25th SEA Games, Laos

Photo: Lao fans enjoy their home team’ victory
(photo: Vnexpress)

Nhan Dan Online- Lamnao Singto’s brace helped hosts Laos trounce Indonesia 2-0 in an attractive game at Chao Anuvong stadium today.

This is a first victory for Laos at the 25th SEA Games, paving the way for young Lao footballers to reach the semi-finals.

Laos started confidently and brought pressure to bear on Indonesia. In the 22nd minute Kaysone powerful shot was saved by Indonesian goalkeeper Irawan. In the 32nd minute, Sayavuthi’s strike hit the crossbar.

In a counter attack, Yudi had a chance to score but his header was blocked by Laos defender in front of the goal.

After the break, Indonesia played better, intensifying their attacks but could not breach Laos solid defence.

In the 63rd minute Toni Sucipto’s free-kick shot was over the Lao crossbar. Four minutes later Laos took the lead when Lamnao Singto scored the opener from Sayavuthi’s cross. The goal made 20,000 Lao fans at the stadium exhilirous. It was Lamnao Singto who easily scored the second goal when Indonesian goalkeeper Irawan and defender clashed.

In the last 15 minutes Indonesia put pressure on Laos but could not create any real chance to score and conceded a 2-0 loss. Playing an attack game, Laos deserved a victory.

Earlier in another match, Singapore edged Myanmar 2-1.

As a result Laos and Singapore earned four points from two matches but Laos top the table due to a better goal difference.

Huy Nam

The National Stadium will not have a booth selling tickets for the SEA Games opening and closing ceremonies tickets, as there are only 1,000 tickets left, the Vongkhanty Construction Company has said.

The company is responsible for ticket sales.

Company President Phankham Vongkhanty said at a press conference yesterday that people who wanted a ticket should hurry to reserve and buy one because they would soon be sold out.

“The SEA Games Organising Committee agreed to officially distribute the tickets on Monday. We started selling them for 200,000 kip on November 9 by calling people who had booked to come and collect and pay for their tickets,” Mr Phankham said.

The company continued to distribute tickets but raised the price to 300,000 kip yesterday.

“We've done it like this so the distribution process won't become complicated,” Mr Phankham said.

He also said each ticket had a stamp from the Ministry of Public Security and a 3D hologram sticker of the 25th SEA Games logo.

People who come to collect their tickets should look through the hologram, Mr Phankham said.

If there is no hologram, the ticket is not authentic.

The company reported that more than 13,000 tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies had been printed.

There were 5,470 tickets costing 500,000 kip, 4,102 tickets costing 400,000 kip, 3,418 tickets costing 300,000 kip and 684 tickets costing 200,000 kip.

SEA Games Organising Committee Deputy Chairman Dr Phouthong Seng Akhom said prices were lower than those charged by countries hosting the SEA Games in pervious years.

“We have prepared a VIP area of about 4,500 seats, but the committee will prepare some more seats for senior government officials,” he said.

The company had alerted provincial administration offices throughout the country that they had tickets set aside for them, but there are some who have not yet confirmed they will be buying the tickets.

“Many sports officials who are coming from other provinces to prepare for the SEA Games had tickets to distribute in their provinces,” Mr Phankham said.

The company reiterated to the press that ticket sales would be closing soon, and people should buy tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies before they sold out.

Mr Phankham said if people could not purchase a ticket, they could watch the ceremonies on television.

Alternatively, the committee plans to install a large screen outside the stadium to broadcast the ceremonies for people who didn't get a ticket.

Tickets are currently selling for 400,000 kip and 500,000 kip.

Anyone interested should contact the company on +85621 260458 +85621 260458 or +85621 260459 +85621 260459.

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
(Latest Update Novembe 11 , 2009)

An international standard archery field located in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district, is now ready for use during the 25th SEA Games to be held in Vientiane this December.

Manager of the Construction Project for the 25th SEA Games, Mr Khiengkham Phoutchanhthavongsa, said the government had spent 200 million kip on laying grass and purchasing equipment for the field.

