25th SEA Games, Laos

During a four-nation friendly football tournament held in Vientiane from September 9-14, the Lao women's team demolished Malaysia in the final 6-0 at the Chao Anouvong Stadium on Monday.

Top Lao striker Ms Souphavanh Phayvanh hopes to lead the women's football team to victory in the 25th SEA Games in December.

She said the team has shown vast improvement since beginning training with a coach from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea .

At last year's SEA Games in Thailand , the team came in fourth place. The Thai female football team took first place, Vietnam 's team placed second and Myanmar came in third.

Ms Souphavanh said she is honoured to represent Lao women in the competition on home soil and will work to the best of her ability.

The accomplished forward, aged only 17, lives in Don village, Pakngum district, Vientiane , and recently graduated from Sathit Secondary School at the National University of Laos.

She said it will be difficult for the Lao team to best the Thai and Vietnamese teams, which are sure to be strong opponents at this year's games.

She believes she will receive strength from fans attending the games to support their team.

At the moment, the player is still experiencing pain in her left leg due to an injury picked up during training and the recent friendly football competition, which included the Malaysian team, two clubs from Thailand and the Lao team.

She said she gained important experience from the exhibition matches and will now concentrate on training for the SEA Games.

Unfortunately, Ms Souphavanh is still suffering from injuries acquired in last year's games, and has been receiving treatment through the Lao Football Federation. Luckily, she will have an opportunity to receive further treatment in Thailand before the upcoming events.

She hopes to be a part of the national team for a long time after SEA Games are over.

Even though she will take part in the football event, she will also show her support for the sepak trakaw team because she also enjoys the sport.

She will study Physical Education at the National University of Laos and wants to continue her involvement in sports after graduation, perhaps working with the Lao National Sports Committee.

Next year she starts her university course, and will look back on her years of success, which began on a football field at primary school in her home village.


By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

The most famous, brightest and talented artists at present in Laos come together to sing the 25th SEA Games theme song. They are Sithiphone, Sam, Gai, Malya and Poui. The English version is called SEA Games Harmony and Lao version is Samakee SEA Games. Lyric and Rhythm by: Saysavath Singnamvong.



SEA GAMES HARMONY
Lyric and Rhythm by: Saysavath Singnamvong
Music arrangement by: (Mee) Soulinthone Kounsathone
English Arrangement by: Sithiphone Souvannasouk, Sam, Andy
Performance by: Sithiphone Souvannasouk

Malya: Hand in hand together we’re strong
A brighter day has come along

Gai & Poui: To celebrate with all nations
Step forward, United in SEA Games

Sith: Together we’ll build our athletes
Forever our friendship in games

Sam: Competed a game with heart and soul
Go forward, United in SEA Games

Group: SEA Games is what brings us together
Hand in hand, walk the same path in peace
SEA Games is a great competition
Tight the knot comes together for SEA GAMES

Group: Hand in hand together we’re strong
A brighter day has come along
To celebrate with all nations
Step forward, United in SEA Games

Na ……Na………Na………Na………Na………Na……

Group: Harmony, friendships in SEA Games
Compete in spirit and fair play
Light up the SEA Games torch
Eternal flame

The 25th SEA Games Marketing and Benefit Committee (SEAGMBC) has announced ticket prices and distribution for the event to be held in Vientiane this December.

SEAGMBC Vice President, Mr Chanpheng Siratana said the ticket prices had been agreed upon by all the committees involved in organising the games.

“We met and discussed the ticket prices many times and have come up with what we believe are reasonable prices for both local and foreign people,” Mr Chanpheng said.

Tickets for both the opening and closing ceremonies of the games will be divided into four different categories, costing 500,000 kip, 400,000kip, 300,000 kip and 200,000 kip.

Ticket prices for sporting events will depend on the event, but will cost between 20,000 and 100,000 kip. Some events will be open to the public free of charge.

“Seven sports will be free for spectators - cycling, golf, snooker, athletics, petanque, weightlifting and archery,” he said.

The committee reported that currently tickets are only available for purchase in Laos .

“We are not sure if we will sell ticket online because the matter is still under discussion with other committees. We hope to make tickets available to sporting fans in other countries soon,” said Mr Chanpheng.

