25th SEA Games, Laos

Hotel rooms are still available for SEA Games fans and visitors who want to cheer for their sports stars, even though many hotels are close to being fully booked.

Many hotel owners in Vientiane told Vientiane Times yesterday their rooms were almost all reserved, while some said they were already full.

Vientiane is the main venue for the games' official delegates and sports fans coming to Laos for the SEA Games, which are scheduled from December 9-18.

Hotel, Guesthouse and Restaurant Association member Bouloud Viengviseth said rooms in about 70 percent of hotels that are members of the association have been booked by official delegates.

Being tasked to host official delegates means these hotels are almost fully booked, he said, adding that the association has more than 40 member hotels and another 40 member guesthouses.

The capital has 118 hotels with 4,207 rooms, including 898 rooms that have been reserved for official delegates from foreign countries, according to the Vientiane Tourism Department.

However, hotel rooms to be reserved for Lao delegates have yet to be confirmed, said a department official.

Vientiane also has 184 guesthouses with 2,750 rooms, which can accommodate up to 4,000 people. However, many of these rooms have already been reserved.

Both hotels and guesthouses can accommodate about 10,000 guests, including those rooms already reserved for some 1,255 official delegates.

The tourism official was unable to say what percentage of this accommodation had already been booked as individuals have booked through many channels, so the information could not be collated.

“We don't know the exact number of visitors who have booked so far. Some booked through travel agencies,” the official said.

Many people also booked by themselves on the Internet or by telephone.

The Lao National Tourism Administration estimates that about 60,000 tourists will come to Vientiane throughout December, including those passing through on their way to the provinces.

Though the number of visitors to the capital during the games might exceed the available accommodation, the administration's Vice President, Mr Sila Mounthalavong, believed Vientiane will be able to cope.

H e said many visitors might stay only for a few days, while some will just pass through and travel to other provinces.

Lao Association for Tr avel Agents President, Mr Bouakhao Phomsouvanh, said several thousand tourists from Asean nations are in or on their way to Vientiane for the regional sporting event.

Officials said many SEA Games visitors would stay with relatives during their time in Laos .



By Souksakhone Vaenkeo

The shooting field in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district, to be used for the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane this December is now 90 percent complete.

The Lao SEA Games Organising Committee says the arena will be completed within a month.

Manager of the Construction Project for the 25th SEA Games, Mr Khiengkham Phoutchanhthavongsa said officials are waiting for equipment from Germany to install at the field.

The shooting field will consist of 32 lanes of 10 metres in length and 32 lanes of 50m in length. The arena will have seating for 50 spectators.

Construction of the facility began in October 2007.

The national shooting team will train at the field from October in preparation for the games.

The team is currently training at the Lao Shooting Federation's field, which has eight lanes of 10m in length and six lanes of 50m.

The Industrial Park Overseas Investment Company, China Yunnan Construction Engineering Group and China Development Bank are currently constructing a sports complex for the SEA games at a cost of more than 849 billion kip (more than US$100 million).

The complex will include a football stadium, swimming pools, tennis courts, a shooting field and two indoor stadiums. The complex is located in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district, Vientiane .

The shooting event at the games will consist of men's and women's singles 50m rifle and 10m air rifle; women's singles and team 25m pistol and 10m air pistol; men's singles 25m rapid fire pistol and 25m centre fire pistol; men's singles and team 25m standard pistol, 10m air pistol and 50m pistol events.

The Lao national shooting team finished in sixth place at the South East Asia Shooting Championships in Vietnam last September after winning one gold, four silvers and eight bronze medals.

The Lao shooting team failed to win a medal at the last SEA Games in Thailand in 2007


By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianegames

Experienced golf coaches from the Republic of Korea are improving 10 Lao golfers' techniques in the hope they will pick up medals at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane this December.

Mr Kim Mun Su and his assistant, Mr Kim Mun Kyu have been training six male and four female golfers since March this year.

Lao golfers are practicing on various courses including the Km14 golf course, Km6 golf course, and Daensavanh course in Vientiane as well as courses in Savannakhet and Champassak provinces and those in the neighbouring countries of Vietnam and Thailand .

Chairman of the Lao Golf Federation, Mr Sounthone Sirisack said the federation is trying to give the golfers as much experience as possible on different courses.

The federation will cooperate with the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation to hold an international level pre-SEA Games tournament in October and November.

The Lao golfers will have an opportunity to train at the Km18 course when it is finally constructed.

The pre-games tournament will test the golfers' skills and allow the federation to select a final squad of four males and three females to compete at the games.

He said to be selected to represent Laos , golfers must not only posses the necessary skills but also have good behaviour and the right attitude.

Mr Sounthone said it would be difficult for Laos to win a gold medal in golf at the games but the event will provide an excellent opportunity for the young team to gain international experience.

The current squad ranges in age from 16 to 28 years old. They are currently situated in Vientiane where they are training twice daily.

He said the federation is looking to build the stocks of talented young golfers for success at international events in the future.

He said the Lao golfing scene is growing steadily and many young people are interested in the game.

