 at 8:00 am on March 31 at the vacant land area opposite No. 3 Ton That Duong Ky Street in Hoa Xuan Ward.

The race will see the participation of 13 men's teams from wards of Hoa An, Hoa Tho Dong, Cam Chanh and Trung Luong in Cam Le District; Hoa Vang District; Lien Chieu District; Ngu Hanh Son District; Hai Chau District; Thanh Khe District; Son Tra District’s Nai Hung 2; and communes of Binh Giang, Dai Nghia and Bai Boi in Quang Nam Province.

According to the organisers, the participating teams will compete in two events: the peace tournament (4.2km) and the official tournament (7km). The preparation for the race has been already completed.

Not only Cam Le District, within the framework of the 2024 ‘Cau Ngu’ (Fish Worshipping) Festival in Son Tra District from March 28 - 31, a traditional boat race will take place on the Han River on March 30. The tournament will have the participation of 200 athletes of 11 teams from Quang Nam Province and Da Nang. This is the biggest activity of the festival, expected to attract thousands of people and tourists to watch and cheer.

Also within the framework of the Cau Ngu Festival, a wide range of folk games will be organised such as tug of war, fishing net knitting, a coracle race, stick pushing, and beach football.

According to Mr. Vu The He, Director of the Centre for Culture, Information and Sports in Son Tra District, sports activities within the framework of the Cau Ngu Festival are intended to celebrate the city's liberation day as well as pray for peace, good weather and prosperity throughout the year.

The integration of sports tournaments into traditional cultural festivals is regularly implemented by the district-level authorities.

Aside from spreading the sports movements in the public, sports competitions also make the festival atmosphere more exciting and attractive, thereby attracting a large number of people and tourists. This contributes to introducing and preserving spiritual and religious cultural values, promoting community cultural beauty in modern life, and becoming a unique cultural and sports meeting place for locals and travellers.

Similarly, in Ngu Hanh Son District, in addition to the traditional boat race on the Co Co River, tug-of-war and stick pushing competitions are being held as part of the ongoing Quan The Am (Avalokiteśvara) Festival.

Mr. Huynh Ba Duong, Deputy Director of the Centre for Culture, Information and Sports in Ngu Hanh Son District, said that the sports tournaments in celebration of the Liberation Day of Da Nang have become festivals for people in the district in particular and the city in general. They provide good opportunities for people to play sports together, creating a vibrant and attractive atmosphere in localities.

On the occasion, the city hosts many attractive sports activities, including chess, Taekwondo and Vovinam tournaments.

The municipal Department of Culture and Sports coordinates with the Viet Nam Tennis Federation and the Viet Nam Television Centre in Da Nang to organize the National Tennis Tournament 2024 from March 27 - 30.

Moreover, around 2,600 people are expected to take part in the municipal-level Olympic Run "For Peace” which will be held at the Ngu Hanh Park in Hoa Quy Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District on March 29.

In addition to creating a useful and healthy playground for athletes, the abovementioned sports tournaments also helps connect the community and create a vibrant competitive atmosphere, thereby, contributing to promoting the development of the fitness and sports movement in the city, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports Nguyen Trong Thao emphasised.

Reporting by PHI NONG - Translating by M.DUNG