25th SEA Games, Laos

U-23 Malaysia arrived Vientiane

Many people wonder why Thailand and Vietnam are sending U-19 players to the pre-SEA Games football tournament that will kick off in Vientiane on Friday, even though the invitation is for U-23 players.

General Secretary of the Lao Football Federation, Mr Soulivanh Xeunvilay, gave Vientiane Times an answer to this question yesterday, saying it was a strategic move by regionally popular teams to keep their main players under wraps.

“The U-23 category doesn't mean only 22-year-old footballers can be on the team, but that players are not any older than 23. This gives teams the leeway to send players in a wide age range and keep their main players out of sight until the actual SEA Games,” he said.

Vietnam and Thailand recently made the decision not to send their under-23 squads to participate in the pre-SEA Games tournament, instead sending their U-19 teams.

The Football Association of Thailand said its under-23 team could not participate in the tournament because many players were committed to playing in the ongoing Thai Premier League. Vietnam explained their team was busy training for the SEA Games in December, and did not want to disrupt its preparations.

The Lao Football Federation, Lao National Television and the Crossfire Company are jointly hosting the Four Nations pre-games football tournament.

The tournament will see Lao, Malaysian, Thai and Vietnamese footballers play in Vientiane from October 2-6 with the aim of testing the broadcasting system and facilities at the new National Stadium.

The tournament is playing an important role in the 25th SEA Games by testing the football pitch, broadcasting system and other aspects related to the big event.

Tickets for these matches cost 40,000 kip for general admission and 80,000 kip for VIP seating. The money from ticket sales will be used to fund local football.

The tournament is set to take place at the new National Stadium at km16 in Dongxanghin village, Xaythany district.

On October 2, Thailand will take on Malaysia , and Laos will play Vietnam . October 4 will see Malaysia up against Vietnam , and Laos facing Thailand . The last day of the tournament will pit Laos against Malaysia , and Vietnam with Thailand .

Games will kick off at 4:30pm and 7pm. All matches will be broadcast live on Lao National Television.

Crossfire reported that many people wanted to buy tickets for the event but didn't know where they were sold. Tickets will be available at M-Point Mart and at roadside Tigo stands in Vientiane , as well as during the boat racing festival at Vat Chan village in Chanthabouly district.

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes

Photo: Centre point is the place to relax in central Vientiane

In teenage cultures all over the world, certain places become popular with the young and sociable. The name ‘Centre Point' is very popular among Vientiane teenagers who want to see and be seen, dress stylishly and gossip.


Centre point is located in Sihom village, Chanthabouly district, Vientiane . Each evening hundreds of young people gather to drink soymilk, eat noodle soup, or snack at roadside food stalls.

Owner of Fun-Oe soymilk stall, Mr Tinoy said the area was crowded with people from 5pm to 11pm every day. Many families come to eat food. Then about 6pm the teenagers arrive to refresh themselves after playing sports.

“Between 8 and 11pm there will be a lot of young people, celebrities and uptown people gathering at the various stalls, many dressed in fashionable styles,” he said.

“Not only local people come here, a lot of foreign visitors also like to relax in this area,” he explained.

The area has been popular among teenagers and young people for quite a while. But it is the current generation who have called it ‘Centre Point.' They say it is the best place to meet their friends, handsome boys or pretty girls and other uptown people.

Before 2000, there were only a few soymilk and food stalls in the area. It was called nam taohou na hongnang (soymilk in front of the cinema) then. After 2000, the name changed to si nhaek nam taohou (crossroad soymilk) and now it's known as centre point.

“Previously, there were just a few businesses; they served soymilk, Chinese donuts, noodle soup and ice-cream from stalls along the roadsides. Now there are many more stalls and a greater variety of food, such as papaya salad and other sweet drinks,” Mr Tinoy said.

A National University of Laos student, Mr Yai, said he picked up his friend and headed to centre point every day. A big attraction of the spot for the boys is the attractive and stylishly dressed girls sitting and talking.

“It's very nice to look at them and sometimes flirt,” he said with a big smile.

A girl from Thongkhankham village, Ms Nouny, said it's the best place to go and meet new people. “Dressing well in the latest fashion is important for both boys and girls here; I don't think the soymilk would taste as good if other people didn't come here to see each other.”

Centre point is a fascinating spot to show 25th SEA Games' visitors, as an example of modern Lao culture that is truly youthful and outward looking.


