Photo: Badminton courts to be used this week during the Lao International Challenge in Vientiane.
Various 25th SEA Games organising committees will test the standard of stadiums to be used at the games this December by arranging a number of competitions in the lead-up to the event.
President of the Lao National Sports Committee and Minister to the Prime Minister's Office, Dr Phouthong Seng Akhom said yesterday that all competition stadiums and facilities would be tested before the games.
The first body to test its readiness for the games will be the Lao Badminton Federation, which will host the Lao International Challenge 2009 in Vientiane from July 28 to August 1. Other sports will hold similar competitions to test their respective facilities in the months to come.
The 20,000-seat stadium in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district, to be used for the opening and closing ceremonies, is almost complete, with just minor touches still being added.
“All sports fields and stadiums will be tested before September, if any issues arise they will be resolved before the facilities are handed over to the relevant organising committees in September,” Dr Phouthong said.
The shooting field for the games is still under construction due to a delay in the delivery of equipment.
“The government agreed to import international standard equipment for the arena from Germany . There has been a delay in delivery but we are expecting the equipment any day now,” Dr Phouthong said.
Other indoor and outdoor courts at Chao-anouvong stadium in Anou village, Chanthabouly district, the International Trade Exhibition and Convention Centre, Beungkhayong stadium and facilities at the National University of Laos are also close to completion and are waiting to be fitted out with sports equipment.
The 25th SEA Games will take place from December 9 to 18 in Vientiane, involving 390 events in 25 sports including athletics, swimming, archery, badminton, snooker and billiards, muay, cycling, football, golf, judo, karatedo, sepak takraw, shooting, tennis, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, wrestling, weightlifting, boxing, pencak silat, petanque, fin swimming, diving and shuttlecock.
By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes
