600 athletes cycled together and signed a 54m2 flag with a message of peace.

On the morning of June 29th, at the monument on the northern bank of the Hien Luong - Ben Hai National Special Historical Site, the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, in coordination with the co-organizing unit, launched the Cycling for Peace Day, marking the beginning of a series of events for the first-ever National and International Peace Festival held in Quang Tri.

Athletes participating in the Cycling for Peace Day (Photo: Thanh Loc).

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Hoang Nam, Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, said that each person present at the Cycling for Peace event would be an ambassador, spreading the aspiration for peace of the Vietnamese people in general and the people of Quang Tri in particular; building a message towards a peaceful, stable and prosperous world .

"Vietnam is a peace-loving country, and its thousands of years of history in building and defending the nation have proven that. More than anyone else, the Vietnamese people understand the value of peace. We hope that this festival will honor the value of peace, commemorate and express gratitude to the heroes who sacrificed for independence," Mr. Nam said.

Delegates and athletes offer incense and pay respects at the Truong Son National Martyrs' Cemetery (Photo: Thanh Loc).

The Cycling for Peace event attracted 600 athletes from various provinces and cities across Vietnam and from neighboring Laos.

After the flag-raising ceremony at the Hien Luong border flagpole, the parade started from the Hien Luong - Ben Hai National Special Monument, proceeded to the Truong Son National Martyrs Cemetery, and then ended at Fidel Park in Dong Ha city, covering a distance of nearly 42km.

The organizing committee presents gifts to families entitled to preferential policies (Photo: Thanh Loc).

At Truong Son National Martyrs' Cemetery, the delegation offered incense to pay tribute to the heroic martyrs and presented gifts to families who contributed to the revolution and to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Finally, at Fidel Park, delegates and athletes together signed the festival's symbolic flag with the message "Together we build a peaceful world."

The flag, measuring 54 square meters (representing the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam), features main motifs of doves holding rice stalks, symbolizing aspirations for peace, prosperity, and happiness, along with a multicolored silk ribbon.

In this design, red and yellow symbolize the national flag; red is also the color of the blood of the heroes and martyrs who sacrificed themselves for today's peace; blue is the color of peace, the color of rebirth and development…

This flag will be sent to the UNESCO National Committee as a message from those who cherish peace.

Delegates and athletes together signed the festival's symbolic flag with the message "Together we build a peaceful world" (Photo: Thanh Loc).

The Cycling for Peace event will take place over two days, June 29-30. On June 30, the organizers will hold a cycling race around Quang Tri Ancient Citadel, themed "Destination for Peace," with the participation of 300 athletes.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/600-vdv-cung-dap-xe-ky-ten-len-la-co-54m2-mang-thong-diep-hoa-binh-20240629123614461.htm