25th SEA Games, Laos

Lao sepak takraw team manager Khamvanh Nanthavong said the main goal of his team was to be good hosts and they were not expecting any major triumphs at the SEA Games.


Mr Khamvanh was speaking after his team lost to Thailand in the final of the men's regu event in Vientiane yesterday.

“Our goal is to be a good host. We're not hoping for anything else so we got the silver medal today. But I was proud because our team still lacks experience. We can't compete with the Thai players because they have so much more experience,” he said.

In the final match of the men's regu event, Thailand took the gold medal 2-0 with scores of 21-16 and 21-12.

Mr Khamvanh said his team had only two years of experience but the Thai team had been in the sport for 10 years, so their levels were very different.

At the start of the game, Laos and Thailand were level and there was almost no difference in score. But the Thai team started to pull away and Laos lagged behind to finish in second place and take the silver medal.

“Before the next SEA Games in Indonesia , Lao sepak takraw players will get as much as experience as possible,” Mr Khamvanh promised.

The Lao sepak takraw team is now running fourth in the sport's medal tally with one silver and two bronze medals. Thailand has five gold medals, Myanmar has one gold, one silver and one bronze medal, and in third place is Vietnam with three silver medals.

In the women's regu event which took place on the same day between Thailand and Vietnam , Thailand beat Vietnam 2-1 with a score of 19-21, 21-8 and 15-9.

In today's events, the Lao women's and men's doubles teams will face Malaysia , Indonesia and Thailand at the Lao International Trade and Exhibition Convention Centre starting at 9am.


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

Muay lao bronze medallist in the men's 54kg division at the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand , Somdy Douangmala is training in China for the next three months in the hope of representing Laos in the wushu event at this year's SEA Games.

Somdy hopes to join the national wushu team for the games after missing out on selection for the national muay lao team.

National selectors will use the training camp in China as a basis for choosing the national wushu squad to compete in the games later this year.

National muay lao trainer, Mr Somsa-nga Phimmachan said Somdy did not pass the muay lao selection rounds for this year's games.

Mr Somsa-nga said there are many talented young Lao kick-boxers ready to represent the country at the games.

A determined fighter, Somdy has shown his skill in the Vientiane Muay Lao Competition at the Sokxay and National Circus rings many times.

After representing the Ministry of National Defence at the eighth National Games in Champassak province last December, Somdy trained in wushu at a national camp in Anou village, Chanthabouly district.

Somdy had been training at the National Sports Training Centre in Sikeuth village in Naxaithong district for the last four months before he departed for China last week.

Last week, the muay lao team won a gold, four silver and one bronze medal in the Asian Martial Arts competition in Bangkok in Thailand .

The Muay Lao Federation has many medallists from the national games lined up for the SEA Games.

The organisers of this year's SEA Games say they are expecting nearly 4,250 competitors, including over 1,800 females, from 10 countries.

There will also be over 700 officials in attendance, along with nearly 200 managers and support staff.

The Lao National Sports Committee is still waiting for Timor L'este to confirm how many athletes they will send to compete in the games.

The committee will enter 344 male and 303 female Lao athletes to compete on their home soil.

Thailand will send the largest contingent of athletes with over 540 males and 310 females. The SEA Games will consist of 25 sports - athletics, aquatics (water polo, diving, swimming), archery, badminton, billiard-snooker, boxing, cycling, football, golf, judo, karate-do, sepak takraw, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball and beach volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu, fin swimming, muay, pencak silat, petanque, and shuttle cock.


By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

(KPL) Villagers of Thapa village, Hardsaifong district, Vientiane Capital, have a tradition on growing rice and other crops during the rainy season and sell the surplus to markets in Vientiane.

Mr Savatdy Phoudthavong, chief of Thapa, said that the villagers were growing various crops to supply the 25th SEA Games events, scheduled late this year in Laos.Mr Savatdy said that the government and the district administration asked the villagers to grow rice, tomatoes, lettuce, scallion, collard, cabbage, cauliflower and maize.

Thapa village has a total land area of 470 hectares. The villagers grew second season rice on 186 hectares and all the growers had already harvested their second seasonal rice crop.

This village has a population of 1,686 in 357 families, 348 households.

