[wptab name=”VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam”]
Ho Chi Minh, VIETNAM (April 6, 2016) — Following the success of the inaugural VNG Ironman 70.3 Vietnam in Danang last year, race organizer Sunrise Events Vietnam is busy preparing for the second edition of VNG IRONMAN 70.3 VIETNAM powered by Number 1, the largest international triathlon event in the country. With the support of the Danang Government, the VNG Ironman 70.3 Vietnam powered by Number 1 will return to Danang on May 8, 2016 with VNG returning as the title sponsor and Number 1 rejoining as presenting sponsor.
The coastal city of Danang, well-known for its pristine beaches, UNESCO world heritage sites and numerous tourist attractions proved to be an ideal venue to host this international event in 2015. In last year’s maiden offering, the race attracted over a thousand local and foreign athletes representing 54 countries and including over 20 professional triathletes, making the event the newest sought-after destination race in Asia and one of the most internationally-diverse field of athlete participants ever for an IRONMAN 70.3 event.
Finishers of the 2015 event included IRONMAN CEO Andrew Messick along with a group of notable Vietnamese participants such as VNG CEO and co-founder Le Hong Minh, Novagroup CEO Le Thi Thu Thuy, Luala CEO Do Ngoc Minh, TMG Chairman and CEO Tran Trong Kien, Minh Long CEO Ly Huy Sang, McDonald’s Vietnam Chairman Henry Nguyen, Collagen Adiva CEO Tran Quoc Dung and 2011 Miss Universe Vietnam Vu Hoang My.
Local charities also participated with Team Britain comprised of Frederik Farina, David Lloyd and Graham Knight racing in support of Danang-based Newborns Vietnam. Team Britain took top relay honors while Operation Smile Vietnam also fielded individual and relay participants to raises awareness for their cause. Over US$45,000 was raised for these charitable causes, including donations to help purchase the first two incubators in central Vietnam.
Messick, who participated as an age-grouper, had this to say about the inaugural event: “Around the world we have more than one hundred races and Ironman has been built on a very simple premise, which is to create great races that capture the imagination of athletes around the world. There were 54 countries represented at the VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam last year, which shows that our athletes are traveling, and they seek destinations where the racing will be good. They want to bring their families, and they want to visit places that are interesting to them and that represent a great experience. When our athletes go back to their 54 countries they will tell everyone they know that they should come to Danang in 2016 and race the IRONMAN 70.3.”
The positive feedback by participants in the inaugural VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam confirms Vietnam’s attractiveness as a sports tourism destination for foreign participants and the growing appetite that local athletes have for triathlon and endurance events.
Mr. Bang Trinh, Managing Director of Sunrise Events Vietnam shared, “It was deeply inspiring to see the number of Vietnamese athletes taking part in the VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam race last year, including many who were participating in their very first triathlon. While the triathlon and multi-sport community is relatively young in Vietnam, I believe events like IRONMAN 70.3 will inspire many more to get involved. Our aim is to build upon the success of the inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 race and over time introduce additional events and resources to help accelerate the growth and progression of triathlon in Vietnam and to satisfy the growing demand for health and fitness oriented lifestyle activities.”
Enthusiasm for IRONMAN 70.3 extends to the City of Danang and key sponsors of the event.
Mr. Linh, Nguyen Phuoc – Deputy Director of Sports, Cultures & Tourism Department of Danang had this to share about the return of IRONMAN 70.3, “The coastal city of Danang is proud to welcome back the VNG Ironman 70.3 Vietnam in 2016. After the great success of the inaugural event in 2015 the People’s Committee of Danang has decided to include the Ironman 70.3 series into our 5 years tourism development plan. In 2016 and in the years to come, Sunrise Events Vietnam will enjoy our full support especially in creating scenic routes, road closures and medical services to make the VNG Ironman 70.3 Vietnam in Danang one of the best races in Asia.”
Mr. Tien, Nguyen Hoanh – Deputy Director of title sponsor VNG added, “Last year more than 30 of our employees joined Ironman in Danang. Recently, I had chance to talk to them and many other fellow athletes who joined the event. Consistently all of them cited the decision to join, prepare for, and overcome challenges during the event was the most significant achievement they had in 2015. With a strong commitment to bring this meaningful experience to the Vietnamese triathlon community, VNG has agreed to continue as Title Sponsor for Ironman 70.3 Vietnam in 2016.”
Mr. Phong, Pham Lee Tan – Consultant to CEO of Number 1 shared his excitement about returning as a sponsor, “I am very thankful and proud to be back with the Ironman in 2016, not only as the Hydration partner but also as the Presenting Sponsor in this year’s event. Ironman 70.3 requires athletes to overcome over 113km including 3 disciplines of swim, bike and run with many moments where you feel like giving up. Our message from Number 1 and Ironman to all of you is ‘Find your inner strength and overcome the challenges whether during the race or in your daily life’. We see this relationship as a long term commitment and we are looking forward to making Vietnam stronger and stronger, one race at the time.”
