25th SEA Games, Laos

Lao Media Centre of the 25th SEA Games Committee will be publish Lao and English versions of the 25th SEA Games newsletter start from 2 to 19 December, .

Copies will be available at the Media Centre, Sport Stadiums and competition venues in Vientiane where sport events will take place. Copies will also be available at some of hotels and guesthouses where SEA Games guests from member countries and international sport organisations are accommodated.

The newsletter will contain the history of the SEA Games, result and plans for various sport events on a daily basis, and the activities of leaders from member countries.

We hope the 25th SEA Games newsletter will be a means to deliver information about the Vientiane Games and help people in the region to strengthen their friendship, solidarity and mutual understanding for the promotion of peace and prosperity throughout the world. The newsletter is also intended to develop sports and athletes so that better results are achieved at the Olympic Games.

The message is written by Mr Savankhone Razmountry, Head of the Lao Media Centre of the 25th SEA Games Committee.

(KPL) Vientiane Capital will become a smoking free area city by upcoming month.

The move is under the preparation which expects to be announced early this August, Vice Vientiane Mayor said.

The meeting on preparation for Vientiane to be the smoking free area city took place on 24 July under the chairmanship of Vice Vientiane Mayor, Mr Somvandy Nathavong who responsible for controlling the establishment of non-smoking area in Vientiane Capital.

Participants have discussed the way for cooperating in implementation of smoking free area in Vientiane Capital so as to welcome the upcoming 25th SEA Games and celebration of 450th anniversary of Vientiane Capital.

An official announcement to set up Vientiane Capital as a smoking free town is expected to be effect in August or September.

?Smokers allow smoking in the specific areas and can not smoke inside public places including offices, restaurants, hotels, guesthouses, relevant agencies and other organization,? he said.

The movement would be maintenance of Vientiane residents? health and the environmental protection and pollution reduction in the Vientiane.
Luang Prabang and Champassak provinces have already been become as smoking free areas.

The Accommodation, Food and Tourism Committee of the 25th SEA Games will organise free shuttle buses giving city tours for invited guests and athletes attending the event in Vientiane from December 9 to 18.

Deputy Director of the committee, Dr Sila Mounthalavong yesterday said the shuttle buses will be part of the committee's service to promote tourism during the games.

“Guests and athletes will be able to explore the city and visit famous historic and cultural sites, while also enjoying shopping at handicraft stores and malls in the capital,” he said.

Dr Sila, who is also Vice Chairman of the Lao National Tourism Administration, said the committee would organise for some hotels and the SEA Games' Athletes' Village to sell special tour programmes for various locations around Laos .

Domestic tour operators will also sell tour packages to regional and international visitors who want to see the games and travel through Laos , he said.

“We are in the process of sending information on our package tour programmes to SEA Games Organising Committees in other countries to help us promote the programmes in those countries in the lead-up to the games,” he said.

Dr Sila said the committee also plans to print tourist handbooks to provide information about entering Laos and other details on accommodation, food, shopping places and tourist sites.

In addition, the committee will print maps to facilitate visitors touring the nation.

“Upgrading the quality of services in hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and tour guides is also important so we can provide the best services possible for those attending the games in Vientiane ,” he said.

“Advertising the games effectively can not be achieved by one sector alone, but needs all sectors and people to get involved,” he said.

Popular historic and cultural tourism sites in central Vientiane include the city's oldest temple, Vat Sisaket, which contains thousands of miniature Buddha images, and the former royal temple of Vat Prakeo where the famous Emerald Buddha image was previously housed.

A visit to the nation's symbol, the sacred structure of Thatluang Stupa where Lao people from around the nation gather to worship on significant days of the year, should be on any tourists agenda.

A day in the city can be rounded off with a trip to Patuxay Monument , known as Vientiane 's own Arc de Triumph, and viewing the sunset by the banks of the Mekong River .

Buddha Park , or Xieng Khuan, is one of Vientiane 's major cultural tourism sites located on the banks of the Mekong River on outskirts of the city.

The park contains hundreds of statues of Buddhist and Hindu deities. On the pleasant 28km journey along Thadeua road to the park visitors will also pass the National Cultural Park and the Lao-Thai International Friendship Bridge.

By Panyasith Thammavongsa
Vientianetimes

(KPL) People who would like to touch the real atmosphere of opening ceremony of the 25th SEA Games have to fork out at least 200,000 kip (US$25) per ticket while highest cost may be 500,000 kip per ticket (about US$50).

The price was discussed at a meeting held on 3 July, Vientiane, under the Mr Chanpheng Silattana, Deputy President of the Lao Olympic Committee.

Four types of tickets are available for sale respectively 500,000 kip, 400,000 kip, 300,000 kip and 200,000 kip. Now the tickets are on sale at the National Acrobatic Committee Office, Vientiane.

Many sport events include bicycle, golf, petanque, snooker, track-and-field, weigh lifting and archery will be free of charge.

Photo: Model of new national stadium of Laos for 2009 Sea Games

The Sub-Committee for Tobacco Control and the Tobacco Control Taskforce expect to have smoke-free zones declared for the 25 th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2009.

The Chairman of the Tobacco Control Taskforce, Prof Sithat Insisiengmay, told Vientiane Times on Monday that his taskforce and the sub-committee of the Lao National Sports Committee first met last month and are now in the process of drafting a decree before sending it to the Prime Minister for signing.

“This decree will help us achieve our goal of a tobacco free games, with events held in Luang Prabang, Savannkhet provinces and Vientiane,” he said.

He said the taskforce had also successfully implemented smoke-free zones in the Ministry of Public Health, and most hospitals in Vientiane as well as provincial hospitals of Luang Prabang and Savannakhet.

Hospitals in Champassak province have already sent a proposal to the taskforce, which should be implemented early this year, he added.

“Ourselves, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Adventist Development and Relief Agency and the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance are together pushing for the implementation of a smoke-free 25 th SEA Games,” said an assistant of WHO's Tobacco Free Initiative Programme, Dr Bounlonh Kesouvannasane.

He added that funding would be needed for a media campaign, informing the various committees who work for the games and publishing material.

The new Tobacco Control Law also passed the first step in Sub-Committee level at the Ministries of Public Health, Industry and Commerce, and Justice and the Prime Minister's Office, he said.

He added the draft will be sent to a committee of nine ministries for consideration before sending it to the 5 th session of sixth legislature of the National Assembly in 2008 for approval.

Smoke-free areas are in line with the World Health Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) ratified by Laos in 2006.

By Panyasith Thammavongsa
Content: Vientianetimes
Photo: Vientianemai