25th SEA Games, Laos

The team will compete in standard fighting and poom sa (artistic style) events.

Lao fighters are rated a good chance in the standard fighting event, but there is less optimism regarding the artistic event, which is new for the team.

Nonetheless, both teams welcome the chance to improve their skills prior to the challenges presented this coming December.

The Lao Taekwondo Federation (LTF) is seeking to perfect the team's technique in preparation for the 25th SEA Games, to be held in Vientiane from December 9-18.

The federation sent five male fighters (54, 58, 62, 67 and 72kg division) and five female fighters (47, 51, 55, 63 and 67kg categories) for the fighting event.

Three male and two female fighters will compete in the men's team (three fighters), the mixed doubles, and men's and women's singles for the dance event.

LTF President Police Brigadier General Vilay Duangmany said fighters were training to build their skills and stamina and none lacked the courage required.

The Lao taekwondo team will continue training at the National Sports Training Centre in Sikeuth village, Naxaithong district, after returning from Vietnam .

Coach Chanthavong Panyasily said Lao fighters would compete in every weight category at this ninth championship in Vietnam , as they would in the SEA games.

At the Vietnam event, the team is led by coaches Mr Chanthavong and Mr Chang Kuk Park .

The federation will select fighters to train in the Republic of Korea from July to September.

The Lao team won one silver and five bronze medals at the 8th ASEAN Taekwondo Championship in Ho Chi Minh City in 2007.

The silver medalist in the men's 58kg category of the 8th championship, Phouthavong Outthasak, 22, has said he is ready for this year's championship.

Two male fighters, Phoutthasone Thammavong and Savatvilay Phimmasone, won gold and silver medals respectively at the Francophonie Taekwondo Competition in France last month, which involved athletes from more than 30 countries.

Mr Phoutthasone, 20, won a gold medal in the 58kg division and Mr Savatvilay won a silver medal in the 68kg division.

Both will compete in the men's 62kg and the men's 72kg divisions at the Vietnam championship.



By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

The Lao wushu team will strengthen their tactics in Vietnam and China from July to September with the aim of winning gold medals at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane this December.

The Lao Wushu Federation will send both male and female fighters to train in Vietnam and some male fighters to train in China .

The 16-member squad is currently training at the National Sports Training Centre in Sikeuth village, Naxaithong district. The team includes new members and some competitors who were successful at the previous SEA Games in Thailand in 2007.

The squad is under the guidance of Chinese coach Mr Cui Jian Gong and assistant coaches Mr Vanxay Oudomphon and Mr Phoukhong Khamsounthone.

Mr Cui began training the team on May 9 and will lead them to the games.

Mr Cui, who is from Beijing , has previously coached Italian and Japanese wushu teams.

Mr Vanxay was a bronze medallist in the 60kg category at the 19th SEA Games, held in Indonesia in 1997, and won a bronze medal at the 21st SEA Games in Malaysia in 2001, as well as a bronze medal at the 14th Asian Games in Busan , South Korea , in 2002.

Mr Phoukhong won bronze medals in the 52kg division at the 19th SEA Games and the 14th Asian Games.

The federation's Secretary General, Mr Sitha Chuyapaseuth, said a final squad of nine will be selected to participate in the games.

At the last SEA Games the Lao wushu team won one silver and two bronze medals.

The team was trained by Chinese coach Mr Zhang Shugen from 2001 to 2005, and Mr Weiting Feng from 2001 to mid 2009.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

Water Polo Federation referees and members inspected the competition site last week at Km 16 in Xaythany district.

The pool is completed and the site is ready to go.

Lao Swimming Federation President Soutthanome Inthavong said the Singaporean federation would provide some of the budget for the organisation of water polo events including improving the skills of volunteers and referees.

Philippines CAASF TWPC member Mr Luisito Mangahis, VP Water Polo SSA (AASF TWPC member) Mr Tan Hong Teck and FINA-listed referee Mr Nicholas Tan held a training course for 30 Lao volunteers from the Lao Swimming Federation and Kavin College from May 29-30.

The three experts taught the rules and techniques employed in the sport. It is hoped the volunteers will be able to help run the water polo event after completing the training course.

The Lao Swimming Federation said it was unable to prepare a team to compete in the event because water polo was too new a sport for the Lao people.

Laos has never competed in water polo in the SEA Games or at any other international forum.

One team consists of seven players, including a goal keeper. As in football, the goal is to get the ball into the opponent's net.

With legs and feet busy keeping players afloat, it is up to the hands and arms to guide the ball towards its destination, or block opposition attack.

Mr Tan said his organisation was ready to support Lao water polo players if the Swimming Federation were able to organise a team for the SEA Games.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

(KPL) The National Weightlifting Federation of the Lao PDR hoped to bag a gold medal at the upcoming 25th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), in Vientiane from 9-18 December.

This was said by the President of National Weightlifting Federation Mr Thansamay Kommasith said, ?We have already selected the best 28 weightlifters, six women to be the national team and they are now having training in the Training Centre at Phonsavanh School in the National University of Laos?.He said that the federation has sent eight weightlifters to join the Weightlifting Championship in Xiengmai, Thailand for testing the strong of our athletes then we capacity said that our weightlifters has improved their skills and good techniques more than the federation expected.

For the Lao National Weightlifting Federation just has established to be the new federation, which getting the main supported by the State Enterprise of Lao Telecommunication and also received some sport equipments from neighbouring countries?, Mr Thansamay added.

In order to the new establishment of the federation, the federation has a higher decided to create the best national weightlifters for joining the SEA Games as well as the federation also making the plans for sending their weightlifters to join the competitions in oversea for their warm-up match before will compete in the SEA Games.

The Lao Brewery Company, producer of Beerlao, is the main sponsor for the 25th SEA Games in Laos. announced the four major sports it intends to sponsor at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane this December.

It will support the four sports in which it feels Laos has the best medal hopes: football, muay lao, pétanque and taekwondo

The company has contributed almost 20 billion kip towards games preparation, and they believe these funds will inspire all Lao people around the country to be of one heart, united in cheering on our athletes to glory at the games.

Accurate weather forecasts are important as sports venue and road construction companies make work plans in the run-up to the SEA Games in December, a Vientiane weather forecaster says.

Head of the Meteorology and Hydrology Department's Weather Forecast and Aeronautical Division, Ms Souvani Phonevilay, said because Laos was hosting the SEA Games this year the department would be providing up-to-date information.

Competitors in the games would be able to receive weather forecasts through SMS text messages to mobile phones, while construction companies were contacting the department for current information.

“We have been quite busy with the onset of the rainy season because construction companies are especially interested in getting accurate weather forecasts so they can plan various construction jobs, especially those building sports facilities for the games,” she said yesterday.

“We are now giving information to about nine construction companies working on sports venues as well as five other construction companies. It's very useful for them in making plans for different aspects of their work.”

The department is issuing weather forecasts to the companies every day and one week ahead so they know how heavy rainfall will be. This is important for site supervisors wanting to work with cement or lay asphalt.

The department also issues weather forecasts every six hours.

“We are working with Lao Telecommunications (LTC) on providing weather forecasts through SMS text messaging during the SEA Games. LTC is considering whether they will support us in this,” Ms Souvani said.

In October, media will be invited to attend a seminar organised by the department about weather forecasts. Technical jargon will be explained so journalists can pass on information to the public and raise weather reporting standards to international levels.

The seminar will also prepare staff for providing forecasts to athletes so they will be informed about local weather conditions during their events.

Facility Construction Department Chief of the Lao National Sports Committee, Mr Phaiboun Chanthamaly, said “Weather forecasts are very important for us in planning construction of the main stadium for the games. We need to know how to schedule various jobs in advance so we can get everything done on time.”

“We get weather forecasts one week in advance from the Weather Forecast and Aeronautical Division. If we know it's going to rain we don't make plans to lay concrete or asphalt, or dig the ground to lay foundations.”

Now that it's raining, he said, workers were planting grass around the Km 16 national football stadium and had nearly finished the job.

“We need to know about the weather a week in advance so we can plan the next construction job. It's important for road construction and also in assigning manpower to the right area of work, especially during the rainy season,” said Deputy Project Head of the Phontong Road upgrade project, Mr Tingkham Sysavath.

He said if he knew heavy rain was on the way, he would stop paving or preparing soil and instead would lay drainage pipes or get on with other work that would not be affected by rain.

Accurate weather information ensured work went smoothly and the job would be finished on time, he said.


By Panyasith Thammavongsa
Vientianetimes

Photo: Lane Xang Avenue, Vientiane

Vientiane to have decorations up by end of June

Vientiane will finish its programme of beautification by the end of this month in preparation for the 25th SEA Games which the capital will host from December 9-18.

This work is considered very important in readying Vientiane ahead of the games.

At a meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office on Friday, Deputy Vientiane Mayor Bounchan Sinthavong said more than 6 billion kip would be spent on sprucing up the capital.

Efforts are being focused on Vientiane 's main streets, including Lane Xang Avenue , Anouvong Road and Fa-ngum Road .

Mr Bounchan said a company was being awarded a contract to carry out the work.

At present, the Vientiane Urban Development and Administration Authority (VUDAA) only focuses on this aspect of civil works from time to time, but it will now be working to smarten up the city on a daily basis.

The VUDAA will install pictures of the 25 sports to be included in the games at the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge , along with pictures of the games' mascots, the elephants named Champa and Champi.

The authority will also install promotional signs at Wattay International Airport , the athletes' dormitory, the main sports complex at Km16 and at other sports venues nearby.

The Ministry of Information and Culture is responsible for the opening and closing ceremonies of the games.

The ministry has set aside four days for government officials and student teams to rehearse dance routines and other work. It is preparing the traditional dances and songs that will be performed at the ceremonies, dramas, and the costumes to be worn by artists, speakers and singers.

The Ministry of Finance is planning to print one million lottery tickets to be sold before the opening ceremony as a way of raising money for the games.

The meeting was attended by Standing Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee (LAOSOC) Somsavat Lengsavad, Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC) President Dr Phouthong Sengakhom, ministers and senior officials from LAOSOC.

Mr Somsavat said the opening and closing ceremonies would be full of interest and a very happy occasion, and would certainly be ready in time for the games.

Preparations for the games are making good progress, according to reports from senior officials of the 25 sports federations presented at the meeting. Meetings to discuss progress are taking place at the Prime Minister's Office every month.

Vientianetimes