Nearly 1.4 million people join Olympic Run Day 2026

The event, the largest of its kind to date, was held to celebrate the successful election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term, as well as to mark the 80th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s call for nationwide physical exercise and the 80th anniversary of the anniversary of Vietnam’s Sports Sector (March 27, 1946 – March 27, 2026).

Attending the event were Member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant General Le Quoc Hung; Member of the Party Central Committee; Deputy Head of the Central Commission for Communication, Education and Mass Mobilization, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper and Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association Le Quoc Minh; Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong; and Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Vu Thu Ha; among others.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister Le Quoc Hung emphasized that, over the past 80 years, President Ho Chi Minh’s call has inspired people nationwide to actively engage in physical training, becoming a guiding principle for the development of the national sports movement as well as physical training within the Public Security Forces.

In response to the Uncle Ho’s call, the Public Security Central Party Committee and the MPS have consistently promoted sports activities within the forces under the motto “Being healthy to protect national security,” so as to enhance physical fitness, resilience and fighting spirit of all public security officers and enlistees, thereby contributing to the Public Security Forces’ success in safeguarding national security and maintaining social order and safety.

The MPS has also closely coordinated with ministries, sectors and localities, particularly the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, to mobilize massive participation of the public in physical exercise movements, as well as the movement “All People Protecting National Security.”

Held simultaneously across 3,321 communes, wards and special administrative regions in the 34 provinces and cities, teh 2026 Olympic Run Day was not only a sporting event but also a meaningful political and social activity, reflecting the Vietnamese confidence in a strong and resilient Vietnam in a new era of development and prosperity.

Immediately after the opening ceremony, mass running activities took place nationwide, drawing nearly 1.4 million participants in a vibrant demonstration of unity, health awareness and collective responsibility toward national security and national development.