Construction of a four-lane road, linking Don Noun Three Junction to the National Stadium in Vientiane 's Xaythany district, is not running on schedule, a project official said last week.

Head of the Vientiane SEA Games road project, Mr Noulot Latxaphong said the main reason behind the delay is the wet season.

He said it is difficult to conduct land levelling in the wet season and heavy rainfalls have destroyed areas that have already been levelled as well as causing deterioration to already paved areas.

“We had set a target to achieve 18 percent of total construction each month, but in July we only achieved 5 percent,” he said.

“We will do our best to ensure the project is completed on schedule by October to welcome the SEA Games at the end of this year.”

The project is currently around 75 percent complete. Asphalt paving is 70 percent complete, despite the fact it was scheduled to be finished by June.

The road's walkways are 50 percent complete and traffic islands 20 percent complete.

Mr Noulot said measures have been introduced to speed up construction efforts.

“If there is no rain we will increase working periods. For example, we usually stop working at 6pm, but we will try to push that out to 8 or 9pm if the weather permits,” he said.

When finished the four-lane road will be 21m wide and 4.5km long.

It will be paved with a 5cm layer of asphalt and is expected to last for more than ten years.

The current road is only two lanes and 8 metres wide. In its current form, the road is unable to meet traffic requirements during a major event.

Construction is estimated at a total cost of US$3.7 million, of which US$3 million is a low interest loan from the Republic of Korea and the remainder from the government coffers.

There are several roads under construction in the lead-up to the SEA Games in December including Phontong Road, linking Dongdok to Savang village, and the 450 Year Road, linking Dongdok Road to the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, in Dongphosy village, Hadxaifong district.

The new roads will help facilitate increased traffic in Vientiane during the games.

By Times Reporters

Many restaurants in Vientiane are preparing special new menus for visitors during the 25th SEA Games in December, according to a Vientiane Times survey yesterday.

The city already has many restaurants serving foods from different parts of the world, in particular, Indian foods are expected to be a popular dish for visitors.

“Nazim” is the oldest Indian restaurant in Vientiane and is a favourite among local and foreign diners. It has over 100 items on its menu which includes many that have the real taste of Indian dishes. These are popular with customers, as well as the reasonable prices.

The restaurant's owner Mrs Sengchanh Vanvilay told our Vientiane Times reporter that after 20-years of experience they had a high reputation for the quality and genuine flavours of their Indian cuisine.

“Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean people coming to support their teams will want to eat halal food. We are careful to prepare our food in accordance with halal custom. We believe we can provide the best service and foods for them,” she explained.

The restaurant is located at the Mekong riverside in Mixay village, Chanthabouly district Vientiane . It has a small outside eating area but if people look inside it can serve up to 100 guests at a time

“The most popular dishes are sheep and chicken masalas, mutton pepper dry masala, chicken tika masala and garlic nan. Many customers like it really spicy because Indian food should be heavily spiced but some will not,” Mrs Sengchanh explained.

She added that while most of their customers are from Malaysia , Indonesia and Singapore , many Western and European customers are also interested in eating Indian food.

The restaurant imports most of its ingredients directly from India , because they believe their food should be genuine . However some fresh ingredients they will buy from local markets.

“Not only our ingredients, we have also had a genuine Indian chef to cook in the traditional way for customers here for many years,” she said.

Nazim now has branches in Vangvieng, Luang Prabang and Champassak provinces. Luang Prabang is also very popular like the capital.”

Mrs Sengchanh welcomes the games as an opportunity to improve even more on her already high standards and is planning to reorganise her tables and service arrangements.

“I really hope to be able to serve the best food for visitors during the event,” she said.

Many other Indian restaurants in Vientiane are also preparing their establishments to welcome games visitors. So lovers of Indian food will not find it hard to find a restaurant to their taste in central Vientiane .


By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes

“Nobody knows what the future may hold, but we can try our best to be ready for tomorrow.”

Our country's superstar female muay lao fighter (kick-boxing) Bounchanh Sengpaseuth doesn't know what the ring may have in store for her at this year's SEA Games.

“Despite the fact that I'm now the country's number one female muay lao fighter and a SEA Games gold medallist I cannot predict the outcome of my next fights. I'm just planning to do my best” said Bouchanh.

