SEA Games countdown starts
By Peter Atencio
THE countdown for the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Laos has begun.
A beauty pageant, performances from various artists and a dazzling fireworks display greeted the public last night during the launch of the official countdown for the official staging of the 25th SEA Games at the Chao-anouvong stadium at the Anou Village of the Chanthbouly District in Vientiane.
The ceremony was organized by the Lao SEA Games Organizing Committee, in cooperation with the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Vientiane Administration Office.
The event featured 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 when it is held from Dec. 9 to 18 at the capital city of Laos.
A countdown clock, placed at a nearby shopping mall, has also began ticking.
Last month, the SEA Games Federation approved 390 events in 25 sports for the Games.
Athletes from the 11 member-nations of Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Timor Leste and host Laos are expected to send their entries from the different sports in the Games’ calendar.
Thailand is assisting Lao authorities organize the Games by providing 179 million baht ($5.18 million) in funding assistance for the construction of a stadium in Beungkhayong Village, Sisattanak District of Vientiane.
Aside from the Thais, China and Vietnam have also provided additional funding to be used to construct other facilities which will be used for the Games.
Laotian officials said the track and field facility will be completed in October 2009
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