Hanoi race for amateur runners crosses finishing line hinh anh 1The race takes place at Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi (Source: VNA)

The final round of the 42nd Ha Noi Moi run tournament, a popular race for amateur athletes, took place in the capital city on October 4, drawing more than 1,330 runners, including over 300 foreigners.

The foreign competitors were staff members of 20 embassies and international organisations based in Hanoi.

The annual event aimed to celebrate the 61st anniversary of Hanoi’s Liberation Day (October 10) and the 16th anniversary of the capital being recognised as a UNESCO City for Peace.

It included races for male and female runners from universities and colleges, high schools and provinces along with events for foreign men and women.

The tourney, hosted by the Ha Noi Moi daily, not only helped discover new talented athletes but also contributed to the city’s friendly images in foreign eyes, said Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Hong Son.

Eva Nguyen Binh, Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs at the French Embassy, said the tournament helped encourage the public to play sports and was an effective way to popularise Hanoi as well as Vietnam.

Since its launch, this year’s run attracted more than 30,000 people in the qualifying rounds, making it the largest such event so far.-VNA
VNA