ĐÀ NẴNG — Over 4,000 marathoners and their family members are eligible to run in the annual Đà Nẵng International Marathon 2016, to be held on August 6th.

Deputy Director of Đà Nẵng city’s Culture and Sports Department, Nguyễn Phúc Linh, said at a press conference that other events are also planned for participants and their families in the coastal central city.

He noted that a 5km Charity Run and Fun Family Day are open for all people and tourists to promote one of three of the largest annual sports events, after the Ironman Race and Colour Me Run in Đà Nẵng.

“We offer Fun Family Day free of charge for tourists, athletes and family members so they can join healthy sporting events on the pristine beach of Đà Nẵng,” Linh said.

“A 5km Charity Run will be held to collect donations from participants in support of Agent Orange (AO) children and underprivileged people in the city,” he said.

He added that participants can pay a fee of VNĐ50,000 or 200,000 (about US$2-9) to join the Charity Run, and all money will be donated for Agent Orange child victims and the poor.

Activities include a 10km race for athletes who had raced in the 5km run in past years.

Linh said the race this year will start at 4.30am on August 6^, and all runners will be able to enjoy the sea along the coast.

According to the organising committee, US veteran Dennis Zaborac has registered to compete in the race, and donated $4,500 for the Đà Nẵng Association of Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims, Village of Hope, and to a table tennis club for disabled persons.

The Fun Family Day will be a prelude to the race, along with entertainment, at East Sea Park on Phạm Văn Đồng Street from August 5-6

The organising committee has made available offline registration at Việt Nam TravelMart, 68 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai Street and Đà Nẵng Souvenirs and Cafe at 24 Bạch Đằng Street, along with online registration for professional and amateur runners at www.rundanang.com.

The race, which has been organised by the city’s culture, sport and tourism department, the World Marathon Company and Pulse Active, will feature professional and amateur runners in a one-day race, with a full marathon (42km), half marathon (21km), 10km run and a fun run (5km).

The Marathon is the first professional Marathon in Vietnam certified by IAAF - AIMS (International Association of Athletics Federations and Association of International Marathons and Distance Races), and participants in the Đà Nẵng International Marathon will qualify for the Boston Marathon. — VNS