“I want to retain my gold medal and perform to the best of my abilities for Lao spectators at this year's SEA Games. I hope to do so since one cannot say in advance what may happen in any given fight” she said.

Twenty-five year-old Bounchanh was born into a farming family in Sisavath village, in the district of Borikhan in Borikhamxay province.

The youngest child of the family of three brothers and five sisters, she was the only one bent on sports. She is now one year away from graduating from the Physical Education Teacher Training College in Vientiane .

Bounchan explained that in the past she played football, volleyball and kator (better known in the SEA Games as sepak takraw).

“I began to train in muay lao in 2006 and had my first fight that same year. It was a rough start as I lost the bout,” Bouchanh said.

When asked about coping with that loss she smiled.

“No… no I'm not sad looking back on my debut. I gained a lot of experience from that fight.”

Indeed it seems she did, that fight is the only defeat in Bounchanh's otherwise perfect record.

The big surprise for Bounchanh came in 2007 when she was invited to join two national squads: sepak takraw and muay lao for the last SEA Games which took place in Thailand .

However, the rules of the competition didn't allow for a single athlete to compete in two separate events.

Thus, she decided to compete in muay lao. As an unknown, nobody seemed to believe she might take the gold. But she ended up winning and became a national celebrity overnight.

Bounchanh said about her future, “After my career in the ring is over I have plans to become a kick-boxing trainer, I like this sport so much despite the very strong competition between females. Still it's always exciting for me to climb into the ring.”

Although Lao kick-boxers are occasionally seen as second to the professional Thais in muay competitions, the team is confident it could earn several gold medals in this year's SEA Games.

The two gold medals won by Lao fighters in past SEA Games competitions give the muay Lao team a courageous spirit. They are anticipating a large haul of gold medals in front of their home crowd.

This year's SEA Games muay events will include 14 categories, six of which will involve female fighters.

The SEA Games Federation agreed during a meeting in October 2004 to add kick-boxing to the list of official sports for the Philippines 23rd SEA Games in 2005 under the official name of ‘muay'.

By Sisay Vilaysack
Vientianetimes

The Lao SEA Games Organising Committee (LAOSOC) will oversee the installation of timing devices and other technology at the national sports complex in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district in September and October.

In Vientiane last week, the Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC) announced the Malaysian company Velocity Sports Equipment as the appointed sports equipment supplier for the 25th SEA Games to be held in Vientiane later this year.

Last week, an agreement between the two bodies was signed by LNSC Vice President Mr Somphou Phongsa and Director of Velocity Sports Equipment, Mr Yap June Kit.

Chairman of the LAOSOC Technical Committee, Mr Phouvanh Vongsouthi said the committee will purchase a range of international standard sporting equipment from the company.

The equipment includes timing devices and scoreboards to be installed at tennis courts, shooting fields, diving pools, swimming pools, indoor courts and the National Football Stadium.

Mr Phouvanh said the company had supplied equipment for use in previous SEA Games.

The Football Thai Factory Sporting Goods Company has agreed to provide sports equipment and uniforms to the committee for use by various national Lao sporting squads, including the table tennis, petanque, sepak takraw, shooting, archery and golf teams.

The committee will also purchase equipment from China to use at the games.


By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong

Vientianetimes

(KPL) Fifteen Lao boxing referees who would be refereeing the boxing matches of the 25th SEA Games attended training sessions to raise their refereeing skills to international standard.

National Boxing Federation of Laos organized such sessions at National Sports Training Centre (located in Sikeut) last week.

Mr Anan Onchanh, President of the National Amateur Boxing Referees Association of Thailand carried out the training.

The Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC) has invited medallists from sports at the eighth National Games in Champassak province last December to join national teams for the upcoming SEA Games.

The national games were used to select the best athletes to prepare for the 25th SEA Games to be held in Vientiane from December 9-18.

Teams have been training at the National Sports Training Centre and in neighbouring countries in preparation for the games.

The national games yielded 234 gold, 233 silver and 351 bronze medallists from Vientiane , 16 provinces and 10 ministries.

The LNSC did not select unsuccessful athletes or those with a record of bad behaviour or disrespect for the rules of sporting committees and federations.

