Vietnam and the central city of Da Nang in particular are sparing no efforts to make the fifth Asian Beach Games (ABG) successful and free from cigarette, said Vuong Bich Thang, Director of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training at a press conference in Hanoi on August 31. 



The fifth Asian Beach Games will take place from September 24 to October 3 in Da Nang city.



Accordingly, all athletes, coaches, referees, officials and volunteers are not allowed to smoke in public areas as well as while on duty, said Thang, who is also deputy head of the Games organising board. 

Organisations and individuals are asked to not advertise and market cigarette in any form and use the images of cigarette on publications of the Games, he added. 

According to the organising board, the Games will take place in Da Nang from September 24 to October 3. Around 2,500 athletes from 42 countries and territories will compete for 172 sets of medals in 14 sports with 22 events. 

The opening ceremony, the closing ceremony and competitions of four sports – beach football, beach volleyball, beach handball and beach sepak takraw – will be televised. 

The ABG is one of big sports events in Asia established by the Olympic Council of Asia. The biennial event was first held in 2008 in Bali, Indonesia.

VNA