The Lao Archery Federation will install targets and other equipment at the field.

Mr Khienkham said the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee will not install any electronic equipment because it is not needed for archery events.

The committee began laying grass at the 100m wide and 150m long field in July.

The Lao national archery team has been training at the National Sport Training Centre in Sikeut village, Naxaithong district, since April.

The team trained at the Physical Education Teacher Training School before relocating to the centre last December.

The squad will train at the field to be used for the games in the lead-up to the event.

The federation will organise training courses for the committee responsible for organising archery events at the games, as well as for some archery trainers this month.

The federation will send eight male and female archers to compete in the Asian Indoor Games in Hanoi , Vietnam , in November.

The archers will use this international event to prepare for success at the SEA Games.

The Lao National Sports Committee has ordered 12 new high standard archery bows from Thailand .

Lao archers trained at the Asean Archery Training Centre in Bangkok , Thailand , from January to February this year.

Training at the centre were Mr Khampho Inthavong, Mr Phouvieng Mounthinthay, Mr Thanonglith Siliphon, Mr Phanlakhone Inthavong, Mr Phoutlamphay Thiemphasone, Ms Kietvongphin Bounmany, Ms Somsamay Mounthinthay, Ms Phonesouly Duangmala and Ms Viengkeo Sihalath.

Archery events at this year's SEA Games will consist of men's and women's singles in the recurve and compound divisions, and men's and women's teams (four archers) in the recurve and compound divisions.

The Lao archery team was unsuccessful in their bid for medals at the 24th SEA Games in Thailand in 2007.



By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong

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

KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 (Bernama) -- The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) have yet to receive technical documents related to the Laos SEA Games from the Laos Organising Committee (Laosoc).

OCM Honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said though Laosoc had claimed yesterday that the documents had been distributed, OCM have yet to receive the documents.

Kok Chi said as per the SEA Games Federation's (SGF) requirement, documents related to entry by numbers should have been sent nine months before the Games while entry by names should be submitted two months before the Games.

Other documents include the size of the delegation, so as to ease the host country's process of arranging accommodation at the Games Village, he said.

"However, with les than six months before the Games, Loasoc are still preparing to send documents to finalise entry by numbers. May be they lack officials who are aware of SGF's regulations," he told Bernama when contacted here Thursday.

Laos, hosting the Games for the first time, have scheduled the Games from Dec 9-18, in Vientiane, and would comprise of 25 sports, well below the 43 sports hosted by Thailand in 2007.

He added that the selection of athletes for the SEA Games would be conducted by the Selection Committee for the SEA Games, represented by OCM, National Sports Council and National Sports Associations (NSAs).

The committee meets on July 25, to discuss the selection process and criteria set for the Laos Games while OCM are also concerned that NSAs have yet to submit names of team managers, he said.

"We hope that matter can be resolved at the meeting," he said.

Meanwhile, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) would meet in Singapore on July 1, to discuss the calendar for the region, especially with the inclusion of a number of new events and the actions taken against the influenza A(H1N1) outbreak, he said.

-- BERNAMA

(KPL) The attempt by Laos to recruit Anne Keothavong, a top notch British tennis player of Lao descent to play for Laos at the 25th SEA Games is not true and it is based on rumor.

This “rumour” was published in the local newspapers and websites.

Mr Daovone Phachanthavong, Vice President of the Lao National Tennis Association confirmed yesterday that Laos would not recruit anyone who holds a foreign passport to play tennis for Laos in the coming SEA Games.“If Anne Keothavong is a Lao national she could join the SEA Games tennis squad but as she is a British national, it is impossible for her to play for Lao” said Mr Daovon Phachanthavong. Anne was born on 16 September 1983, in Hackney, located in the north of London.

Her parents are Lao and they migrated to England from Laos some time back.
She started to play tennis from the age of seven.

Photo: A view of the 20,000-seat main stadium currently under construction in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district, Vientiane . The stadium will be used for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 25 th SEA Games in December (file photo). –Photo Vincent Gautier

To smooth the path for Lao SEA Games' athletes, the government has agreed on a policy that will help athletes and officials continue with preparations but will not jeopardise their situation in school or the workplace.

Under the Prime Minister's agreement, athletes, trainers, volunteers, committee members and staff of various sub-committees involved in the games will receive special dispensation from their employers or schools allowing them to take time off to train or carry out their duties.

Students who have been selected for the SEA Games squad will be allowed to stop classes from the start of preparation until the end of the games. But their schools will have to organise special classes for them free of charge before they take their exams.

Government officials, policemen and soldiers who have been selected as athletes or members of SEA Games organising committees will also be allowed time out from their offices so they can spend the necessary amount of time in training camps and competition.

The government hopes this policy will encourage athletes in their endeavours to make their place in SEA Games history by winning more gold, silver and bronze medals than in previous competitions.

Apart from that, it is a great honour for Laos to host the SEA Games, which will promote sports, boost trade, and develop social, cultural and political activities. The games will also promote peace, friendship and cooperation between Southeast Asian nations and the world.
According to national training camp manager Somphone Manikham, all athletes are currently in training camps with their coaches.

“The main training centre in Sikeuth village, Naxaithong district, now houses 160 athletes training in boxing, wushu, pencak silat, wrestling, track and field, archery and taekwondo. Athletes in other sports are training in different camps,” Mr Somphone said.

At a meeting of the SEA Games Organising Committee on Tuesday reports were presented on the construction of stadiums. The main venue is the 20,000-seat stadium in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district, which will be used for the opening and closing ceremonies and is now over 85 percent complete. The Chao-anouvong stadium in Anou village, Chanthbouly district, is more than 70 percent complete and will be used for the men's football event.

The SEA Games will take place from December 9 to 18, involving 390 events in 25 sports. Athletes from Laos , Vietnam , Cambodia , Brunei , Thailand , Malaysia , Indonesia , Myanmar , the Philippines , Singapore , and Timor Leste will take part.


By Sisay Vilaysack
Vientianetimes

In welcoming the upcoming New Year, all Lao sports fans will not only celebrate the 43rd anniversary of sport in this country, but also hope that celebrations will motivate Lao athletes to success at the 25th South East Asian (SEA) Games as host nation for 2009.

Laos’ main hope as hosts of the SEA Games will be an overwhelming home team advantage that will result in more gold medals and improve on the country’s performance in previous games. Apart from international competitions such as the SEA Games, the country’s main arena for sports is the National Games.

According to the Standing Deputy Prime Minister, Somsavat Lengsavad, who spoke at the closing of the 2008 National Games on December 22, this year’s event was a great experience for officials, athletes and coaches in their preparation for the 25th SEA Games, which will take place in Laos next year.

This year’s eighth National Games was hosted by Champassak province for the second time, and the number of athletes and sports have increased dramatically since the first games in 1985. The main goals of the National Games are not only for development of sport, but also to promote and strengthen friendship between athletes, competitors and supporters from different parts of the country.

The founding day for Lao sports was July 13, 1966, as declared at the third congress of the Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC). This was also the day the Lao People’s Army’s sports division was officially opened at a base in Huaphan province. This was an important milestone in the history of Lao sport. Five months later, athletes competed in an international event for the first time when they went to the Games of New Force in Cambodia. Laos sent 22 athletes who competed in shooting and volleyball events.

Since the country’s liberation in 1975, sports have greatly contributed to national protection and development. Lao sports have expanded into local communities throughout the country. Sport plays an important role in international relations and participation in international competitions brings awareness and success for the country. Since 1975, the Lao government has been developing sport by training coaches and administration officers.

The LNSC held the first National Games in 1985 in Vientiane. There were 650 athletes from five zones and eight ministries competing in 12 sporting events. Vientiane came top of the final medal tally. The second National Games were hosted by Savannakhet province in 1987. Again there were 12 sports events, but athlete numbers had risen to more than 1,376 from seven zones and nine ministries. The capital city’s team retained their winner’s title.



