'VnExpress Marathon helps Quy Nhon become a top destination'

Binh Dinh's 4 VnExpress Marathon seasons in the past 5 years have helped Quy Nhon introduce the image of a dynamic city and attractive tourist destination to millions of people, according to provincial leaders.

"VnExpress Marathon Sparkling Quy Nhon has become an important cultural and sports event, creating a new look for the province. With more than 10,000 runners, this year's race is the largest in scale, an opportunity to continue spreading the local image to friends across the country," Mr. Ta Xuan Chanh - Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Binh Dinh province shared at the press conference announcing the race on the afternoon of June 8.

According to Mr. Chanh, Binh Dinh province with Quy Nhon city as its center has many advantages in terms of geographical location, possessing a series of famous landscapes and landscapes such as Ky Co, Eo Gio, Hai Giang, Nhon Ly with more than 130km of coastline. The province is also the ancient capital of Champa culture, the cradle of the Tay Son dynasty, traditional martial arts and a unique culture of poetry, music and cuisine. "We have the leading tourism potential in Vietnam and the region. VnExpress Marathon is the premise and key factor to help exploit these potentials, turning the locality into an ideal destination," said Mr. Chanh.

Mr. Ta Xuan Chanh - Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Binh Dinh province. Photo: Quynh Tran — Mr. Ta Xuan Chanh - Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Binh Dinh province. Photo: *Quynh Tran*

The representative of Binh Dinh province emphasized the role of VnExpress Marathon in helping Quy Nhon become a leading tourism and sports destination. In particular, tourism revenue increased steadily through each year of the tournament. This revenue was invested by the locality in social security, infrastructure development, and tourism services to enhance the experience of athletes and tourists. He affirmed: "Through VnExpress Marathon, tourism has become a key economic sector of Binh Dinh province."

VnExpress Marathon also has a strong impact on the training movement in the area. The sporty atmosphere permeates every corner, from provincial leaders to local people, everyone loves running. The province wants to coordinate to build the tournament into the largest annual running event in the country.

VnExpress Marathon Sparkling Quy Nhon 2023 has a scale of more than 10,000 athletes, starting on the morning of June 11. This year's tournament has close coordination between the organizing committee and the Provincial People's Committee, departments and branches to ensure maximum safety for runners. Notably, the tournament has arranged a complex of utilities including water stations, medical facilities, and restrooms on a dense scale. The tournament also applies a completely new signage system to help runners easily grasp the instructions on the running course in all competition conditions.

Mr. Pham Trong Nghiep - Head of the organizing committee said that these improvements are all focused on runners, providing optimal care. The organizing committee hopes that these changes will help runners have the best competition conditions, attract them to the city, and contribute to the general economic, tourism, and sports development. "Over the years, we have built a large running community. Our wish is to turn marathons into a lifestyle that everyone can experience, love, and stick with for a long time," Mr. Nghiep affirmed at a press conference on the afternoon of June 8.

Provincial representatives, organizers, and sponsors answered questions at the press conference. Photo: Quynh Tran — Provincial representatives, organizers, and sponsors answer questions about VM Quy Nhon 2023 at the press conference. Photo: *Quynh Tran*

VnExpress Marathon Sparkling Quy Nhon 2023 continues to receive the companionship and nutritional sponsorship of the Herbalife Vietnam brand. The brand currently has 8 product groups, including a product group specifically for athletes. This group has electrolyte water products specifically for runners, in addition to energy and protein supplements. The brand also personalizes products for each group of people with different needs. "We expect that Herbalife products will help athletes have a healthy, scientific nutritional foundation, contributing to building a strong sports community in the future," said Mr. Nguyen Thanh Dat - Communications Director of Herbalife Vietnam.

VnExpress Marathon Sparkling Quy Nhon 2023 starts at 3am on June 11, with the 42km distance starting first. The 21, 10, and 5km distances start at 4am, 4:30am, and 4:45am, respectively. The early start time, calculated after many tests, will help athletes reduce the impact of the heat and avoid crowded sections when accelerating. Race-kit distribution will take place at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square from 12pm on June 9.

Hoai Phuong - Thanh Lan