Photos: Muay Lao (kickboxing), among others, has been added to the list for the 2009 SEA Games in Laos .
There are currently 25 sports events expected to be included in the competition schedule for the 25 th SEA Games in 2009 in Vientiane , with the final decision to be made in December this year, according to the Minister to the Prime Minister's Office and President of the Lao National Sports Committee, Dr Phouthong Seng-akhom.
Dr Phouthong, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the 2009 SEA Games Organising Committee and the President of the Lao Olympic Committee, told Vientiane Time last week that the first meeting to discuss which events to include would be held this April.
“ Laos will host a meeting of SEA Games Council Members in April, which will be attended by sports leaders from other Asean countries,” Dr Phouthong said.
“We don't expect the number of events to be more than 25 at this stage, and the final decision as to which games will appear on the schedule is to be made by SEA Games Council members in December.”
Last week, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, who is also the Chairman of the 2009 SEA Games Organising Committee, met with committee members to review their work in each field in preparing to host the games.
Laos has high hopes for these games, not just for hosting the event successfully, but also for meeting its new target of winning 25 gold medals.
The country's confidence has been boosted after bringing home a record number of gold medals from the 24 th SEA Games last December in Nakhon Ratchasima , Thailand .
The Lao athletic team brought home five gold, seven silver and 32 bronze medals.
By Sisay Vilaysack
Vientianetimes
