PANO - The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) kicked off the “Olympic Run Day 2016 for people’s health” between March 15th and 27th in public areas nationwide to celebrate the 70th traditional day for Sports and Physical Training (March 27th) and in response to the International Olympic Run Day (June 23rd).

Olympic Run Day 2016 starting in Cao Bang province

The event aims to promote the national campaign “All people do physical exercise following Uncle Ho’s example", and encourage people to do physical exercise regularly keep fit and to improve their health and strengthen the whole people’s great unity bloc.

According to MCST, various activities will be launched at the district and commune levels in all the 63 provinces and cities on March 26th. This year, four localities, namely Cao Bang, Nghe An, Ca Mau provinces and Ly Son island district, were selected by the MCST as the starts of the run.

The run day was launched on March 20th at Km 0, Pac Bo relic site with the participation of over 2,000 of people. At the event, MCST, the Vietnam Sport Newspaper in association with Vietjet Air, TH True Milk Company, Le Thanh Import and Export Ltd., Co. offered 10 gift sets to needy local students (worth VND 1 million each) and many other gifts (including clothes, hat and milk) to poor locals in Ha Quang district, Cao Bang province.

In Ho Chi Minh City, many local people in 3, 4, 7 and Thu Duc districts joined this year’s large scale run day, while Nghe An province held running contest at Ho Chi Minh Square in Vinh City.

As scheduled, Ngoc Hien district in Ca Mau province will hold the closing ceremony on March 27th. This year, the event is expected to draw the participation of about 7 million people, which hopefully brings about a joyful and active atmosphere as well as positive outcomes nationwide.

Translated by Thuy Duong