From then on the National Games were to be held every three years in different provinces, but sometimes the games were delayed because of funding problems. The third National Games took place in Khammuan province in 1991 and was attended by 920 athletes from nine zones competing in 11 sports. In 1994, the fourth National Games was hosted by Champassak province, and attracted 1,600 athletes. Competitors took part in 14 sports and came from nine zones, while the leader of the medal tally was Vientiane again. In 1997, the event was hosted by Luang Prabang province and athlete numbers continued to grow. This time the event attracted 1,668 athletes from 10 zones, competing in 14 sports. The Vientiane team finished on top.

The sixth National Games were held in Vientiane in 2000. For the first time, the number of athletes competing was over 3,000 and the number of sports had increased to 28. The Vientiane team retained its top ranking. The seventh National Games was hosted by Savannakhet province in 2005 and attended by teams from 17 provinces and 13 ministries. This time there were 22 sports and 3,257 athletes. Vientiane again won the final medal tally.

This year’s eighth National Games ran from December 13-22 in Champassak province, and ended with big surprises as the home team claimed the top ranking in the final medal tally. For the first time ever, previous champions Vientiane slumped to third place. This time, about 6,000 athletes competed in 24 sports, representing 17 provinces, 10 ministries and two organisations.

SISAY VILAYSACK
Vientianetimes

The final selection of 100 Ms SEA Games representatives will take
place on Friday at the National Culture Hall in Vientiane.

More than 200 girls have applied to the contest, but only 100 will be
chosen for the role.

Eleven country placard bearers will be selected from the 100
representatives to take part in the stadium parade that precedes the
games, which will be held next December in Vientiane.

The 100 selected participants will introduce themselves to the public
for the first time at Patuxay Monument at the start of the countdown
to the SEA Games, which will begin on New Year's Eve.

Organising sub-committee member, Mr Sopha Inthavong, said nationwide
applications opened at the end of July, and the three-part selection
process would culminate in the announcement this Friday.

Applicants were required to be Lao citizens, aged between 18 and 25,
and have a pleasant personality and good manners.

Participants also had to be single and be communicative, intelligent,
knowledgeable, talented and able to speak English.

Before the candidates were presented yesterday to the organising
committee at the National Culture Hall, they received training in
social etiquette and ceremonial presentation. Mr Sopha, who is also
one of the trainers, said training would continue after the selection
process.

“After their selection, the 100 Ms SEA Games representatives will
return to the National Culture Hall stage, where they will practise
how to nop (perform the traditional greeting), stand and act in a
socially appropriate manner,” Mr Sopha said.

He said those who were selected would also learn how to speak English
and take part in various activities, such as visiting important sites
in Vientiane like That Luang and the Hor Phra Keo museum.

They will be trained by staff who will give them suggestions on the
wearing of traditional clothes and tennis dress, before their public
presentation on December 31.

They will also learn how to dance to a selection of songs and rhythm,
and be guided in their choice of clothes.

An 18-year-old participant in the contest, Ms Soudaphone Tilakhoun,
who attends Pakpasak Technical School , said she was persuaded by her
friend to apply. She is hopeful of being selected in the group of 100
on Friday.

“ Laos will host the SEA Games for the first time, and I wanted to
play a part in serving the nation,” she said. “As a Lao girl I want to
give other people an insight into Lao culture, both in Laos and
overseas.”

Another participant, Ms Bouasavanh Phanthamit, 18, from Luang Prabang,
who studies at Rattana Business Administration College , said she too
wanted to serve her country while building her confidence.

“Actually I'm shy and never thought I could take part in the selection
process, but I've discovered I'm confident enough to go through with
it,” she said.

By Vientiane Times

The National University of Laos is planning to build dormitories to accommodate the 4,000 athletes from 11 countries who will take part in the SEA Games, which Laos will host next year.

