500 Vietnamese children take part in the 6th Guangzhou Asian Games Fun Run 18-01-2008

Hanoi, Vietnam, 17th January 2008: Over 500 children from Hanoi sprinted to the finish line at the Quan Ngua Sport Palace as part of the sixth official Guangzhou Asian Games Fun Run.

Organized by Vietnam Olympic Committee, Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (GAGOC), children aged 9 to 15 representing primary and preparatory schools were invited to participate in the event.

Each entrant received a limited edition Guangzhou Asian Games Fun Run T-shirt and cap, as well as a certificate upon completion of the run.

The 1500 meters run in Hanoi was part of a series of official Asian Games Fun Runs which are taking place throughout countries across Asia and the Middle East over the next three years to promote the 16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010.

The event started with a pre fun run warm up which saw 400 participants run a 500 meters lap around the Quan Ngua Sport Palace.

The children were lead by OCA members Mr Haider Farman, Manager of Asian Games Department, Dr. M. Jegathesan, Chairman of Medical Committee, alongside Prof. Dr. Hoang Vinh Giang, Vice President of Vietnam NOC, Vietnamese athletes and a number of dignitaries and VIPs.

Three groups took part in the fun run with boys under 11 competing in the first category; while runners in the second group were girls aged 12- 13 and the third group consisted of 14-15 year old boys.

“We are delighted that our friends at Vietnam Olympic Committee have worked with us so successfully to organize the Asian Games Fun Run here in Hanoi City”, said H.E. Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al-Sabah, President of the OCA.

“Sport empowers us all to achieve and brings a sense of unity across a breadth of race, ethnicity, religion and gender. The Asian Games Fun Run epitomizes this aim and will help strengthen the OCA objective of developing understanding and friendship throughout the continent.”

“The Asian Games Fun Runs are very important initiatives which can carry forward the Olympic spirit and promote Asian Games among the youth. By participating in the Fun Run, the youth from Asia can experience the charm of the Olympics, build up their bodies and be motivated with the spirits of bravely facing challenges, being united and positive”. Mr. Chen Wenli, Marketing Coordinator of GAGOC said.

The event received wide coverage from leading local media in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City including publications such as the New Hanoi, Sports Today, Young People, Vietnam Sports, Family and Society, Youth, Ho Chi Minh City Sports Daily, besides Vietnam TV, Hanoi TV and VTC news.