VietNamNet Bridge – About 4,200 foreign and domestic athletes, both professional and amateur, are expected to participate in the 2014 International Marathon due to take place in the central coastal city of Danang from August 28-31.

The event in 2013 – Photo: TTXVN

The information was released by the city People’s Committee at a press conference on July 15.

The event, the first of its kind in Danang, will involve three races including a full marathon (42.195 km run), half marathon (21.0975 km run), and a 5 km fun run for cancer patients.

The course will be certified by the IAAF-AIMS (International Association of Athletics-Association of International Marathon and Distance Races) to international standards, making its timing records official.

A wide range of activities will run alongside the competition, including a local tourism promotion, cultural exchanges, and art performances.

Nguyen Phuc Linh, Deputy Director of the Danang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that the competition aims to promote tourism in the city and the surrounding areas, helping Danang become the leading city of cultural and travel events in Southeast Asia.

It is also a golden opportunity to call on athletes to support the Danang Cancer Hospital’s fundraising campaign, he added.

The municipal People’s Committee has also authorised the marathon competition to take place in every last Sunday of August in the 2014-2018 period.

The event is co-organised by the Danang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, World Marathon Inc, and Pulse Active Ltd.

VOV/VNN