Hanoi (VNA) – The 2020 Olympic running day for public health has been postponed due to fears that mass gathering for the race will put people at risk of being infected the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), according to the Vietnam Sports Administration (VSA).

The VSA said on February 27 that it has asked its departments across the country and relevant agencies to delay the event, scheduled for late March, to other appropriate time amid the complex development of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.

Jointly organised by the city Department of Culture and Sports and People’s Committee, the run was meant to implement a programme called “All the people practise physical training following great Uncle Ho” and mark the National Sports Day, the day that President Ho Chi Minh wrote the article titled “Exercising for health”, calling people to do exercise (March 27, 1946).

The Olympic running day for public health is an annual community sport event that has been organised since 2015 to raise awareness of the important role of exercise in protecting people’s health, improving their quality of life, creating a healthy community and strengthening solidarity among people.

This year, the event was expected to simultaneously take place in 85 percent of communes and townships nationwide.

Last year, Hanoi and HCM City saw more than 15,000 runners including workers, students, artists, athletes and leaders of ministries./.
VNA