25th SEA Games, Laos

Japan to construct martial arts centre



The Japanese government will provide 37 billion kip (400 million yen) to the Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC) to assist in the construction of a martial arts centre in Vientiane .

The funding agreement was signed by LNSC Vice President, Mr Somphou Phongsa, and Japanese International Affairs Department Manager, Mr Yukinobu Morikawa, in Vientiane on Tuesday.

The sports committee will use the Lao-Japan Budo Centre to hold the karatedo and judo events at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane next year. Budo is a Japanese term describing martial arts.

The centre will provide a first-rate training facility for the martial arts of karatedo, judo and aikido. The sports committee will also use the centre to host table tennis and sepak takraw tournaments and other entertainment events.

The Japanese Kanto Construction Company and Sanpo International Corporation will begin construction of the centre at the end of this month and will complete the facility by October next year. The Azusa Sekkei Company will serve as consultants during the construction.

Mr Morikawa said the construction companies were experienced working in Laos , having built hospitals in Songkhone district of Savannakhet province, Kaenthao district in Xayaboury province, Houn district in Oudomxay and Sing district in Luang Namtha province.

He said the companies would work closely with LNSC, the Japanese Embassy to Laos , and Japan 's International Cooperation Agency to ensure construction of the centre ran smoothly and efficiently. The centre will be the first such facility in Laos and officials hope that it will enable Lao martial arts athletes to win medals at next year's SEA Games.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong