Around 900 runners from 85 government agencies and departments, senior high schools, junior colleges and universities across Da Nang, and the city-based armed forces, competed in the 27^th DA NANG Newspaper Road Races which took place at the Tien Son Sport Arena on Sunday morning.

Head of the Da Nang Department of Publicity and Training Nguyen Dinh Vinh presenting souvenir flags to participating delegations.

Also, the event saw the participation of 12 delegations of professional runners from the provinces of Tay Ninh, Quang Tri, Gia Lai, Quang Binh, Phu Yen, Nam Dinh, Quang Ngai, Ninh Binh, Kon Tum and Dak, Lak, along with the Da Nang Gymnastics and Sports Athletes Training Center, and the city's National Sports Training Center.

In attendance at the opening ceremony of the tournament were Head of the Da Nang Department of Publicity and Training Nguyen Dinh Vinh, Head of the Party Committee's Publicity and Training Department Doan Ngoc Hung Anh, and Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong.

Head of the Party Committee's Publicity and Training Department Doan Ngoc Hung Anh presenting souvenir flags to participating delegations.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, DA NANG Newspaper Editor-in-chief Nguyen Duc Nam, thanked Da Nang leaders for their great support for the newspaper’s annual race. He affirmed this was a source of spiritual encouragement for his unit to ensure the success of the tournament, thereby leaving a deep impression in the community, and contributing to spreading the running movement in the city.

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Tran Chi Cuong giving spiritual encouragement to the participating delegations.

He remarked that the DA NANG Newspaper Road Race was one of the long-standing traditional sports events in the city. Maintaining and constantly improving the quality of the tournament for nearly 30 years meet the passion, love and and growing demand of sports lovers.

The race has affirmed its brand and created great attraction as witnessing the increasing number of registered runners every year.

Both professional and amateur athletes participate in the event with a spirit of determination, high professional quality, and the competition is fierce, attractive, and full of interesting surprises.

Da Nang Newspaper Editor-in-chief cum Head of the races’ organising board Nguyen Duc Nam speaking at the opening ceremony

Editor-in-chief Nam highlighted the significance of the event in promoting sporting spirit among people from all walks of life, civil servants, school pupils and university students, military officers and men across Da Nang, as well as providing opportunities for many talented athletes of high-performance sports in the city and localities to interact and develop professionally. This is an important foundation for the city to continue affirming the strength of athletics at national and international competitions.

Participating runners competed in individual, team and group events in distances of 1.5km, 2km, 3km, 4km, 5km and 7km, and in 8 categories, including junior high schools; senior high schools; agencies, factories, schools and amateur athletes; districts; militia force in ward and commune level; and the main army force and professional athletes.

Mr Nguyen Duc Nam (first, left) presenting flowers to sponsors

This year's event receive active support from sponsors, namely the Nhan Dan (People) Newspaper Printing House, the Da Nang Port JSC, the Da Nang Management Board of Priority Infrastructure Investment Projects, the DACINCO Construction Investment Company Limited, the Truong Ban Construction Company Limited, the Phuoc Thinh Phat Company Limited, the Tai Thien Phu Company Limited, the Hoa Lien Hung Company Limited, the Thien Loc Entertainment Company Limited based in Ha Noi, the Da Nang International General Hospital JSC, the GFDI Investment Consulting Company Limited, the Thai Anh Da Nang Construction and Development Company Limited, the Triet Minh Company Limited, the Pepsico Vietnam company.

City leaders and members of the organising board running in response to the sports event

The opening ceremony and the competitions of the tournament were broadcast live on the Da Nang Radio and Television.

Reporting by PHI NONG, NGOC QUOC - Translating by M.DUNG, V.DUNG