NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SCALE
On June 29th, the Cycling for Peace Festival, organized by the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee in collaboration with Thanh Nien Newspaper, will open at the Hien Luong - Ben Hai National Special Historical Site, marking the beginning of a series of events for the first-ever national and international Peace Festival held in the sacred land of Quang Tri. Two main events are attracting particular attention: the cycling parade on June 29th (currently with 600 registered participants, including athletes, citizens, youth union members, students, etc.) and the cycling race at Quang Tri Ancient Citadel on June 30th (with 391 registered participants). The organizing committee is currently working diligently to finalize preparations to welcome athletes and those who love cycling and peace to Quang Tri.
The banks of Hien Luong - Ben Hai, the starting point of the Cycling for Peace Day parade.
According to journalist Nguyen Ngoc Toan, Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Nien Newspaper, although it is a sporting event, the Cycling for Peace Festival has more value than just a race. Besides encouraging the cycling movement, the organizers also hope that the Cycling for Peace Festival will contribute to honoring the value of peace, commemorating, expressing gratitude, and promoting the image, culture, land, and people of Quang Tri to people nationwide and abroad.
Teaser for the Cycling for Peace Day
SPREADING THE ASPIRATION FOR PEACE
With those expectations in mind, as the wheels of the cycling parade rolled on the morning of June 29th, the ideas and messages of peace that the organizers wanted to convey were integrated and expressed through each destination and each activity at those locations.
Truong Son National Martyrs Cemetery, where the parade will stop to light incense and pay tribute to the heroic martyrs.
With the 17th Parallel – Hien Luong Bridge – Ben Hai River, a symbol commemorating the painful 21-year division of the country (1954-1975), this is not only a place of remembrance but also the embodiment and convergence point of the aspiration for peace and national reunification. This location is worthy of being the starting point for the Cycling for Peace Day. According to the organizers, the parade will pass over the old Hien Luong Bridge after a symbolic release of balloons and doves. Following this, the parade will cycle from there to the Truong Son National Martyrs Cemetery (Gio Linh District) and conclude at Fidel Park (Dong Ha City). At the Truong Son National Martyrs Cemetery, the parade will light incense to pay tribute to the heroic martyrs, and present gifts to families who contributed to the revolution and students in difficult circumstances.
At Fidel Park, athletes and delegates will sign and write messages on the festival's symbolic flag. The 54-square-meter flag represents the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam, featuring a dove holding a rice stalk – symbolizing the aspiration for peace, prosperity, and happiness; along with a multicolored silk ribbon: red and yellow (representing the national flag). Red also symbolizes the blood of the heroic martyrs who sacrificed themselves for today's peace, while blue represents peace, rebirth, and development. This flag will be sent to the UNESCO National Committee as a message from those who cherish peace.
Mr. Hoang Nam, Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, expressed his expectations: "Vietnam is a peace-loving country. Thousands of years of history in building and defending the nation have proven this. More than anyone else, the Vietnamese people recognize the value of peace. Therefore, we hope that each person present at the Cycling for Peace event will be an ambassador for peace, conveying the aspiration for peace of the Vietnamese people in general and the people of Quang Tri in particular in the struggles for peace; building a message towards a peaceful, stable, and prosperous world ."
According to Mr. Nam, in order for the Cycling for Peace Day to be successful and live up to its intended purpose and significance, the participating forces must prepare thoroughly, organize tightly, effectively, and meaningfully the activities of gratitude. Through this, they will continue to spread the flame of revolutionary heroism, encourage the younger generation and all levels of the people, cadres, and soldiers to strive for even greater achievements in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.
Cycling for Peace: People from Quang Tri are proud to compete with international friends.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cuoc-dieu-hanh-cua-nhung-su-gia-vi-hoa-binh-18524062623043513.htm
Comment (0)