Ms Nouny Soukpaseuth won a gold medal in the women's 4x400m, silver in the women's 3,000 metre and a bronze in the 1,500 metre in the track and field events at the national games where she represented Champassak province.

After her success she began training for both the track and field and cycling events for the SEA Games.

However, she has been ruled out of selection for the games. The Lao Amateur Athletics Federation's secretary general, Ms Phouxay Phengphong, said Ms Nouny was not selected for the national squad due to disrespect of the federation's rules.

Ms Nouny's younger sister, Ms Phonesanith, won a gold in the 25km and a silver in the 70km, as well as two bronze medals in team 30km and 70km cycling events at the national games.

Neither of the two sisters has been selected for the national cycling team to compete at the SEA Games.

The federation has selected a squad of 41 athletes, including substitutes, for the track and field events.

The LNSC has set a deadline of next month for all 11 countries competing in the games to submit a listing of their national squads.

The SEA Games will comprise athletics, swimming, diving, water polo, archery, badminton, billiards and snooker, boxing, cycling, football, golf, judo, karatedo, sepak takraw, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball and beach volleyball, weight lifting, wrestling, wushu, muay, pencak silat, petanque, fin swimming and shuttlecock.

The eighth National Games consisted of track and field, swimming, volleyball, basketball, football, table tennis, badminton, tennis, sepak takraw, petanque, bowling, golf, snooker, shooting, top spinning, crossbow, sport boat racing, muay lao, boxing, pencak silat, taekwondo, judo, karatedo and cycling.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

The Surabaya municipal administration wished to host the 2011 SEA Games accompanying Jakarta as the main host of the multi-event games, and other secondary hosts Bandung, Semarang and Palembang, the Surabaya mayor said. "Like the other secondary hosts, Surabaya has also complete sports facilities," Surabaya Mayor Bambang Dwi Hartono said here Sunday after a roll call for making preparations for a training center at the National Sports Committee (KONI).

In addition, Surabaya's athletes achievements and contribution to the national and international sports events were not inferior to those of the worse three provincials, he said. "With its various hotels including a five star-hotel, sufficient transportation facilities and sports fields, Surabaya is a most host (for the SEA Games)," he said, adding that he has sent a proposal to KONI, requesting to become the second biggest host after Jakarta.

In the meantime, Surabaya's KONI chief Heroe Poernomohadi also supported the city's wish to become another important host for the SEA Games.

Vientiane — Construction of a project to supply safe water for the sport complex for the up-coming 25th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 25th) began in Xaythany District, Vientiane, on Friday.

The Dongbang project, with an investment capital of US$10 million, is jointly built by Mai Dong company of Viet Nam and Vientiane Safe Water Supply Company.

Addressing the ceremony, Vientiane leaders pledged to create favourable conditions for the project, which will markedly contribute to developing infrastructure of the capital city and improving living conditions for local people. — VNS

(KPL) Acting Head of the National Economic Research Institute claimed that the 25th SEA Games, to be held in December this year, would act as a stimulus to the national economy and thereby mitigates the adverse effects of the global economic turmoil.

Mr. Leeber Libuapao also said that the national economic growth is facing a big challenge this year because of the sharp drop in the export of goods.

Mr Leeber added that although the government has designed and implemented measures to try to minimise and overcome the effects of the global crisis but it would take at least a few months before one sees its positive effects.

He also said that the national economic recovery, due to commence in 2010, would only kick in if it coincides with the recovery of the world’s economy by next year and it means that if it would grow by one to two per cent in 2010.

However, the Asian Development Bank, in its press release yesterday, is upbeat on the Lao economy and stated that it would grow by 5.5 per cent this year and 5.7 per cent in 2010.

The acting head of NERI commented on the effects of the biggest hydropower project, Nam Theun Two, on the national economy and said that when it is operational in late 2009, it would generate income and this would not only mitigate the impact of the crisis but it can even boost national economic growth.

Mr. Leeber said that in order to get the Lao economy to grow one should get the consumers to spend and this is because national expense is always equal to national income and the government and people should be aware that consumers who retrench and save money would not be contributing to economic growth.