“We are waiting for a budget allocation from the government for construction of the dormitories before we start work,” the university's Vice President for Student Affairs, Professor Lammai Phiphakkhavong, said yesterday.

The Lao government will cooperate on the project with a construction company from Vietnam , according to an agreement by the two countries.

“We will be ready to provide accommodation for the athletic teams when the dormitories are built,” Professor Lammai said.

A 5.3 hectare site is available at the university for the dormitories and a car park.

Students will be able to live in the dormitories once the SEA Games have ended.

The Lao National Sports Committee and government organisations will also provide athletes with accommodation in hotels and guesthouses in Vientiane .

Champassak and Luang Prabang provinces are also taking steps to secure accommodation for athletics teams and visitors. These provinces will host the games' football matches.

The sports committee will open a Sports Training Centre in Sikhottabong district, Vientiane , in December, where Lao athletes will live and train in preparation for the games.

Construction of the training centre began in January and is due for completion towards the end of this year.

The Vietnamese government assisted in funding the project, providing more than 35 billion kip (US$4 million) to the sports committee.

Officials from the governments of Laos and Vietnam attended a stone-laying ceremony on May 19 last year in Sikeuth village, Naxaithong district, to mark the agreement on the construction of the training centre.

Source: Vientianetimes

(KPL) The Lao National Karate-do Federation says it will use the 8th National Games in Champassak for selecting its best athletes for the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, 2009. The 8th national sporting games will be opened in December of this 2008.

“To ensure its preparation the federation opened new Karate-do Club in Vientiane Secondary School early this month, which houses 150 athletes,” said Vice President of the Lao National Karate-do Federation Mr. Sonesack Nhansana.
In addition, the federation has recently hold a seminar on competition rules and fighting techniques for its athletes in preparation for the 8th National Games.

The Lao Petanque Federation announced yesterday that it would be running a series of nationwide tournaments to select the best players to join the national squad.

According to federation official Mr Sengthong Chommalath, the schedule for this year's competitions is already complete, and will be held in three stages around the country.

Players in the southern provinces of Savannakhet, Saravan, Xekong, Attapeu and host Champassak will compete from February 23-24.

Vientiane and the central provinces of Vientiane , Khammuan and host Borikhamxay will compete from March 26-27, while the third stage will be held in Luang Prabang province from April 29-30, and include players from Xieng Khuang, Huaphanh, Phongsaly, Bokeo, Oudomxay, Xayaboury and Luang Namtha provinces.

The winners in each category will qualify to compete in a final round in Vientiane from May 17-18, and the best players will be chosen to attend a national training camp in the following month.

Although some have suggested that this will be too early to begin holding a training camp, Mr Sengthong maintains that players need as much time as possible to improve their skills before the 2009 SEA Games in Vientiane .

The federation plans to invite at least 30 players, many of whom are already rising stars, to compete in the SEA Games, with the hope that they will win at least four gold medals on their home turf.

But more than half of the national squad players will be newcomers, which will be a challenge when facing strong rivals Thailand , Vietnam and Cambodia , where most players have world-class experience.

However federation president Mr Khammoui Keomany still believes that new members of the national squad will do as well, if not better, than Lao players at previous editions of the SEA Games.

Mr Khammoui also said the “dream team” for the 2009 games would begin their international tour after the end of the wet season, while the finalists for the national squad would be selected in the lead-up to the games.

The 2009 SEA Games will run from December 9-18; all main events will take place in the capital, while some will take place in provincial arenas in Vientiane , Luang Prabang and Savannakhet.

By Sisay Vilaysack
Vientianetimes

A taekwondo training centre and the new "Olympasia" indoor stadium at the National University of Laos will house the wrestling and sepak takraw events at the 25 th SEA Games in Vientiane in 2009.

The Booyoung Company from the Republic of Korea donated US$300,000 (about 2.7 billion kip) in July last year to the Lao National Sports Committee to finance the construction of the taekwondo training centre.

The Lao National Sports Committee is overseeing the building of the training centre, which is scheduled for completion in April this year.

