Healthy to build our homeland and country.

(QBĐT) - The launching ceremony of the campaign "All people practice physical training following the example of the great President Ho Chi Minh" and the Olympic Run for Public Health in Quang Binh province in 2025 left many strong impressions. From the enthusiastic runs to the competitions on the race track, these sporting activities spread the spirit of health training and connected the community with the motto "Healthy to build - Healthy to develop the country".

Train to become healthier.

Early one morning in mid-March, hundreds of people gathered at Bao Ninh Beach Square (Dong Hoi City) to participate in the launching ceremony of the "National Movement for Physical Training Following the Example of the Great President Ho Chi Minh" and the 2025 Olympic Run for Public Health in Quang Binh Province. This event attracted the participation of a large number of officials, civil servants, employees, armed forces personnel, and youth union members throughout the province.

This sporting event commemorates the anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's article "Physical Exercise and Health," which called on the people to practice physical exercise (March 27, 1946 - March 27, 2025), the 79th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Vietnamese Sports and Physical Education ngành, and looks forward to the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025).

Scenes from the launching ceremony of the campaign

Speaking at the launching ceremony, a representative from the Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism emphasized: Following Uncle Ho's teachings, and alongside the development of the whole country, Quang Binh's sports sector has strived to achieve many commendable results. The province's high-performance sports sector boasts many talented athletes who have achieved outstanding results in regional, national, and international competitions. These include strong sports disciplines such as swimming, diving, rowing, and athletics. In addition, the mass sports training movement has developed widely throughout the province. The number of people regularly practicing sports and the number of sports-oriented households are increasing. These achievements have contributed to further affirming the province's position in sports and physical education in the region and the country.

Representatives from the Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism called on all officials, civil servants, members of the armed forces, and citizens of the province to regularly practice at least one sport to improve their health. "Healthy for development - Healthy for building the nation."

The launching ceremony was held not only in Dong Hoi City but also simultaneously in districts and towns... Thousands of people of all ages, professions, and social statuses, all sharing the common goal of improving their health and spreading the spirit of sports, participated in the launching ceremony.

Running for health

Immediately after the launching ceremony, all officials and people in the localities participated in the 2025 Olympic Run for Public Health. The activity aimed to promote the movement "All people practice physical training following the example of the great President Ho Chi Minh," build a habit of regularly practicing sports and physical exercise, improve the physical health of everyone, and build a healthy lifestyle and cultural environment.

When the starting whistle blew, delegates and over 1,500 citizens and armed forces personnel in Dong Hoi City simultaneously set off to run along the Bao Ninh coastal road. The jogging created a vibrant and colorful stream. Among them were enthusiastic young people, as well as middle-aged and elderly people who love sports and run together to improve their health. Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hoang from Dong Hai ward (Dong Hoi City) shared: “Normally I run in the mornings, but today feels completely different. Being part of the crowd, seeing everyone so enthusiastic, gives me more motivation to continue exercising.”

In Quang Ninh district, this year's Olympic Run Day was combined with the "Million Steps of Compassion - Continuing the Golden Chapter" campaign launched by the Vietnam Red Cross Society. The steps taken on the running track are not only a symbol of health but also a message of spreading compassion and helping the disadvantaged in society.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere at this year's Olympic Run Day in Tuyen Hoa district, Ba Don town, etc., was vibrant and attracted a large number of participants. Their synchronized steps created a healthy and united rhythm in the final days of March.

Competing on the racetrack

As the group participating in the Olympic Run for Public Health completed their journey, athletes on the race track began competing in a cross-country race.

In Ba Don town, 58 athletes from communes, wards, and schools competed in the 5km race for men and the 3km race for women. Each powerful stride and every sprint on the track reflected a high level of determination, challenging their perseverance and striving for the best possible results.

Meanwhile, the 2025 Quang Binh Provincial Cross-Country Race attracted over 300 athletes from across the province. Favorable weather and a picturesque race course added to the excitement of each athlete. As the starting signal sounded, the athletes surged forward. The rapid pace and bursts of speed along the long course created a vibrant atmosphere… In the women's category, athletes Ngo Thi Nhan Thanh (34 years old), Le Thi Ninh (39 years old), and Le Phuong (40 years old) excelled, securing the top three positions. Notably, Nguyen Thi Hien (51 years old) finished in 4th place, demonstrating perseverance, hard work, and dedication.

In Quang Binh province, 35.9% of the population regularly participates in sports, and 28.6% of households are involved in sports. Sports facilities are constantly improving, with 940 sports clubs and 3,000 training locations. The development of running clubs, in particular, is evidence of the growth of mass sports in the locality.

In the men's event, the race was surprising as Nguyen Hoang Minh Nhat (18 years old) "defeated" a series of older competitors, crossing the finish line first. The 12th-grade student unexpectedly accelerated towards the finish, overtaking veteran Tran Tuan Vu (43 years old) to win with a time of 35 minutes and 5 seconds. The following positions went to Ho Quoc Thang (33 years old) for third place; Nguyen Thanh Dao (38 years old) for fourth place; and Tran Van Tuan (40 years old) for fifth place.

Alongside the outstanding athletes who achieved surprising and impressive results, there were also inspiring and touching stories. For example, the couple Nguyen Manh Hung and Le Nhu Trang (from Quang Phu commune, Quang Trach district) participated in the race for the first time. Mr. Hung has been passionate about running for many years, while Ms. Trang had only recently taken up the sport. But they were determined to challenge themselves in the 10km distance at this race.

Ms. Trang shared: “Running 10km might be normal for others, but for me, it was a real challenge. During the run, there were times I wanted to give up, but then I remembered those early mornings, the days of tired legs, the moments when my heart raced... and it was the encouragement of my husband, who was running beside me, that helped me overcome my own limitations.”

The launching ceremony of the "National Movement for Physical Training Following the Example of the Great President Ho Chi Minh" and the Olympic Run for Public Health in Quang Binh province have been regularly maintained over the years. This activity aims to promote the physical training movement among officials, civil servants, and the people in the province, contributing to spreading the running movement among the general public for the goals of: Physical training - National defense; physical training - national construction; and physical exercise - health!

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