More than 8,000 athletes from 49 countries and territories around the world are expected to partake in the HCM City Marathon 2018 which is scheduled to be held on January 14, 2018, the organizing committee said at a recent news conference.

The event, which has been organized annually since 2013, is meant to raise awareness of a healthy lifestyle among young people and lay the groundwork for an international-level sporting festival for Vietnamese people and the expat community.

This year’s event will feature 42km, 21km, 10 km and 5 km runs for amateur and professional participants from Vietnam, Taiwan (China), China, Japan and the US among others.

Prior to the run, there will be a warm-up day on January 13 with an aim to give young people a chance to meet up, interact with and participate in activities that can help them ease up and get ready for the run.

Singaporean marathoner Soh Rui Yong and Filipino marathon runner Mary Joy Tabal, who won the championship of the 29th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in the male and female categories respectively, will be in Vietnam to attend the marathon tournament.

Saigon Times