Quảng Bình Runners Club test the route of the Grand Marathon Đồng Hới which will be held on July 8-9 in Quảng Bình Province. Photos courtesy of the organisers

HÀ NỘI — The first Grand Marathon Đồng Hới 2023 will be held on July 9 featuring around 1,500 athletes in the central province of Quảng Bình.

Quảng Bình has great potential for tourism as the province is naturally beautiful, has many national sites and landmarks and enjoys world heritage status.

According to the organisers, the race is to bring Quảng Bình to the wider communities, introducing the local famous destinations to domestic and international friends.

The event is also expected to encourage sporting activities in the province.

The tournament will be held over two days. On the first day on July 8, athletes will check in, receive their bib and take part in many sideline activities such as a talk show and meet between famous athletes and supporters.

In Đồng Hới, athletes will run in four categories: full marathon, half marathon, 10km and 5km.

Among runners are SEA Games 3,000m steeplechase winner Nguyễn Trung Cường, SEA Games walk race champion Nguyễn Thị Thanh Phúc, SEA Games walk race bronze medallist Nguyễn Thành Ngứng and former SEA Games champion Đinh Thị Bích.

The routes are designed to help runners discover historic places such as 400-year-old Quảng Bình Gates; Đồng Hới Citadel which was built in the Gia Long Dynasty in 1812; Mother Suốt Monument, a symbol of the heroic Vietnamese woman; and the historic Nhật Lệ Bridge among others.

Runners will also see the white sand and clear blue water of Nhật Lệ Beach while admiring the beautiful sun set on their way to the finish.

Around 1,500 athletes wiil travel to Quảng Bình's Đồng Hới City for the Grand Marathon 2023.

Bảo Ninh Beach Square will be the main place for most activities including the presentation ceremony. The area will impress participants with unique design imbued with Japanese culture and characteristics. The running tracks, starting and finishing gates are designed with two rows of cherry blossom trees, symbol of Japan.

The tournament which offers up to VNĐ280 million (US$11,900) bonus to athletes in gift and cash is one of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of relationship between Việt Nam and Japan.

The Grand Marathon Đồng Hới is jointly organised by Việt Jungle and Niinuma Việt Nam under the support of the Quảng Bình Province's Culture and Sports Department. It is expected to be an annual event.

Việt Jungle successfully organised Mucangchai Ultra Trail 2022, one of international trail tournaments in which athletes' results could be used to gain points for world ranking.

Niinuma Việt Nam is a company with 100 per cent investment capital from Japan, operating in the field of solar energy and agriculture. VNS