25th SEA Games, Laos

BANGKOK - THAILAND will give Laos 98 million baht (S$3.9 million) to help it organise the region's biggest sports event next year, a Thai government spokesman said.

The Southeast Asian Games are scheduled to take place in Laos at the end of next year but the impoverished nation desperately needs funds to improve its infrastructure.

'The money will be given to help Laos organise the 25th SEA Games, to improve stadiums and train staff,' spokesman Weerinthira Nathongborcharas said in a statement.

Laos, which has no experience in organising international sporting events, will host the bi-annual 25-sport games from December 3-12, 2009.

Ms Weerinthira said Thailand will send referees to train Laotian personnel in 12 sporting events and offer further training courses in Bangkok in four other events.

Thailand will also loan Laos sports equipment from the previous SEA Games, which took place in Thailand last December.

Thailand joins China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and the Olympic Council of Asia in supporting the Laos event, which will take place mostly at the national stadium in the capital Vientaine. -- AFP

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Sports/STIStory_253568.html

Annual sport events in Laos, Vientiane Games 2000

(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

Closing ceremony of the 24th SEA GAMES in Thailand and the performance from Laos who will host the 25th Sea Games in Vientiane 2009.

Lao people living across the country will have a chance to see Live broadcast of the 25th SEA GAMES thanks to the cooperation between the Lao national televition and the Lao star channel.



The 25th SEA Games is tentatively set at December 13-21 in Vientiane, Laos. The other areas of focus will be at Luangprabang and Savannakhet province.

At present, $46-million is set for the main stadium, $6 million for the training facility and a new hotel to house an expected figure of 2,500 athletes from 11 southeast asian nations.

In anticipation of a newly created golf course, the Laos Golf Federation is now planning the golf tournament, one of many events in the 25 th SEA Games to be held in Vientiane next year.

Although the medal winning chances for Laos are meagre as the team lacks international experience and sufficient skills, the federation is still encouraging improvements.

It is also looking for a professional coach to train the team for the games.

“The Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation based in Australia will provide financial assistance so that the Lao golf team can participate in the SEA Games,” said the General Secretary of the Lao Golf Federation, Mr Songkham Silaphet.

The Booyoung Company of the Republic of Korea granted about 50 billion kip (US$5 million) for the creation of a 27-hole golf course of international standard on about 150 hectares of land at Km18 in Vientiane .

The golf course is now 30 percent complete and it is expected it will be finished well ahead of the games.

The Korean company has signed a contract with the Asean Civil Road and Bridge Construction Company of Laos to design and create the golf course.

The company will provide further funding to build amenities such as a restaurant and hotel around the course, to attract tourists.

After the close of the games, the Booyoung Company will release a second grant to extend the course by an additional 60 hectares. This will make it a total of 210 hectares with 45 holes.

“The golf course will surely attract more tourists to Laos which will increase national revenue. We will also be able to organise more professional golf tournaments,” Mr Songkham said.

The federation's organising committee will form a new body to select its new president at the end of this month.

The committee will organise the training of youngsters below the age of 25 in preparation for the games.

“We still lack a qualified coach with both theoretical knowledge and knowledge of physical training techniques. We need to train young players and bring them up to international standard. Also we are still looking for more sponsors who can offer financial support to the Lao team,” Mr Songkham said.

The city's existing golf course at Km 14 is not of sufficient standard for international tournament play, although Lao players were able to prepare themselves for the 24 th SEA Games in Thailand last December.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

The Lao National Sports Committee will renovate the national football stadium in Vientiane between April and July in preparation for use during the 25 th SEA Games next year.

The Lao Football Federation will hold the Group A football matches here as well as track and field events. It will increase the seating to accommodate about 10,000 spectators.

The federation is organising various annual football events, but they will take place in the football stadium at the National University of Laos and the federation's field.

The federation manages the football stadium, which is currently in poor condition and dirty due to the behaviour of some spectators and the untidy surroundings.



Spectators are in the habit of throwing litter on the ground after eating fruit and snacks; consequently the grounds are not fit for international use.

The committee renovated the stadium in 2000 for the 6 th National Games. It was built in the 1930s, and has been the capital's major venue for football and other matches.

National athletics teams, sports officials and local residents jog on a synthetic track there in the evenings.

The federation's organising committee will introduce more protective measures after the renovation of the stadium next year. Some athletes and the federation's referees still use rooms there on a regular basis.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

Despite disappointing results at last year's SEA Games in Thailand , Russian coach Valeri Vdovin has agreed to manage the under-23 national football team once more, according to the Lao Football Federation yesterday.

This is the third time that Mr Vdovin has managed the U-23 team's appearances in the Southeast Asian Games.

He first led the U-23 squad to the SEA Games in 2005 in the Philippines , and then to the games last year in Thailand . Unfortunately, the team was knocked out in the first round on both occasions.

The President of the Lao Football Federation, Mr Kasem Inthara, told the Vientiane Times yesterday “The federation and the National Sports Committee have decided to recall Russian coach Vdovin to Laos , even though he has so far failed to get the team past the first round at the SEA Games.”