Vietnam's aquatic sports association sends coaches to Laos

HANOI, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's Aquatic Sports Association will send experts to train Lao swimmers for the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos, local newspaper Vietnam News reported on Wednesday.

Swimming coach Nguyen Manh Tuan, who competed at the Moscow Olympics in 1980, said he would help Lao athletes to sharpen their skills.

The SEA Games is expected to take place next December. The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam has agreed to finance 100,000 U.S. dollars for the SEA Games opening ceremony.

The Ministry of Information and Culture has received the green light from the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee to help promote the 2009 SEA Games through the media.

The ministry plans to set up five sub-committees to provide information through print and electronic media to a global audience.

Deputy Minister of In formation and Culture Professor Dr Bosengkham Vongdara held a press conference yesterday announcing the sub-committees of media information providers were established last year.

The sub-committees focus on: a public relation team, local press centre, international press centre, TV live broadcasting centre, and the SEA Games Secretariat coordination team.

The committee for live TV broadcasting will cooperate with the Phetchampa Advertising Company to schedule the broadcast programme of all competition events during the games, including the opening and closing ceremonies.

Prof Bosengkham believes the committee will perform their duties successfully, providing media information nationally and to other SEA games member countries.

The SEA Games main press centre will be located at the International Cooperation Training Centre in Vientiane , while Champassak and Luang Prabang will also have press centres to cover events in both provinces.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong

PETALING JAYA: It is official. Bowling, gymnastics and squash will not be contested in the 2009 SEA Games in Laos.


In a SEA Games Federation (SGF) meeting last week, it was decided that Laos would stage only 22 sports.


The sports in the programme are aquatics (swimming and diving), athletics, badminton, boxing, football, golf, judo, karate, sepaktakraw, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, wrestling, wushu, fin swimming, Muay Thai, petanque, silat, shuttle**** and traditional boat race.

Source: http://thestar.com.my

Photo: New stadium in Luang Prabang, Laos

Luang Prabang and Champassak provinces are repairing their football stadiums and other locations required for use during the 25 th SEA Games, to be held in Laos next year.

The Lao National Sports Committee has selected the two provinces to host the football events, and is urging them to have everything ready in time.

Two years ago the sports committee agreed Savannakhet province would stage the men's football matches, because there was a new stadium of the required standard and a seating capacity of 15,000.

The province had earlier hosted the 7 th National Games in 2005.

But it was later realised it would be difficult for spectators to travel to Savannakhet province as transport there was less reliable, according to an official in Vientiane last month.

The committee has since agreed to stage the matches in Champassak province, because of its better transport, including a larger airport.

Champassak has been allocated more than 7 billion kip for stadium improvements, to bring seating capacity up to 13,000. Work began in February in 2007 and is slated for completion in September.

The province will also host the 8 th National Games in December.

The committee will also grant more than 26 billion kip (US$30 million) to Luang Prabang province to repair the old football stadium, and will build new football training fields to be used for the SEA Games' women's football matches.

This work will begin in June and expand seating in the stadium to a capacity of 10,000. The stadium was originally built in 1996 for the 5 th National Games.

Luang Prabang is still awaiting 7 billion kip from the government to improve a 4.5km road around the stadium, and provide adequate transport for visitors to the city during the football events.

“We have received about 5 billion kip for road repairs from the Thai government,” said the Director of the Public Works and Transport Division, Mr Fasananh Thammavong.

Most of the construction is in the vicinity of Phousy market and is taking place from March to August.

There are plenty of parking spaces nearby, on a piece of land 1km long and 400m wide.

The airport, which was renovated in 2000, is expected to be able to cope with the increased passenger load.

“We received more than 55 billion kip from the Thai government to renovate the old airport,” said Mr Fasananh.

Source: Vientianetimes

The Lao SEA Games Organising Committee confirmed yesterday that the new sports complex currently under construction for use in next year's 25 th SEA Games in Vientiane is more than 30 percent complete.

Site manager Kiengkham Phoutchanhthavongsa told Vientiane Times yesterday that the work was going well and everything would be finished on time.

“Our goal is for 50 percent of the work to be done by the end of May. The deadline for completion is May next year,” Mr Kiengkham said.

