Ha Long Bay Int’l Marathon attracts foreign athletes
(VOV) - Nearly 300 professional and amateur athletes, including 200 foreigners participated in the International Marathon 2013 in Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province, on October 27.
Many of the athletes came from marathon powers such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, the UK and China.
They ran for men’s and women’s singles in distances ranging from 5km to 42km.
Nearly 1,000 athletes in Quang Ninh province also competed in a 2km race.
The same day, the first Vietnam-Japan Cultural Exchange 2013 was also held with the participation of art troupes from Japan and Quang Ninh.
Ha Quang Long, Director of the provincial department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the international marathon and the Vietnam-Japan cultural exchange were organized to mark the 50th anniversary of Quang Ninh province, 20th anniversary of Ha Long city and 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Japan.
They aimed to introduce international friends to Quang Ninh’s people and land, and help Vietnam’s marathon athletes to share experience in professional competitions with foreign marathoners.