The Journey to Lotus Village 2024 marathon is expected to attract 3,000 runners. — Photo courtesy of the organisers

NGHỆ AN The Journey to Lotus Village 2024 marathon will be held on June 9th in the central province of Nghệ An.

Co-organised by the Nghệ An Department of Culture and Sports, VietNamNet newspaper, and Win Vietnam, the event is expected to feature around 3,000 runners, including renowned athletes such as five-time national marathon champion Hoàng Nguyên Thanh, Trịnh Quốc Lượng, Đỗ Quốc Luật, Phạm Thị Hồng Lệ, and singer Đức Tuấn.

"I am thrilled and delighted to participate in the 'Journey to Lotus Village 2024' race," Thanh said.

"As a Vietnamese, I deeply appreciate the opportunity to run in Uncle Hồ's homeland and I look forward to exploring this unique route in Nghệ An.

"The race not only takes me back to the central region, where Uncle Hồ was born but also allows me to experience the renowned Cửa Lò Beach in the province, which adds an interesting element."

During the recent National Tiền Phong Marathon, Thanh secured first place with an impressive time of 2:26.5, an outstanding achievement considering the hot weather conditions in Phú Yên Province.

Before that, Thanh broke both his personal record and the national record that had stood for over 20 years at the Asian Marathon Championship, completing the marathon category with a time of 2:18.43. The previous national record of 2:21.51 was set by Nguyễn Chí Đông during the 2003 SEA Games.

Thanh's performance ranked him 10th overall and fourth in Asia. Even without winning a medal, Thanh's breaking of the national marathon record was nothing short of remarkable. With Thanh's participation in the marathon category, the upcoming competition promises to be highly anticipated.

Five-time national marathon champion Hoàng Nguyên Thanh. — Photo vietnamnet.vn

Trần Thị Mỹ Hạnh, Director of the Nghệ An Department of Culture and Sports, said the marathon is one of ten activities planned within the Lotus Village Festival 2024 framework. This event holds great significance both politically and culturally, as it expresses gratitude and respect for the late President Hồ Chí Minh, a national liberation hero and esteemed cultural figure.

Nguyễn Văn Bá, Editor-in-Chief of VietNamNet newspaper and co-organiser of the marathon, emphasised that the running race plays a crucial role in promoting the image of Uncle Hồ's homeland to people across the country, as well as showcasing the tourism products and cultural values to domestic and international tourists.

In conjunction with the marathon, the organising committee has also called upon athletes and sponsors to participate in volunteer activities aimed at building a bridge in Châu Khê Commune, Con Cuông District. This volunteer effort aims to support the mountainous communities in Nghệ An Province, which continues to face numerous challenges.

Regarding the competition distances in the "Journey to Lotus Village 2024" marathon, the 42km distance will have a starting point in Nam Đàn District, rather than starting and ending in Cửa Lò Town like the 5km, 10km, and 21km distances. Ensuring the safety of the athletes on the track is of utmost concern because this longest and most challenging distance traverses several national highways.

According to the organising committee, after surveying the running route, it was determined that athletes participating in the 42km distance would only run a short segment on National Highway 46. Consequently, the organising committee will collaborate with the police force to implement traffic separation measures, ensuring the safety of the athletes. VNS