25th SEA Games, Laos

IT was a historic moment for Laos when the 25th South East Asian (SEA) Games was officially opened in a colourful ceremony steeped in cultural and historical significance at the new National Stadium in Vientiane last night.

Despite being a founder member when the Games debuted in 1959, Laos, known as “the ancient kingdom of a million elephants”, are hosting the biennial event for the first time.

The Games are also held in celebration of the 450th anniversary of Vientiane as the capital of Laos in 2010.

Tagged as the ‘Generosity, Amity, and Healthy Lifestyle’ Games, the hosts are keen to stress home the point that solidarity and friendship are more important than winning among the South East Asian neighbours.

About 7,000 students were involved in the cultural performances in the opening ceremony, which included dances titled “Welcome SEA Games, Sound of Jungle, Golden Rice Field, Fairness Candlelight, Sin-Xay the hero of an era, Bright Future and Binding Heart to Step Forward”.

The performances celebrated the abundance of cultural and ethnical diversity in the former French colony.

Among the dignitaries who graced the ceremony was Laos President Choummaly Sayasone and he was joined by the Prime Ministers of Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam.

Countdown the opening



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Part II


Part III


Torching


Part IV


Part V


Part VI


Part VII


Part VIII


All video clips from langvannavong
Source: Thestar, Malaysia

Lao Telecom to keep SEA Games wired

The Lao Telecommunication Company has announced more than 24 billion kip in support for the 25th SEA Games to be held in Vientiane this December.

The company's Director General, Mr Thansamay Kommasith, said yesterday the company is proud to support the games through a cash donation of 1.1 billion kip and information and communication technology (ICT) support at SEA Games facilities.

The company has already installed ICT systems at some games facilities including fibre optic networks, WiMax, WiFi and Highly Parallel System Architecture.

The company organised a signing ceremony yesterday to officially announce its support to the SEA Games Marketing and Benefit Committee.

“Most of the ICT systems will be complete by the end of this month and we will test them before the games to ensure they are running smoothly,” Mr Thansamay said.

SEA Games Marketing and Benefit Committee representative, Mr Southanom Inthavong, confirmed Lao Telecom will provide ICT support to the SEA Games .

“The company will also install WiMax and WiFi Internet systems in the main stadium and other sport complexes as well as the International Press Centre and National Press Centre,” he said.

Lao Telecom will also introduce measures to overcome any potential problems caused by overcrowded telephone networks.

Mr Thansamay said at such big events telephone networks often become overloaded, causing delays for users, so the company will do its best to overcome this issue.

The company is also supporting the Lao Weightlifting Federation.

Mr Thansamay said although the federation was young, its aim is to expand the sport around the country and train Lao weightlifters for the ga mes.

Weightlifting events at the games will comprise eight weight categories for male athletes: 56, 62, 69, 77, 85, 94, 105 and over 105 kg; and 48, 53, 58, 63, 69, 75, 77 and over 85 kg categories for females.

Vientianetimes

Media is set to benefit with Lao National Television (LNTV) to provide an information centre during the 25th SEA Games to be held in Vientiane this December.

LNTV Director, Dr Bounchom Vongphet reported the International Broadcasting Centre would be set up at Km 5 Chommany village, Xaithany district, Vientiane .

“The centre will provide information and broadcasts to viewers including the opening and closing ceremonies as well as live broadcasts of many popular sports during the games.

“Foreign and local journalists can get all the necessary information at the centre,” he explained.

LNTV plans to broadcast the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as 17 of the 25 sports.

“We will choose the most popular sports to broadcast on channels 1 and 3. We will cooperate with Lao Star Channel to broadcast 10 hours per day, but Lao Star Channel will take only two hours per day,” Dr Bounchom said.

“We also plan to report results through both national television stations early in each hour.”

LNTV officials have organised four training courses for cameramen and producers to ensure the best quality broadcasting possible.

Meanwhile they are continuing to train their staff to cover the biggest ever sporting event to come to Laos .

“We will have 11 news teams to report on all the daily competition from the stadiums through fibre-optic and microwave links to the centre.

“Now, many staff still need to improve their skills before the games,” he said.

He added that Laos would be the first country to sell SEA Games live-broadcasting rights to other television stations in various countries in the region.

“We can say that because the SEA games committees meeting in Vientiane agreed to sell the rights.

“This October, there will be many TV companies from neighbouring countries and we will have to have agreements for live broadcasting.

“The committee has agreed that a newly established company must identify the price of broadcasting rights,” Dr Bounchom explained.

He said broadcasters would require 17 outside broadcasting ( OB ) vans for the games.

“Now we have only four OB van in Laos , so we will rent 10 OB vans from Thailand , two from Vietnam and one from Singapore .”

Meanwhile, Lao National Radio (LNR) is also busy preparing staff to report on the games.

LNR Director-General Sipha Nonglath said the organisation would follow similar broadcasting strategies to those of LNTV.

“What is different is training officials on how to cover sports events for radio, as well as how to improve sports reporting through the radio to make it more interesting for listeners,” he said.

He said online reports in Lao, English, French and Hmong languages would ensure people around the world stay up dated during the games.



By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes

The Lao Telecommunication Company (TLC) launched its 3G phone service to serve mobile users, Lao newspaper the Vientiane Times reported Friday.

With the new service, Lao mobile phone users can now have continuous connection to the Internet with data transfer up to 114Kbps, said the newspaper. Customers are able to send and receive emails, download music, play games, and watch television.

The service is targeted at businessmen and young people, said the newspaper.

Modern and global standard telecommunication systems are vital to the economy of Laos as they help enhance the country's competitiveness in commerce and trade, according to the newspaper.

TLC expects to supply 20,000 3G sim cards just to visitors coming to Laos for the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) events scheduled to be held in the country later this year, said the newspaper.

Currently, it provides telephone coverage to over 80 percent of the Laos population