The Lao taekwondo team will train there in preparation for the 25 th SEA Games.

However, work on the Olympasia indoor stadium has come to a halt due to budget constraints.

Its construction was planned in two phases, with the first from January to June, 2006, at a cost of US$140,000 (about 1.2 billion kip).

When more funding is secured, it is planned that the stadium will seat 700. It will be 36 metres wide and 42 metres in length, with a height of 18 metres.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

Although Laos ranks low in the regional and world football standings, the Lao Football Federation believes it can raise the Lao team to a higher ranking.

Currently, Laos is ranked 37 out of 46 Asian nations and is placed 178 out of 201 countries listed in the FIFA world rankings. Argentina tops the FIFA list, with Brazil in second place and France third.

At the official opening ceremony of the country's top league, the Lao League, last Saturday, the federation explained that it has two leagues: the first division League 1 is the training ground for national players, while League 2 develops new players who will progress to League 1 in each season of competition.

The federation is hoping that a galaxy of rising stars will appear this season for inclusion in the under-23 national team, which will compete in next year's SEA Games, to be held in Vientiane .

The official opening ceremony for both leagues was rather late this year, as several games had already taken place in the previous two weeks.

The official opening day of the season saw two matches, with defending champions Lao-American College making short work of this season's favourites the Ministry of Public Works and Transport in a 3-0 scoreline. In another game, the Army held the Bank FC to a 1-1 draw.

This season's fixtures comprise 10 teams: Lao-American College FC, Vientiane FC, Ministry of P ublic Works and Transport, Bank FC, Ezra FC, National University of Laos, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Information and Culture, Moon the Night FC, and Army FC.

Source: Vientianetimes

Photo: Lao-ITECC, one of the place to be used for the SEA GAMES 2009

HANOI, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Laos is constructing and upgrading its stadiums, training centers, accommodations, transport and tourism to host the 25th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2009, Lao newspaper Vientiane Times reported Monday.

The 25th SEA Games will take place next December in Vientiane capital and the two provinces of Savannakhet and Luang Prabang.

Vientiane, home to 97 hotels, 69 restaurants and 60 tourism companies, will spend more than 12 billion kip (nearly 1.3 million U.S. dollars) building accommodations, improving the city's appearance, and expanding its public transport network.

Savannakhet province is to spend over 65 billion kip (seven million dollars) upgrading infrastructure for hosting soccer events, and Luang Prabang province to rebuild its existing stadiumto host track and field events.

Laos is building a judo training center for the Lao Judo Federation with the assistance of the Japanese government, and a taekwondo training center with the help of a South Korean company.

The 25th SEA Games will comprise swimming, diving, wrestling, track and field, badminton, rugby, boxing, soccer, futsal, golf, judo, karatedo, petanque, sepak takraw, billiards, snooker, shooting, Muay Lao, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, boat racing, shuttlecock, wushu, pencak silat, volleyball, and beach volleyball events.

At the 24th SEA Games in Thailand last year, the Lao team was helped by trainers from Vietnam, China, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Mongolia and Thailand, and showed great improvements, the newspaper said.

Badminton federation seeks rising stars

The Lao Badminton Federation is working hard to raise the standard of its players to international level before they compete in next year's South East Asian (SEA) Games, on home soil.

Although the team returned home empty-handed from the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand last month, the federation hopes to celebrate a medal at the 25 th SEA Games, to be held in 2009 in Laos .

Federation official Somsaveng Sengsilavong told Vientiane Times yesterday “The standard of our players is very poor compared to other countries in Southeast Asia , so we still have a lot of work to do.”

“I think we stand little chance of winning a gold or silver medal at the 2009 SEA Games, even though we'll be playing at home, because players from countries such as Indonesia , Malaysia and Thailand top the world rankings,” Mr Somsaveng said.

“But we're not completely despondent and feel we might get a bronze medal, because the host nation has the right to set the rules of competition. We're now talking with SEA Games council members about the rules concerning the inclusion of professional players.”