At present more than 800 Chinese construction workers are labouring at the site and another 1,500 will start work before the end of the year.

“The workers are arriving in groups of 40 or 50 as the work intensifies,” Mr Kiengkham explained.

Construction of the sports complex began on October 28, 2007, under contract to the China Yunnan Construction Engineering Group Corporation. The cost of construction is more than US$80 million and has been arranged through a joint cooperation project between the Lao government and the China Development Bank.

The complex is located in Dongsanghin village (km 16), in Xaythany district.

An official from the Lao National Sports Committee announced that construction of another facility, the Lao National Sports Training Centre, is also underway. The centre will be used by Lao athletes ahead of the games, and is now estimated to be 13 percent complete. The committee hopes it will be ready by November.

The centre is being built on a 11-hectare site in Sikeud village, Naxaithong district, at a cost of more than 35 billion kip (US$4 million) financed by grant aid from the government of Vietnam.

It will comprise an office, sleeping quarters for athletes, a running track and playing field, a football pitch, a gymnasium and other facilities for sporting events. The centre will enable up to 200 athletes to train there every day.

The committee believe that athletes will use this centre to great advantage and that it will help them to achieve the best possible results when they compete in the SEA Games.

Meanwhile, the upgrading of other facilities, including indoor and football stadiums to be used for competition and training, is also in progress.

By Sisay Vilaysack
Vientianetimes

(KPL) The construction of new stadium for 2009 SEA Games is repeatedly confirmed to complete as scheduled, said a senior official who is responsible for the construction project last week.

Following a lot of criticisms in society involved to the construction of new stadium would complete on schedule or not? Because there is nothing progress so people have expressed concern over the construction of the 2009 SEA Games at the km18 on Road 13 South, might be not completed on time.

“Now the construction work is 30 per cent completed and expected to be completed on May 2009 and scheduled for inaugural ceremony of 2009 SEA Games, hosted by Laos,” confirmed Mr Khiengkham Phoudthavhanvongsa, Head of Construction Project for New Stadium.

He has expressed thanks people for expressing concern over the construction of new SEA Games and he also said that do not worry about that the new stadium will be scheduled for inaugural ceremony of the 25th SEA Games. Now the construction is 30 per cent completed and the structures of stadium would be completed in May this year.

This stadium comprises main stadium, three warming up fields, a shooting range, two indoor stadiums, swimming pools and tennis courts of world standard, which its structure would be completed and the rest of 50 per cent is decorated work.

The construction work will be completed as scheduled on May 2009, which is time that Chinese construction company has to hand over the stadium to Lao Government.

He explained that the construction delayed due to there was some problem with the passage of new stadium plan and many construction materials have to import. This matter made people in society misunderstood.

After receiving the stadium, Laos will rehearse athletes for the inaugural ceremony of 2009 SEA Games.

KPL

The Lao Karatedo Federation is expanding the number of training camps around the country, in an effort to bring fighters up to an international level.

Vientiane has four karatedo training facilities - the 279 Army Camp at Sithong, 105 Army Medical School, Vientiane Secondary School and the Telecom School . The federation will open another camp at the Comcenter Business Administration College next month.




Comcenter students will be able to study for about five years, after which they will receive a certificate and a black dan (or belt).

The federation will also set up training camps in Borikhamxay and Champassak provinces in May.

Karatedo trainers at each camp will prepare young fighters to compete in the 8 th National Games in Champassak province this December.

“We will select the best fighters at the games to join the national team in their preparations for the 25 th SEA Games, to be held in Vientiane next year,” said the Vice President of the Lao Karatedo Federation, Mr Sonesak N. Nhansana.

More than 100 students from Vientiane Secondary School attended a training course to improve their skills last week.

Last Sunday the federation hosted a seminar about competition rules and held an examination for 70 young fighters from the four camps in preparation for the upcoming National Games.

“All the fighters understand the rules and passed the examination,” said Mr Sonesak.

The seminar was attended by professional karetedo fighter Fujikyo Omura, who holds eight dans. Mr Sonesak is the best fighter in Laos , with 4 dans.

At the SEA Games in Thailand last year, Souphansa Inthavongsa won a bronze medal in the men's karatedo 75kg category.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes