The information was revealed by Major General Pham Van Huan, Editor-in-Chief of the Quan Doi Nhan Dan (People’s Army) Newspaper, President of the Vietnam Motor-Bicycle Sports Federation and Chief of the organizing panel, at a press briefing on July 12 in Hanoi.
Major General Pham Van Huan speaking at the press conference.
The race is co-organized by the People's Army Newspaper, the General Department of Sports and Physical Training (under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), the Vietnam Motor-Bicycle Sports Federation and the military-run telecommunications corporation (Viettel).
During the return to the Truong Son range from July 15 to 20, the organizers will conduct a number of social activities, including presenting 300 gifts to policy families, 15 gratitude houses to national contributors, 200 tons of rice to disadvantaged people, and 300 scholarships to poor children with good academic records.
The six-day event draws the participation of 14 men’s teams, including two international teams from Laos and Thailand, aiming to promote sports movements nationwide, improve domestic cyclists’ skills for future international tournaments, and popularize the revolutionary traditions to athletes and people.
At the press briefing, Major General Pham Van Huan said: “The cycling tournament is not just a sport event but also a chance for the organizers, donors, social activists and people nationwide to pay tribute to fallen soldiers, war invalids, Vietnamese heroic mothers and policy families. In the localities, where the race runs through, the organizing panel will carry out practical gratitude activities, to highlight the national tradition of “Uong nuoc nho nguon” (When drinking water, remember its source).”
The People's Army Newspaper is the main organizer of three prestigious cycling races, namely the “Trans-Vietnam tour 2014- Vietnamese Defense Cup” from Ca Mau to Cao Bang, the “Return to Dien Bien Phu - People's Army Newspaper Cup” and the “Return to Truong Son - People's Army Newspaper Cup”.
On the occasion, the newspaper and the Petroleum Technical Services Corporation will inaugurate its invested medical station in Cam Van commune, Cam Thuy district, Thanh Hoa province. All charitable activities within the framework of the 2017 “Return to Truong Son” Cycling Tournament will cost nearly 7 billion VND.
The opening and closing ceremonies of the tournament in Hanoi and Quang Tri province will be broadcast live on VTV6 channel of the Vietnam Television.
To celebrate the 70th Day for War Invalids and Martyrs, the newspaper has worked with relevant units to organize several meaningful programs, such as a contest on the 70th anniversary of Day for War Invalids, Martyrs, the second artistic program “Dat nuoc ven tron an nghia” (Country in Paying Gratitude) on July 14 night at Au Co Art Center (No.8 Huynh Thuc Khang, Hanoi), and a photo exhibition on six cycling races organized by the People's Army Newspaper.
Translated by Thuy Duong