“Many members have said they want only amateur players to take part. This would improve the situation for us and other countries that don't have professional players,” he added.

He also said the federation was planning to organise several activities to improve the skills of its players, focussing in particular on two major tournaments.

The first will be the National Championships from January 25-27 in Vientiane . The tournament will comprise 12 events in three categories of competition: male and female single, and doubles for players in the under-14, -16 and -19 age groups.

The National Open will take place in April and invites all the best players in the country to compete, as well as those from overseas.

The federation will use both tournaments to select the best players to enter the national training camp, to prepare for the SEA Games.

Concerning a coach, Mr Somsaveng said the federation would ask the Badminton Asia Confederation to provide the best trainer it could.

According to the Badminton Asia Confederation's official website, it is the governing body of badminton in Asia . Today, it boasts a membership of 39 countries, including Laos , and aims to remain the benchmark for world badminton for many years to come.

By Sisay Vilaysack
Vientianetimes

(KPL) The Lao government has recently granted the Booyoung Co, Ltd from the Republic of Korea to develop a 27-hole golf course for the 2009 SEA Games, which will be hosted by Laos.

The course which is expected to be completed by May 2009, is located on a 300-ha site at KM 18 in Saythany district, Vientiane Capital.

The US$ 12 million project was signed at a ceremony held on 31 July at the Lao Plaza Hotel, Vientiane, between Mr Soulivong Dalavong, President of the Committee for Planning and Investment, on behalf of the Lao Government and Mr Lee Joong Keun, Chairman of the Booyoung Co., Ltd.

The agreement was also signed by the President of the Lao National Sports Committee, Dr. Phouthong Seng-akhom, the Vice-Mayor of Vientiane, Mr. Bounchanh Sinthavong.

The ceremony was witnessed by the Standing Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Somsavat Lengsavad.

This is the first investment in Laos for the Booyoung Co., Ltd. So far the company has donated more than US$ 5 million to develop the education for poor people in remote rural areas of Laos .

Source: kpl

Photo of indoor stadium, National University of Laos. This photo was taken during the International Table tenis competition in Vientiane. Laos will host a major international competition in 2009: the South East Asia (SEA) Games where table tennis will be one of the events.

Photo: Miss Champa, one of the mascot for 25th Sea Games in Laos

The 25 sports that will be competed in the 25th Southeast Asian Games 2009 in Laos include:

1. Aquatics
2. Archery
3. Athletics
4. Badminton
5. Bowling
6. Boxing
7. Football/futsal
8. Golf
9. Handball
10. Judo
11. Karate-do
12. Muay
13. Petanque
14. Pencak silat
15. sepak takraw
16. Shooting
17. Shuttle cock
18. Snooker and billiards
19. Table tennis
20. Taekwondo
21. Tennis
22. Traditional boat race
23. Volleyball/beach volleyball
24. Wrestling
25. Wushu.

The 25th SEA Games is tentatively to be fallen on December 13 to 21, 2009 in Vientiane, Luang prabang and Savannakhet.

This new national stadium has been constructed at Km 16 in Xaythany district on Road 13 South of Vientiane city and is expected to be ready 3 months before the SEA Games start. The swimming pools, golf and tennis courts of world standard will be built near the Lao International Trade Exhibition and Convention Centre (ITECC).

The Lao national sport committee announced to organise some sports events in Vientiane, Luang prabang and Savannakhet provinces. The traditional boat racing, canoeing and other events will be held in Vientiane province. The first round of the men football competition will be held in Savannakhet because the new 15,000-seat stadium is completed. The new stadium in Luang prabang province will be used for women football competition.


Photo: New stadium used for the opening ceremony of the 7th National games in Savannakhet province, central Laos.



Photo: New stadium in Luang prabang province, nothern Laos.

Totally 25 sports will be competed at the 25th SEA GAMES in Vientiane, Laos including Lao traditional sports such as archery, top spinning and boat racing.

Reported by: Samakomlao