Vietnam Marathon for disabled in Hanoi next month

Sport and Recreation Minister Graham Edwards will compete in one of the curtain-raiser events to the Vietnam Marathon in Hanoi next month.

Mr Edwards has accepted an invitation to be officially involved in launching the marathon and will take part in a 10 km wheelchair race for disabled athletes on January 2, the day before the main event.

The trip will be paid for through the sponsorship of Singapore Airlines and other Asian-based companies.

"The Vietnam Government has been very active in helping in the rehabilitation of people disabled during and since the war," Mr Edwards said.

"The wheelchair marathon will be an opportunity to focus attention on that work."

Mr Edwards lost both legs in a land mine blast while serving with the Australian regular army in Vietnam.  He is a strong advocate of providing more opportunities for disabled sports people and competes in numerous sporting events.

Vietnam staged its first international sporting event last February when 300 runners from 26 countries competed in an international marathon in Ho Chi Minh City.

More than one million onlookers lined the streets of the city and the event attracted worldwide media coverage.

It has been sanctioned by the Association of International Marathons and Road Races and will be rotated annually between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Next month's program will also include a half marathon and a 10 km 'fund run' with a proportion of the money going to the Hanoi Sports Club for the Disabled.

"With Western Australia working towards staging regular sporting festivals with Asian countries the visit will be an opportunity to continue to show the flag in these areas," Mr Edwards said.