(KPL) The construction of a new national complex stadium, located at km16, Saythany district, Vientiane Capital, is now completed and would be officially handed over on 22 September. Mr Khammanh Koumphon, Director of the new National Stadium, told the Lao media on 11 September that the new National Stadium at Km16 would be used for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 25th SEA Games.
The athletes will compete for 383 gold medals in a total 25 sport events, including swimming, archery, badminton, snooker and billiards, Muay Thai, cycling, football, golf, judo, karate-do, sepak takraw, shooting, tennis, table-tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, wrestling, weightlifting, boxing, pencak silat, petanque, fin swimming, diving and shuttlecock.Most of the sport fields are now ready for competition, he said.
However, some fields are waiting for electricity installation because the materials have to be imported, he said.The construction of the stadium started in late 2008 by a Chinese construction company.He said that it was the first stadium that modern materials were used in the installation and it was the priciest stadium in the country.?We are now waiting for FIFA to inspect the standard of the stadium, which is expected in this month,? said Mr Khamman.The hand-over ceremony of the stadium is strived to be held on 22 September, he said. About 5,000 athletes from 10 South East Asian countries, as well as the newly-established Timor Leste, will be taking part in the region?s 25th mini-Olympics from Dec 9 to 18.
Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad said that almost all the sporting venues had been completed, including the National Sports Complex.
?The complex (16km from here) is 100 per cent completed. We are now in the process of installing electricity, water and sports facilities before the hand-over of the premises on 22 September,? he told a briefing for the diplomatic corps and media in Vientiane on Monday.
