Federations struggle to reach starting blocks
Many Lao sports federations still lack adequate funding to purchase equipment and prepare athletes for the 25th SEA Games, which will take place in Vientiane from December 9-18.
Federations are facing financial difficulties with their preparations but are trying to send as many athletes as possible to train at the Sports Training Centre in Sikeuth village, Naxaithong district, and other training facilities in Vientiane as well as sending athletes to train in neighbouring countries in the lead-up to the games.
At the Prime Minister's Office on Sunday, the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee (LAOSOC) and the Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC) held a meeting to discus preparations for the games.
The meeting was attended by Standing Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of LAOSOC, Mr Somsavat Lengsavad, LNSC President, Dr Phouthong Seng-akhom, along with federation presidents and senior officials from LNSC.
At the meeting each federation submitted funding proposals to the LNSC for the purchase of sporting equipment, financing to support athletes and other games preparations.
The LNSC currently has a budget of 7 billion kip to use in preparing athletes in 25 sports for the games.
Currently the tennis, golf, karatedo, judo, muay lao and taekwondo federations are sponsored by various companies, including some international organisations.
There are still many federations looking for sponsors to support their teams, such as the national women's football team which lacks the funding to enable it to compete at an international level.
The Lao Cycling Federation is another body urgently seeking funding to help riders prepare for the games.
Mr Somsavat said the federations would like to help athletes when they have difficulties with their education and families.
He said the federations are doing their best to prepare athletes for the event and enable them to win medals.
The national sepak takraw squad is currently training in Savannakhet province but plans to move to train at the indoor stadium at Lao-ITECC in Vientiane in October.
The sepak takraw federation will host the SEA Games' sepak takraw event at Lao-ITECC and has a medical team preparing alongside the national team.
On Sunday officials from LAOSOC and LNSC also visited athletes' accommodation facilities and the Sports Training Centre.
The 25th SEA Games will consist of events in athletics, swimming, diving, water polo, archery, badminton, billiards and snooker, boxing, cycling, football, golf, judo, karatedo, sepak takraw, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, beach volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu, muay, pencak silat, petanque, fin swimming and shuttlecock.
By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes
