25th SEA Games, Laos

More than 100 hundred Lao athletes will continue to train in Vientiane in preparation for the 25th SEA Games next month after successfully completing training programmes in neighbouring countries.

Members of the pencak silat, fin swimming and wrestling teams are currently training in Vietnam and will return to Vientiane this month.

The swimming squad is training in Bangkok , Thailand , while the taekwondo team (artistic style) is practising in the Republic of Korea and divers are preparing in Beijing , China . All will return to Vientiane by the end of this month.

Lao athletes are eager to perform well at their home games after improving their skills at training camps abroad over the past year.

It is expected the fin swimming, swimming and diving teams will struggle to win medals at the event because they have only had a short preparation period and lack experience at the international level.

However, the martial arts teams are expected to perform well at the games and the Lao Wrestling Federation currently has 11 male and three female athletes training in Vietnam .

A member of the Lao wrestling coaching team, Mr Manolom, said the federation will select a final squad for the games when the team returns to Laos .

The national shuttlecock team concluded a four month training camp in Hanoi , Vietnam , this month. During that time the team won a bronze medal at a Vietnamese national event and two silver and two bronze medals in the Asian Indoor Games.

The team was buoyed by their recent successes and are confident of claiming medals when their nation hosts the regional sporting event in December.

The boxing, archery, taekwondo, karatedo, and athletics teams are currently training at the National Sports Training Centre in Sikeud village, Naxaithong district.

The petanque, table tennis, volleyball and other squads are training at camps around Vientiane .

It is expected all 25 national teams competing in the games will be training in Vientiane by the end of this month.

During the games, the track and field, swimming, fin swimming, diving, volleyball and beach volleyball, badminton, tennis, football, archery and shooting events will all be held at the National Stadium in Xaythany district.

The billiards and snooker contests will be held at the Don Chan Palace hotel, while the boxing and wrestling events will be held in the Olympasia gymnasium at the National University of Laos Dongdok campus.

The university will also host the table tennis and petanque events, while the weightlifting will take place at the nearby Phonsavanh School in Dongdok village.

The golf event will take place at the SEA Games golf course in Phokham village, Xaythany district.

The judo and karatedo events will be contested at the Lao-Japan Budo Centre in Anou village, Chanthabouly district, while the sepak takraw, pencak silat, and wushu events will be held at the Lao-ITECC.

The muay (kick-boxing) and shuttlecock events are to be held at the indoor stadium in Beung Kha Ngong village.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad ordered all 25 sports federations to consider the welfare of Lao athletes as they prepare for the 25th SEA Games.

After visiting a number of training centres and talking to athletes, Mr Somsavat gathered 25th SEA Games committees and federation officials last Friday to discuss the problems the athletes had raised.

“All federations should pay more attention to the needs of their athletes. I went to see how they are faring at each training centre and they told me about their problems, with some requesting assistance,” Mr Somsavat said at the latest SEA Games meeting.

The first issue brought to his attention was medical care. Most of the training centres need doctors and physiotherapists to carry out regular health checks. Canteen facilities were also considered to be inadequate.

“Medical care and better food were two of their main concerns. The health of athletes is very important because they train hard and need nutritious food to give them energy. The food and health sectors should work together to provide this,” he said.

Mr Somsavat said if these problems could be resolved it will help encourage athletes to train and compete to the best of their abilities.

“We should attend to their needs and take care of them very well,” he said.

Some athletes at the SEA Games sports training centre in Sikeud village, Naxaithong district, Vientiane , complained their schools and universities were pressuring them over repeated absences.

“If athletes don't attend classes for three days they are penalised. This has a strong, direct impact on them. The sectors involved should verify whether schools or universities are following the Prime Minister's Order on this matter,” he said.

With so many students competing in the games on behalf of Laos , why couldn't the nation help them with their studies? he asked.

Mr Somsavat cited the example of a goalkeeper in the national women's football team who works in a timber factory in Xaysettha district, Vientiane . She told him if she was absent from work for three days she would be fined by her employer.

“I've heard that she is a good goalkeeper. Her hands are stickier than sticky rice!

“I would like to know if the Lao Football Federation has discussed the matter with her employer or not. All federations should take care of their athletes because it's very important,” he said.

Some athletes training abroad also worry about their school and work commitments. Their families call them with news that their employer or school has been looking for them.

Mr Somsavat instructed federation officials to address these problems through direct discussions with schools and employers.

“Negotiate with them and then take signed papers to athletes' families to confirm the school or employer has given permission for them to be absent. Then athletes and their families will have confidence and won't have to worry about this situation,” he said.

He stressed sports federations should follow up on these matters and said all problems should be solved before the next SEA Games meeting, scheduled for May 9.

He informed the public and the federations that the Prime Minister was closely monitoring progress on issues concerning athletes' welfare.

“All the problems regarding SEA Games preparations are reported to Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh. He has advised me to make enquiries and help the committees solve these problems, especially the concerns of athletes,” he said.

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes

Photo: Sengdara fitness center in Vientiane.

The National Olympic Committee of Thailand presented fitness equipment worth 650 million kip to the Lao National Olympic Committee at the Lao National Club on Tuesday.

Minister to the Prime Minister's Office and President of the Lao National Olympic Committee Dr Phouthong Seng-akhom received the equipment from the President of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, Mr Yuthasak Sasiprapha, during a handover ceremony.

The two countries will continue their cooperation in the sports sector for the 25 th SEA Games in Laos in 2009.

The fitness equipment will be installed at the new Lao National Sports Training Centre in Vientiane this year, once construction of the centre is complete.

Source: Vientianetimes