Similar to last year, the 2016 race will feature a fast and scenic course that includes a 1.9km ocean swim in front of the beautiful Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa (host hotel and race central), a looped 90km bike ride along Danang’s pristine coastline and a 21km run that will take athletes past some of the city’s key landmarks before a stunning beach finish at the Hyatt. With tropical conditions, this warm-weather event is the perfect mid-season race to prepare athletes for their summer IRONMAN events.
The VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam 2016 powered by Number 1 also serves as a qualifying race for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Mooloolaba, Queensland, Australia with forty-six (46) age-group qualifying slots for the IRONMAN 70.3 World at stake, including exclusive 70.3 World Championship and 70.3 Asia Pacific slots for the top Vietnamese male and female finishers.
The VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam is produced and organized by Sunrise Events Vietnam and made possible through the support of a number of sponsors and partners, including: title sponsor VNG, presenting sponsor Number 1, venue hosts People’s Committee of Danang and Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa, local partner Indochina Sun Company, travel partner TMG Group (Buffalo Tours, Victoria Hotels, Hai Au Aviation), media partner Dat Viet (HTV2, Giai Tri TV, DRT) and HTV The Thao, transportation partner Mercedes-Benz Vietnam, fitness partner Elite Fitness, insurance partner JLT Insurance, hotel partner Grand Mercure and other sponsors including AA Corporation, ALLEN & OVERY, American Chiropractic Clinic Vietnam (ACC), càfê RuNam, Family Medical Practice and Jett Cycles,. Marketing partners include AB Pros, Finisher Pix, Huu Toan, Marou Chocolate, Mark Allen Online, Minh Long I, More than Sport, Novaland Group, Pernod Ricard, Phuong Vy Coffee, Samsung, Tri-FAQ and Vietnam Trade Alliance (Budweiser).
For more details, visit www.IRONMAN703vietnam.com.
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[wptab name=”About sunrise events Vietnam”]
Sunrise Events Vietnam was established in 2015 and is the exclusive licensee of the World Triathlon Corporation for IRONMAN 70.3 events in Vietnam. The vision of the company is to stage world-class IRONMAN and other endurance events that will establish Vietnam as a sought after sports tourism hub in Asia.
The inaugural staging of the VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam 2015 attracted over one thousand athletes representing 54 countries. Combined with one of the largest professional fields ever assembled for an IRONMAN 70.3 event in Asia, the VNG IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam is already on its way to becoming a must do event on the IRONMAN 70.3 circuit
Sunrise Events Vietnam is an affiliate of Sunrise Events, Inc. of the Philippines, organizer of World Triathlon Corporation-licensed triathlon events Century Tuna Ironman 70.3, Safeguard Active 5150, Regent 5150 and Cobra Ironman 70.3 which is referred to as the “gold standard of races in Asia”.
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[wptab name=”About VNG”]
VNG Corporation is an enterprise serving more than 80% of Internet users in Vietnam. VNG’s products are constructed as an ecology on the Internet, including online entertainment, news, social network products and platforms connected to online payment system. Among these are the No.1 mobile messaging app – Zalo and product group Zing – Zing MP3, Zing News, Zing me. VNG is also the largest game publisher and developer in Vietnam.
VNG has currently more than 2,000 employees working with the spirit “Embracing challenge” for the mission “Make the internet change Vietnamese lives”.
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[wptab name=”About Number 1 Group”]
As an active member of society, Number 1 Group has a 21-years history of innovation and development, and is proud to have contributed to the growing portfolio of strong Vietnamese brands that have the ability to compete with international brands on our home turf. Number 1 Group has pioneered the introduction of healthy beverage products manufactured to international standards, which contain no preservatives and which comply with the highest product safety standards. Number 1’s popular products, which enjoy high consumer trust, include: Number 1 energy drink, Green Tea 0 degree, Dr. Thanh Herbal Tea, Fruit Juice Number 1, Number 1 Soya Milk, Green Soya bean Number 1, Purified Water Number 1, Number 1 Active Salt Lemon and Oolong Tea Ganoderma.
With the mission “For the health of the people”, Number 1 Group has in recent years sponsored and supported a number of sporting events to promote a healthy playground and to improve the quality of living for the people of Vietnam, including the International Soccer League Pacific Television – Cup Number 1; the high school football league, HTV Cycling Tour, An Giang; Ironman 70.3; Motor racing; and Vietnamese athletes joining the SEA Games.
For more information for the media, contact:
Mr. Khanh Duy, Do Huynh
Project Director
duy@sunriseevents.com.vn
+84 933 190 480
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