By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes

The shooting field in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district, to be used for the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane this December is now 90 percent complete.

The Lao SEA Games Organising Committee says the arena will be completed within a month.

Manager of the Construction Project for the 25th SEA Games, Mr Khiengkham Phoutchanhthavongsa said officials are waiting for equipment from Germany to install at the field.

The shooting field will consist of 32 lanes of 10 metres in length and 32 lanes of 50m in length. The arena will have seating for 50 spectators.

Construction of the facility began in October 2007.

The national shooting team will train at the field from October in preparation for the games.

The team is currently training at the Lao Shooting Federation's field, which has eight lanes of 10m in length and six lanes of 50m.

The Industrial Park Overseas Investment Company, China Yunnan Construction Engineering Group and China Development Bank are currently constructing a sports complex for the SEA games at a cost of more than 849 billion kip (more than US$100 million).

The complex will include a football stadium, swimming pools, tennis courts, a shooting field and two indoor stadiums. The complex is located in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district, Vientiane .

The shooting event at the games will consist of men's and women's singles 50m rifle and 10m air rifle; women's singles and team 25m pistol and 10m air pistol; men's singles 25m rapid fire pistol and 25m centre fire pistol; men's singles and team 25m standard pistol, 10m air pistol and 50m pistol events.

The Lao national shooting team finished in sixth place at the South East Asia Shooting Championships in Vietnam last September after winning one gold, four silvers and eight bronze medals.

The Lao shooting team failed to win a medal at the last SEA Games in Thailand in 2007


By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianegames

The Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC) says improvements to the Chao Anouvong football stadium in Vientiane are 85 percent complete in the lead-up to the 25th SEA Games.

The committee is currently planting new grass in and around the stadium and believes the upgrade will be complete by September.

Manager of the Construction Projects for the 25th SEA Games, Mr Khiengkham Phouthchanhthavong, said the government is spending 25 billion kip on improving the football stadium. The upgrade began in May 2008.

The improvements include the installation of a high-standard electrical system, scoreboard, running tracks and public facilities. The stadium will be used for the first round of men's and women's football matches.

Last February, a delegation from the Asia Football Confederation inspected the stadium to ensure it meets international standards.

The existing stadium has 7,000 seats, which is believed to be sufficient to accommodate spectators at the first round of the football tournament.

The national football team is currently training at the national sports training centre in Huayhong village, Chanthabouly district. The Savankham Construction Company is undertaking the improvements to the football stadium.

The former national football stadium has hosted the Prime Minister's Cup, the National Games and Lao League Division 1 football matches.

The LNSC is also improving other football stadiums at the National University of Laos, Banking Institute and Lao National Television, which will be used as football venues during the games.

The National Football Stadium in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district, will be used for later round football matches and track and field events.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong

(KPL) Golf Long Tanh Company of Vietnam provided US$20,000 to Lao National Badminton Federation, on 11 April, to help her to prepare the Lao national badminton team to compete in the coming SEA Games.

Present at the hand-over ceremony were Dr Boviengkham Vongdara, Head of Prime Minister�s Office, Mr Thong Philavong, President of Lao National Badminton Federation, President of Golf Long Tanh Company and witnesses of concerned sectors.
This company is investing US$1 billion in a golf construction project in Dongphosy village, Hadsaifong district, Vientiane.

More than 250 Lao doctors, nurses and students from various medical facilities around Vientiane will provide medical services at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane this December.

Member of the National Olympic Committee of Laos and Chairman of the Medical Anti-Doping Commission, Dr Alongkone Phengsavanh, said on Monday the team will be divided into three groups for medical services, food safety issues and doping tests.

The doctors come from major hospitals in Vientiane including Mahosot, Mittaphab, Setthathirath, 103 and 109 and the University of Health Sciences . Some will provide emergency medical services for athletes injured while competing, while others will specialise in assisting athletes with physical rehabilitation to recover from minor injuries.

Dr Alongkone said about 80 doctors and nurses will take part in training courses next month to learn more about doping tests.

In addition, doctors and nurses in major hospitals will be on stand-by 24 hours a day to provide emergency medical services for everyone during the games.

“Even though it will be the first time we've hosted the SEA Games, we are confident our team can provide effective and efficient services, as we have already proven when we hosted other big events such as the Asean Summit in 2004,” Dr Alongkone said.

By Sangkhomsay Bouphanouvong
vientiane times