Hanoi, May 15 (IANS): Competitive sport in Vietnam is set to resume next week as the HTV Cup, an 18-stage cycling tour, will start from May 19 till June 7. It will be broadcast live on both Facebook and YouTube.

The event was originally scheduled to take place in April but was postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak which has claimed close to 3 lakh lives across the world thus far.

UCI-sanctioned events are suspended until July 1, but although cycling has been a very popular sport in Vietnam, none of their races are part of the UCI calendar.

So far, close to 290 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in Vietnam whereas no death has been registered.

"Everything is fine here now and our race will be the first sporting event in Vietnam after COVID-19," organising committee member Duc Phat Nguyen informed Cyclingnews.

"The riders will not have to wear a mask, but staff members, cameramen, referees, motorbike drivers, etc. will do, as well as washing their hands regularly."

12 teams of seven riders, making 84 in total, will take the start line, with only Vietnamese riders permitted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, except for two Europeans.