“Mr Vdovin has confirmed he will arrive in Vientiane by the beginning of April and will then start to train the players. His contract with the Lao Football Federation will run until the end of the 2009 SEA Games.”

“He will not only lead the U-23 team in the SEA Games, but will also coach the senior national team for the Challenge Cup which is organised by the Asian Football Confederation in May in Kyrgyzstan . Another big event is the qualifying round of this year's Asean Cup in October in Cambodia ,” Mr Kasem said.

In the 2005 SEA Games, Laos beat Myanmar 3-2 and lost 2-8 to Vietnam , 0-1 to Singapore and 0-4 to Indonesia .

In the 2007 SEA Games, the U-23 squad's victory hopes were again squashed in the first round after a goalless draw against Singapore followed by losses of 0-4 to Malaysia and 1-2 to Vietnam .

By Sisay Vilaysack
vientianetimes

The Lao National Sports Committee on Tuesday met with officials from those national sporting federations that are not expected to pick up medals at the 25 th SEA Games, to be held in Vientiane in 2009.

The meeting, convened to discuss possible improvements to the country's sporting competency, was attended by the Vice President of the Lao National Sports Committee, Mr Somphou Phongsa, and officials from the golf, bowling, snooker, karatedo, swimming, football, athletics, badminton and tennis federations, amongst others.

“Every sporting federation must have a main sponsor that will support preparations for the games and organise the selection of our best athletes,” said Mr Somphou.

“Each federation must be equipped with an experienced adjudicator, trainer and team, and have secured sufficient funding to support the country's efforts at the games,” he said.

Athletes from a number of sporting disciplines are currently not performing at a level that will ensure success at the SEA Games. These teams were without medals at the 24 th SEA Games held in Thailand last year, and without improvements in training and skills, will find it difficult to compete at the international level again next year, warned Mr Somphou.

Teams competing in petanque, judo, Muay Thai, taekwondo, wushu, sepak takraw, wrestling, boxing, karatedo, pencak silat and rugby, however, are expected to go on to even greater heights, after winning five gold, seven silver, and 32 bronze medals at last year's games.

Source: vientianetimes

The Lao Bowling and Lao Snooker Federations have announced plans to start building new bowling and snooker training centres in Vientiane next month, in preparation for the 25 th SEA Games in 2009.

The federations will spend more than 9 billion kip (US$1 million) to build the two training centres, which are due for completion at the end of the year. Bowling and snooker equipment will be bought from China at a cost of a further 6 billion kip (US$700,000).

“We will organise bowling and snooker events once the centres are built, to select the best players to compete in the SEA Games,” said the President of the Lao Snooker Federation and Secretary to the President of the Lao Bowling Federation, Mr Pasithxay Luangkhot.

The bowling training centre will be of an international standard and consist of 24 lanes. The snooker training centre will have 20 international competition sized tables.

“The Vientiane Bowling Club and the Lao Snooker Federation Club are not up to standard and are too small to stage competitions at the SEA Games level,” said Mr Pasithxay.

In the meantime, the Bowling Federation has invited the best bowling teams from Luang Prabang, Vientiane , Savannakhet and Champassak provinces to participate in the Deputy Prime Minister's Cup, to be held at the Vientiane Bowling Club on February 23, in celebration of the 59 th anniversary of the establishment of the Lao People's Army.

The competition will consist of men's and women's singles tournaments in the open, under-15 and under-19 categories.

“We will select the best bowlers during this event to represent Vientiane at the 8 th National Games in Champassak province in December,” he said.

The Snooker Federation plans to organise a series of friendly men's singles snooker competitions at the federation's club in March.

“In May, we will select the best snooker players at the Vientiane Mayor's Cup to represent Vientiane at the 8 th National Games,” said Mr Pasithxay.

Lao bowling and snooker teams took part in the 24 th SEA Games in Thailand last year but were unsuccessful in their medal attempts.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

Photos: Muay Lao (kickboxing), among others, has been added to the list for the 2009 SEA Games in Laos .

There are currently 25 sports events expected to be included in the competition schedule for the 25 th SEA Games in 2009 in Vientiane , with the final decision to be made in December this year, according to the Minister to the Prime Minister's Office and President of the Lao National Sports Committee, Dr Phouthong Seng-akhom.

Dr Phouthong, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the 2009 SEA Games Organising Committee and the President of the Lao Olympic Committee, told Vientiane Time last week that the first meeting to discuss which events to include would be held this April.

“ Laos will host a meeting of SEA Games Council Members in April, which will be attended by sports leaders from other Asean countries,” Dr Phouthong said.

“We don't expect the number of events to be more than 25 at this stage, and the final decision as to which games will appear on the schedule is to be made by SEA Games Council members in December.”

Last week, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, who is also the Chairman of the 2009 SEA Games Organising Committee, met with committee members to review their work in each field in preparing to host the games.

Laos has high hopes for these games, not just for hosting the event successfully, but also for meeting its new target of winning 25 gold medals.

The country's confidence has been boosted after bringing home a record number of gold medals from the 24 th SEA Games last December in Nakhon Ratchasima , Thailand .

The Lao athletic team brought home five gold, seven silver and 32 bronze medals.


By Sisay Vilaysack
Vientianetimes