There have been public complaints that tickets to the opening and closing ceremonies of the games are too expensive. Many believe the high prices are unaffordable for Lao people.

Mr Chanpheng said the opening and closing ceremonies would be broadcast through Lao National Television but urged people to attend the events.

“The ceremonies will be fantastic and I really want Lao people to attend and experience the atmosphere at their home games.”

“We also plan to invite representatives of government offices to participate in the ceremonies,” he said.

“We are not yet sure how many tickets to the opening and closing ceremonies will be made available to the public, because we are unsure how many VIP guests will be attending.”

“We have taken steps to ensure that counterfeit tickets will not be an issue,” Mr Chanpheng said.

Tickets for the games are already designed and awaiting approval from various SEA Games committees before they are printed and ready for sale.

The 25th SEA Games will take place from December 9 to 18. Athletes will contest 390 events in the 25 sports of 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.

Athletes from Laos , Vietnam , Cambodia , Brunei , Thailand , Malaysia , Indonesia , Myanmar , the Philippines , Singapore and Timor Leste will take part.

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientiane

Many restaurants in Vientiane are preparing special new menus for visitors during the 25th SEA Games in December, according to a Vientiane Times survey yesterday.

The city already has many restaurants serving foods from different parts of the world, in particular, Indian foods are expected to be a popular dish for visitors.

“Nazim” is the oldest Indian restaurant in Vientiane and is a favourite among local and foreign diners. It has over 100 items on its menu which includes many that have the real taste of Indian dishes. These are popular with customers, as well as the reasonable prices.

The restaurant's owner Mrs Sengchanh Vanvilay told our Vientiane Times reporter that after 20-years of experience they had a high reputation for the quality and genuine flavours of their Indian cuisine.

“Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean people coming to support their teams will want to eat halal food. We are careful to prepare our food in accordance with halal custom. We believe we can provide the best service and foods for them,” she explained.

The restaurant is located at the Mekong riverside in Mixay village, Chanthabouly district Vientiane . It has a small outside eating area but if people look inside it can serve up to 100 guests at a time

“The most popular dishes are sheep and chicken masalas, mutton pepper dry masala, chicken tika masala and garlic nan. Many customers like it really spicy because Indian food should be heavily spiced but some will not,” Mrs Sengchanh explained.

She added that while most of their customers are from Malaysia , Indonesia and Singapore , many Western and European customers are also interested in eating Indian food.

The restaurant imports most of its ingredients directly from India , because they believe their food should be genuine . However some fresh ingredients they will buy from local markets.

“Not only our ingredients, we have also had a genuine Indian chef to cook in the traditional way for customers here for many years,” she said.

Nazim now has branches in Vangvieng, Luang Prabang and Champassak provinces. Luang Prabang is also very popular like the capital.”

Mrs Sengchanh welcomes the games as an opportunity to improve even more on her already high standards and is planning to reorganise her tables and service arrangements.

“I really hope to be able to serve the best food for visitors during the event,” she said.

Many other Indian restaurants in Vientiane are also preparing their establishments to welcome games visitors. So lovers of Indian food will not find it hard to find a restaurant to their taste in central Vientiane .


By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes

The theme song of the 25th SEA Games, entitled "The spirit of the flame" was finally unveiled in Laos last week.

Famous Lao singer Sam Intharaphitha, was chosen to present this song for the opening of 25th SEA Games. The song "The Spirit of The Flame" has made it into the final 15 songs out of more than 50 entries. The 15 songs will be released as a special SEA Games album. But only 1 song will be chosen to open the historical event for Laos.

To listen to the song: "The Spirit of The Flame" click at the link
HERE

The lyric of this song has a mix between Lao and English version. The first part is in Lao, and the second part is in English.

The lyric of this song in an English part is as follow:

The spirit of the flame:

When the dawn awakes the morning sky
The charm of sunshine would beam the new day
All our lives begin to bloom
With power of our faith

Our dreams are great as the mountains wide
Our hearts fulfilled with glory and pride
Millions will cherish within their hearts to host the Laos SEA Games

Let's get ready, prepare our hearts so forth we are united
Let's join our hearts and hands together
Today Laos will be as one

No matter what we'll never turn away
With hand in hand we'll walk side by side
With our hopes we stand together
With all our hearts cheer for Laos number #1

No matter what challenge we will not fear
Cause we will always stand side by side
Win or lose it doesn't matter
Today Laos will be as one
Today will be Laos' day
*****************************************************

Minister to the Prime Minister's Office and President of the Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC), Dr Phouthong Seng Akhom, spoke to media yesterday in Vientiane about the opportunities available to Laos when it hosts the 25th SEA Games later this year.

The event is an opportunity for Laos , as the host nation, to increase solidarity and friendship amongst Southeast Asian nations, he said.

“Of course we'd like to get many medals like previous hosts of the games have, but our main target is to boost relations and solidarity between the countries involved and Laos .”

At many of the previous games the host nation has topped the medal tally. Laos will do its best to continue this trend but a big medal haul is not the only measurement of success.

“Lao athletes are still amateurs, not professionals like most in the region. Most of our athletes are students or government officials who love to play sport. At these games we hope to gain experience from other athletes visiting our country,” Dr Phouthong said. He said hosting the games was important for political matters, foreign affairs issues and socio-economic and cultural development as well as national security and promoting a peaceful society.

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.

LNSC reported logistical preparations for the games have begun in addition to infrastructure construction.

Committees have been formed to oversee hospitality, transportation, travel arrangements and security during the games. They include representatives from the ministries of Public Works and Transport, Health, Public Security, and Information and Culture, the Lao National Tourism Administration and other organisations.

“We have received reports from each committee regarding their preparation efforts and some areas are close to completion while others need further work,” Dr Phouthong said.

LNSC reported on the construction of five stadiums to be used for the games, including progress on the main 20,000-seat stadium in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district, which will be used for the opening and closing ceremonies.

“Some people don't understand the entire process and mistakenly believe construction will not be completed before the games, but it is actually already 90 percent complete and facilities will be handed over to the relevant committees in September,” 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.

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes

A coach from the Republic of Korea will train the national Lao women's football team this month as part of the preparations for the 25th SEA Games to be held in Vientiane in December.

The team is currently training at the Sports Training Centre at Huayhong village in Chanthabouly district under the instruction of Mr Viengsavan Sengchan.

The team is ranked fifth in South East Asia, 15th in Asia and 74th in the world.

The Korean coach will arrive in Vientiane next week and is the first Korean to guide the team.

Thailand , Vietnam and Myanmar are expected to provide strong competition for the team at the upcoming games.

The women's team was unable to win a medal at the Asian Football Confederation in Vietnam last year, where they were coached by Mr Volker Hofferbert from Germany .

Mr Hofferbert believes the team is capable of reaching the semi-finals of the games as many of the players have SEA Games experience.

He said the national team trained hard but lacked experience at the international level. At the last games only six countries competed in the women's football event but this year more will do so, making it tougher for the team to claim a medal in front of their home fans.

Mr Hofferbert is currently training the national under-16 female football team in the run-up to the Asean Football Federation Championships in Myanmar in October.

Nine countries will compete in the championships and the Lao team will face Cambodia in a friendly match at the Huayhong village football stadium next week.

Mr Hofferbert said both teams only came into existence this year and it will be a close match.

The Cambodian team is sponsored by several non-government organisations, while the Lao team is still searching for more sponsors.

Mr Hofferbert said the players in the under-16 team are future prospects for the senior team at the 26th SEA Games.

The players in the junior squad come from Vientiane and Xayaboury province.


By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

A member of the Lao national badminton team, Mr Phonepasith Phengsengchan, 19, is hopeful of winning a medal at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane in December.

Mr Phonepasith won a gold medal in the male junior doubles at the Kason Bangkok Chiang Mai Badminton Tournament 2005 in Thailand , which involved six countries.

He is currently training with the national squad at the Police Indoor Courts under the guidance of a Chinese coach. The team will move to the Sports Training Centre in Sikeuth village, Naxaithong district, in August.

He said neighbouring countries such as Thailand and China have some of the best badminton players in the world and it will be difficult for him to defeat them at the games.

Mr Phonepasith won a gold medal in the men's team (three players) event at the eighth National Games in Champassak province last December, where he represented Saravan province.

His most recent success was a bronze medal in the men's singles open category at the Vientiane Governor's Cup held at the Thanong-at indoor court last week.

He is in his first year at the National University of Laos and began playing badminton when in lower secondary school.

Last Sunday, Mr Phonepasith won the KT Badminton Club's President's Cup by defeating his friend Mr Phanthavouth Sisomdeth 2-1 (15-10, 11-15, 15-11).

He has been training with the club since 2004. The club has many young players in the national team.

The club finished with the number one ranking at the eighth National Assembly President's Cup two years ago.

Former national players are also involved in training youngsters at the club.

The president's cup comprises senior male doubles, A and B level male doubles and the men's open singles.

The KT Badminton Club will host the cup on December 25 to celebrate the club's establishment.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

(KPL) The preparation for 25th South East Asia Games which will be hosted by Laos at the end of this year, has so far nearly completed, especially the renovation of stadiums and roads in urban area.

Photo: A view of the 20,000-seat main stadium currently under construction in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district, Vientiane . The stadium will be used for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 25 th SEA Games in December (file photo). –Photo Vincent Gautier

To smooth the path for Lao SEA Games' athletes, the government has agreed on a policy that will help athletes and officials continue with preparations but will not jeopardise their situation in school or the workplace.

Under the Prime Minister's agreement, athletes, trainers, volunteers, committee members and staff of various sub-committees involved in the games will receive special dispensation from their employers or schools allowing them to take time off to train or carry out their duties.

Students who have been selected for the SEA Games squad will be allowed to stop classes from the start of preparation until the end of the games. But their schools will have to organise special classes for them free of charge before they take their exams.

Government officials, policemen and soldiers who have been selected as athletes or members of SEA Games organising committees will also be allowed time out from their offices so they can spend the necessary amount of time in training camps and competition.

The government hopes this policy will encourage athletes in their endeavours to make their place in SEA Games history by winning more gold, silver and bronze medals than in previous competitions.

Apart from that, it is a great honour for Laos to host the SEA Games, which will promote sports, boost trade, and develop social, cultural and political activities. The games will also promote peace, friendship and cooperation between Southeast Asian nations and the world.
According to national training camp manager Somphone Manikham, all athletes are currently in training camps with their coaches.

“The main training centre in Sikeuth village, Naxaithong district, now houses 160 athletes training in boxing, wushu, pencak silat, wrestling, track and field, archery and taekwondo. Athletes in other sports are training in different camps,” Mr Somphone said.

At a meeting of the SEA Games Organising Committee on Tuesday reports were presented on the construction of stadiums. The main venue is the 20,000-seat stadium in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district, which will be used for the opening and closing ceremonies and is now over 85 percent complete. The Chao-anouvong stadium in Anou village, Chanthbouly district, is more than 70 percent complete and will be used for the men's football event.

The SEA Games will take place from December 9 to 18, involving 390 events in 25 sports. Athletes from Laos , Vietnam , Cambodia , Brunei , Thailand , Malaysia , Indonesia , Myanmar , the Philippines , Singapore , and Timor Leste will take part.


By Sisay Vilaysack
Vientianetimes

(KPL) Acting Head of the National Economic Research Institute claimed that the 25th SEA Games, to be held in December this year, would act as a stimulus to the national economy and thereby mitigates the adverse effects of the global economic turmoil.

Mr. Leeber Libuapao also said that the national economic growth is facing a big challenge this year because of the sharp drop in the export of goods.

Mr Leeber added that although the government has designed and implemented measures to try to minimise and overcome the effects of the global crisis but it would take at least a few months before one sees its positive effects.

He also said that the national economic recovery, due to commence in 2010, would only kick in if it coincides with the recovery of the world’s economy by next year and it means that if it would grow by one to two per cent in 2010.

However, the Asian Development Bank, in its press release yesterday, is upbeat on the Lao economy and stated that it would grow by 5.5 per cent this year and 5.7 per cent in 2010.

The acting head of NERI commented on the effects of the biggest hydropower project, Nam Theun Two, on the national economy and said that when it is operational in late 2009, it would generate income and this would not only mitigate the impact of the crisis but it can even boost national economic growth.

Mr. Leeber said that in order to get the Lao economy to grow one should get the consumers to spend and this is because national expense is always equal to national income and the government and people should be aware that consumers who retrench and save money would not be contributing to economic growth.

More than 100 martial artists gave a demonstration to a curious crowd at the Faculty of Economics and Business at the National University of Laos on Saturday.

The demonstrators, from the junior and senior categories of various martial arts, comprised 50 judo fighters, and 40 male and 21 female practitioners of aikido. They came from Vietnam , Cambodia , Singapore , Thailand and Laos and performed alongside karatedo teams. They received training for this event from Japanese experts.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Phongsavat Boupha, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture Bouangeun Xaphouvong, Japanese Ambassador to Laos Masaaki Miyashita, presidents of the judo aikido and karatedo federations and senior officials watched the performance along with students.

“It is my great pleasure that the Embassy of Japan is hosting this martial arts demonstration here today. I would like to welcome all guests and thank them for coming to this event,” Mr Miyashita said.

Judo is a traditional Japanese martial art dating back to ancient times along with sumo wrestling. It is renowned for its solid manual movements, without the use of any protective gear or equipment. After the Second World War, it gained an international reputation and was practised by millions of people all over the world. For some time it was included in the Olympic Games.

Karatedo is believed to have its origins in Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan . Again, it doesn't involve the use of any instruments, but there is more emphasis on striking and kicking.

The birth of aikido is relatively recent, dating back to around the 1920s. This martial art is primarily used for self-defence, rather than for attack. It also attaches great importance to harmony between the body and the mind. These martial arts are not simply physical sports, but also emphasise the importance of discipline and self-control.

Some of the players who demonstrated their skills and expertise on Saturday had won SEA Games' medals.

“I am confident that many more of them will obtain medals in the coming SEA Games in Vientiane later this year,” Mr Miyashita said.

He said the Japanese government was continuously contributing to the development of martial arts in Laos by organising annual events and building the Lao-Japan Budo Centre in Vientiane .

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Lao judo and karatedo federations and the Lao Aikido Club for their valuable collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in organising today's event,” he added.

“It's particularly important to mark this event as part of the Mekong-Japan Exchange Year 2009 programme. I hope you enjoy beautiful and powerful performances by Lao martial artists.”

The national judo team will compete at a judo competition to be held in Thailand on April 4. Teams will also take part in the first Asean Martial Arts competition to be held in Thailand at the end of April.

Judo events in the 25th SEA Games will include eight men's categories (55kg, 60kg, 66kg, 73kg, 81kg, 90kg, 100kg and over 100kg), while the eight women's categories are in the 45, 48, 52, 57, 63, 70, 78 and over 78kg weight divisions.

Karatedo events will consist of male combatants in seven categories (55kg, 60kg, 65kg, 65kg, 70kg, 75kg, 80kg) and women fighters in four (48, 53, 60 and over 60kg).

At the 24th SEA Games held in Thailand last year, the Lao judo team won two gold, one silver and three bronze medals, while the karatedo team won a bronze medal.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

(KPL) The SEA Games Federation (SGF) and the SEA Games host nation of Laos have confirmed that 25 sports, comprising 386 events, would be included in the 25th SEA Games, scheduled to take place in Vientiane, from Dec 9-18.

The Olympic Council of Malaysia’s (OCM) honorary secretary, Sieh Kok Chi, was quoted by Bernama news agency as saying that the final number was determined after Laos decided to drop soft tennis from the list at the SGF council meeting in November.
“The OCM was given to understand that the host nation would not consider any more appeal for the inclusion of additional sports or events, although a number of countries had come forward to request the inclusion of a range of events.

With the latest development, The 25th SEA Games in Laos will encompass athletics, archery, aquatics, badminton, billiards & snooker, boxing, cycling, football, golf, judo, karate, sepak takraw, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, wrestling, weightlifting, wushu, muay thai, petanque, silat, shuttlecock juggling and fin swimming.

The 25 sports in Laos, which is hosting the Games for the first time, pales in comparison to the 43 sports included at the 2007 Korat SEA Games in Thailand.

First check of SEA Games complex set for April


Photo: The SEA Games main stadium as it looked last month, with construction now about 80 percent complete.

All facilities at the 25th SEA Games sports complex are now more than 80 percent complete, site manager Kiengkham Phoutchanhthavongsa said yesterday.

“We are confident that construction of all venues at the site will be finished by the end of March. We are now putting the finishing touches to the facilities at each venue, installing furniture and building roads around the complex,” he said.

“When construction is finished, there will be three months of checks of the facilities at all venues in the complex to make sure everything is functioning properly. The schedule of tests runs from April to June, after which we will hand over the complex to the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee.”

The 125-hectare sports complex is located in Dongsanghine village, Xaythany district, Vientiane , and houses the main stadium with a seating capacity of 20,000, which will be used for the football and track and field events and for the opening and closing ceremonies.

Other venues at the site comprise two indoor stadiums, each with a seating capacity of 3,000, an indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, and a shooting range.

Construction began on October 28, 2007, under a contract with the China Yunnan Construction Engineering Group Corporation. The cost of construction is more than US$80 million and has been arranged through a joint cooperation project between the Lao government and the China Development Bank.

The upgrading of other facilities, including indoor and football stadiums to be used for competition and training, is also in progress.

Meanwhile, work has finished on a new sports training centre on an 11-hectare site in Sikeud village, Naxaithong district.

The centre cost more than 35 billion kip (US$4 million) to build, financed by grant aid from the government of Vietnam . An opening ceremony will be held on January 18.

The centre comprises an office, sleeping quarters for athletes, a running track and playing field, a football pitch, a gymnasium and other facilities for sporting events. Up to 200 athletes will be able to train there every day.

Construction is also in progress on the athletes' village, which is located on a 42,000sqm site at the Dongdok campus, National University of Laos. It is scheduled for completion in August.

By Sisay Vilaysack

Laos will host 26 sports in SEA Games



KUALA LUMPUR: The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) have clarified that Laos will host 26 sports and not 25 in the SEA Games from Dec 9-18.

The OCM secretary general, Datuk Sieh Kok Chi, said that recent reports were wrong and gave a picture that some sports had been dropped arbitrarily by the hosts.

“Some even claim that archery, cycling and weightlifting were omitted from the programme of the 25th Games in Vientiane,” he said.

“At the last SEA Games Federation Council meeting on Nov 13, the final list of sports and events approved and announced were 25 sports and 390 events. This is wrong as the Games organising committee had wrongly included soft tennis as part of tennis. Soft tennis has to be considered a different sport from tennis because it comes under the jurisdiction of a different international federation. Hence the total number of sports in the Games is 26 and 390 events.”

Kok Chi added that for archery, there will be eight events — four more than in the Olympic Games with the inclusion of the compound bows competitions for men’s and women’s team and individual.

“There will be no track cycling events as Laos do not have a velodrome but road cycling and mountain bike racing have been included with a total of eight gold medals at stake,” he said.

“The hosts have not taken advantage of selecting sports in which they are strong in because irrespective of what sports they choose, Laos will not be among the top five in the final medal standings.

“The sports dropped are based on non-availability of international standard competition venues, lack of equipment, the non-existence of their national sports associations for a large number of sports, insufficient internationally qualified judges and technical officials and insufficient human and financial resources.”

Basketball and waterpolo may still be included as there are discussions on the Philippines and Singapore to fund them at the Games.

The sports in the Games programme are athletics, archery, swimming, badminton, billiards and snooker, boxing, cycling, football, golf, judo, karate, sepak takraw, shooting, soft tennis, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, wrestling, weightlifting, wushu, muay thai, petanque, silat, shuttlecock and fin swimming.

SOurce: thestar

SEA Games countdown at Chao-anouvong stadium



The official venue for the launch of the countdown to the 25th SEA Games will be Chao-anouvong stadium in Anou village of Chanthbouly district, according to the Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC).


The LNSC's publication ‘Sports Daily News' yesterday reported the ceremony was being organised by the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee (LAOSOC) in cooperation with the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Vientiane Administration Office.

The countdown ceremony will be held on December 31 and will be attended by high-ranking government officials, as well as being open to the public.

The ceremony will commence at 6.30 pm and run until 1am on January 1, 2009. Attendees will not only be able to enjoy the New Year celebrations and the launch of the countdown to the 2009 SEA Games, but also a show from Miss SEA Games contestants, performances by various artists, and a dazzling fireworks display.

