Ready For The New Year Sports Festival

(DTO) The 41st Ap Bac Cross - Country Race is set to officially take place on January 1, 2026. Preparations for the event have largely been completed, from the race routes to logistics arrangements. As a result, athletes and participating units are enthusiastically training, creating a lively sporting atmosphere to welcome the New Year.

THOROUGH PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY
As an annual tradition, preparations for the Ap Bac Cross-Country Race began in early December. The Organizing Committee was established on December 19, 2025, led by Mr. Huynh Minh Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, as Head of the Committee.

To date, many key tasks have been basically completed, ensuring readiness for the official competition day.

According to the Organizing Committee, the overall plan for the race has been issued, clearly assigning responsibilities to each member and department. 

Coordination among relevant departments, sectors, and localities has been maintained closely, with regular reviews of progress to promptly address any arising difficulties or obstacles.

Specialized meetings have been held to unify organizational plans, ensuring scientific, effective, and efficient implementation.

One of the core focuses is professional preparation and the race route. The competition routes have been carefully surveyed and selected, meeting criteria for safety, technical requirements, and scenic value.

The Organizing Committee has coordinated with functional forces to develop traffic diversion plans and deploy support personnel along the race routes, minimizing impacts on residents’ daily activities while creating favorable conditions for athletes.

According to Mr. Le Ba Tung, Deputy Director of the Dong Thap Provincial Sports Training and Competition Center, the track survey and distance measurements for the race have been completed.

While the route remains largely similar to previous years, there is a minor adjustment: after leaving Hoang Sa Street, athletes will run a short segment on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street before entering Tet Mau Than – Ap Bac – Yersin, then looping back to the finish line on Tet Mau Than Street. This change is due to the one-way traffic regulation around the lake area.

The Provincial Police have developed traffic management plans for routes including Hoang Sa, Le Thi Hong Gam, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Ly Thuong Kiet, Tet Mau Than, Ap Bac, and Yersin, passing through Thoi Son, Dao Thanh, and My Tho wards to ensure security, order, and traffic safety.

Dong Thap Press, Radio and Television will livestream the Opening Ceremony and the start of various distances of the 41st Ap Bac Cross-Country Race - 2026 on its social media platforms at 6:00 AM on January 1, 2026. We cordially invite our audience to tune in.
Logistics are also well-prepared. Plans for medical services, rescue, water supply, start-finish areas, and zones for athletes and referees are being finalized. Medical teams and ambulances are on standby to handle any emergencies. 

Notably, the Department of Health has directed its subordinates to waive or reduce health examination fees for athletes and provide on-site emergency support.

Simultaneously, communication efforts have been intensified across mass media and digital platforms. Regulations, competition categories, and prize structures have been widely publicized to attract professional and amateur athletes.

According to Mr. Ho Huu Hoang, Director of the Dao Thanh Ward Public Service Provision Center, the center has implemented communication tasks and is setting up the opening stage at the semi-circle area of Tet Mau Than Park (expected to be completed by the afternoon of December 30). 

At the finish line and closing ceremony area, the center has prepared backdrops, coordinated visual decorations along the tracks, and encouraged residents to display the national flag.

PARTICIPATING UNITS READY TO COMPETE

Alongside the urgent preparations of the Organizing Committee, participating units and athletes are also in high spirits.

Communes with participating athletes are organizing rigorous training sessions to ensure high-quality performances. An Huu Commune is a notable contender with 12 high-quality athletes.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ba Tung, Director of the An Huu Commune Public Service Provision Center, a new feature this year-following the two-level local government restructuring-is that athletes will represent the commune level, bringing strong physical fitness and high competitive potential.

The host unit, Dao Thanh Ward, boasts the largest delegation with 100 athletes competing in almost all distances. 

Mr. Ho Huu Hoang noted that the local sports movement, especially running, is highly developed, making the selection process easier. The ward aims for the first-place overall team title this year.

Following the success of the 2025 event, the 2026 Race continues to attract independent athletes across all categories. 

The Tien Giang Runner Club has registered 97 members for all seven distances. 

Mr. Nguyen Ngọc Phuc, Chairman of the club, shared that members maintain daily running routines but have intensified their training over the past month. 

After the official routes were announced, members conducted trial runs to familiarize themselves with the terrain.

BY CAO THANG
Translated by X.QUANG