The event will also feature the selection of the final 11 Miss SEA Games ambassadors who will lead athletes of each country into the stadium during the opening and closing ceremonies of the games.

A countdown clock to be placed at the Talat Sao Shopping Mall is currently being prepared, according to the games' major sponsor Lao Brewery Company.

Last month the SEA Games Federation approved 390 events in 25 sports for the games which will run from December 9 to 18 in Vientiane .

The games will involve athletes from the 11 nations of Laos , Vietnam , Cambodia , Brunei , Thailand , Malaysia , Indonesia , Myanmar , Philippines , Singapore , and Timor Leste, which will be making its SEA Games debut.

The games aim to promote friendship, solidarity and understanding between countries in the region, while promoting sport and providing an opportunity for athletes to compete in order to improve their performances at the Asian Games and Olympic Games.

By Sisay Vilaysack

Photo: Mr Somsavat Lengsavad speaks at the sports committee's office.

Athlete transport and accommodation, public health and media coverage were some of the items on the agenda of the Lao National Sports Committee when it met yesterday to discuss preparations for the 25th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

The SEA Games will be held in Vientiane in December 2009, marking the first time Laos has hosted the event.

SEA Games Organising Committee Chairman and Standing Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Somsavat Lengsavad, spoke at the meeting and said Lao people would be proud the country was capable of planning such a large sporting event.

“Our target is to win 25 gold medals, but the athletes will have to win fairly,” he said.

“We will not stand for any cheating, especially involving drugs. If we find out that any referee has been biased then we will reprimand them.”

More than 700 cars and buses will be used to transport athletes and officials during the SEA Games, which will run from December 9-18.

Mr Somsavat said transport links were currently being upgraded and the new national football stadium in Xaythany district of Vientiane was finished and ready to use.

Lao sports officials are now selecting the best athletes in their respective sports, and China has offered to train some Lao athletes ahead of the event.

Away from the sporting field, the committee will make its final selection of female ambassadors for the SEA Games on New Year's Eve, when it will crown a number of young women with the title of Miss SEA Games.

The committee will meet again on Friday to discuss the budget for the games.

Also attending the meeting was Minister to the Prime Ministers Office and Lao National Sports Committee President, Dr Phouthong Seng-akhom, and other deputy ministers.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

Officials from the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee and Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sport met on Wednesday in Vientiane to discuss preparations for the 2009 SEA Games. –Photo Sisay

The Lao SEA Games Organising Committee (LAOSOC) met with delegates from the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports in Vientiane on Wednesday to discuss progress on preparations for the 25th SEA Games.

The meeting was chaired by Lao National Sports Committee Vice President, Mr Somphou Phongsa, and the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports' Permanent Secretary Dr Sasithara Pichaichannarong.

The two sides discussed preparations for the games including the compilation of competition technical teams, construction of training and competition facilities, traffic and transport arrangements, volunteer organisers, television broadcasting and accommodation for athletes and officials.

Thai officials reported on the progress of an indoor stadium upgrade which the Thai government is providing 43 billion kip (179 million baht) funding for. The stadium in Beungkhayong village, Sisattanak district of Vientiane will host the shuttlecock and muay events during the games.

The facility is on track for completion in October next year, the meeting was told.

Mr Somphou, on behalf of LAOSOC, thanked the Thai government for its support in upgrading the Beungkhayong indoor stadium and other preparations for the event, which will be held in December 2009.

“In preparing for the games we have also received generous support from other neighbouring countries including Vietnam and China ,” he said.

Last month a meeting of the SEA Games Federation decreed the event would consist of 390 events across the 25 sports of athletics, aquatic sports (swimming, diving and water polo), archery, badminton, billiards and snooker, boxing, cycling, football, golf, judo, karatedo, sepak takraw, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and soft tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu, muay, fin swimming, petanque, shuttlecock and pencak silat.

Competition venues are the national sports complex at Km 16 in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district; Don Chan Palace; Booyoung and Olympasia indoor stadiums at the National University of Laos; Lao International Trade Exhibition and Convention Centre; Chao-anouvong stadium in Anou village, Chanthabouly district; the Army stadium at Km 5 and the Vientiane Sports Department in Beungkhayong village, Sisattanak district.



By Sisay Vilaysack