In the lead-up to the games, the federation will hold training courses for 30 technical officials and 70 caddies who will participate in the games.

The golf event at the games will comprise of men's and women's singles and teams events.

The Lao team was unsuccessful in the golf event of the 24th SEA Games in Thailand in 2007.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

Women sepak takraw players preparing for the 25th SEA Games later this year in Vientiane won a friendship tournament on Saturday in Savannakhet province against a Thai team.

The Lao National Sepak Takraw Federation had invited the women's team from Mahasarakarm province in Thailand for a friendly tournament, contested by three teams from each province.

The first Lao team to play won its match with a score of 21-12 and 21-17. But the second team lost with a score of 18-21, 21-16 and 9-15. But after the third game when Laos achieved a score of 21-15, 21-14, Laos was declared the winner.

Because the event was very closely contested, the women decided to play a further match, which Laos again won with a score of 21-18.

Coach Lamphone Souvanvong said the event had been useful because it had allowed him to see his players' weak points. They would work on these together so the women could perfect their skills ahead of the SEA Games in December.

The federation is seeking more matches with local players and teams from neighbouring countries to get in plenty of match practice before the big event.

Coach Lamphone reported that 42 sepak takraw players, including 21 men and 21 women, had been taking part in practice matches in Savannakhet province since April.

They train at the Savannakhet Sepak Takraw Centre, which is fully equipped and has large grounds where players can train.

“They have been able to improve their tactics and skills. What we want to do now is test them out against various sepak takraw players from neighbouring countries so we can take note of their weak points and improve things before the games,” Mr Lamphone said.

He said almost 80 percent of the athletes were ready to compete in Thailand , in events such as the King's Cup.

“There are still a few small problems that need ironing out. Some of the players were only chosen last month for training at the centre and still not familiar with our rules so we have to bring them up the same standard at the other players.”

A member of the men's team, Sampien Somsamaivong, said they needed to strengthen their leg muscles a lot more as well as improve their general fitness before taking part in tournaments in Thailand .

“Since we've been training at the centre we've improved a lot. Both men and women are following the rules, which govern training, meals and other aspects,” he said.



By Souknilundon in Savannakhet
Vientianetimes

The national men's football team will return from Vietnam in June to continue their training in Vientiane after bad weather disrupted their training in Vietnam .

Head Coach Xaysana Savatdy told Vientiane Times yesterday the team would resume their training in Laos because the wet season in Vietnam meant conditions there were unsuitable.

“Out training facility in Hanoi doesn't have an indoor court, so it's hard for our players to practise their skills and techniques in preparation for the SEA Games in December,” he said.

The 30 member squad left Vientiane in early March to train in Hanoi and have improved under the guidance of Vietnamese trainers.

“We initially planned to stay in Vietnam for longer, but the rain is hindering our preparations so we will return to Laos for a short time,” Mr Xaysana said.

“At the training camp here we can easily monitor the players' health, nutrition and training regime. We have found their skills and strategies have improved greatly and are looking forward to some competitive matches to test the team.”

The team hopes to play some matches on their return home to put their training into practice.

A member of the squad said the team has been training hard across a variety of areas in Hanoi .

“The Vietnamese coach has a lot of experience, having played football and studied at a football school before becoming a coach. The training facility also has top quality equipment and pitches.”

“Some members of the squad are still students and are having troubles with their studies. The Lao Football Federation wants to solve those problems soon in line with the Prime Minister's agreement on study arrangements for SEA Games athletes,” said Mr Xaysana.

He said he was confident the team would perform well at the games.

“Let's wait and see the difference in the squad when they return to Vientiane . I believe they will surprise many people in the matches leading up to the games and also during the event itself.”

In the coming months a final squad of 20 players will be selected for the games and they will return to train in Hanoi in August or September.

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
vientianetimes

Two professional volleyball coaches from China are helping the Lao men's and women's volleyball and beach volleyball teams to prepare for the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane in December.

The coaches, Mr Yin Ming and Mrs Qin Wensui, are former Chinese national volleyball representatives and have both coached popular clubs in China .

Mr Yin, who works for the Beijing City Sports Office, arrived in Vientiane last week and will train the men's and women's volleyball teams.

Mrs Qin comes from the Beijing City Club and arrived in Vientiane last month to train the men's and women's beach volleyball teams.

Secretary of the Lao Volleyball Federation, Mr Sychan Chitpanya, said the federation received assistant from the Chinese government to support the teams in their preparation for the games.

The coaches will lead the teams until after the games. This is the first time the Lao national teams have been trained by a foreign coach.

The teams will find it challenging to win a medal at the games as they lack experience at the international level and have not had a regular training programme in the past. Mrs Qin is currently training the men's and women's beach volleyball teams at the Sports Training Centre in Sikeuth district.

The volleyball teams have been training at the Nongtha village indoor courts in Chanthabouly district since March.

When the indoor stadium at Dongsanghin village in Xaythany district (Km16) is finished in October the volleyball teams will begin training there.

There are presently 15 men and 15 women players training with the squad, but the federation will select two final squads of 12 players each to compete at the games.

The teams will travel to Vietnam and Thailand for training in July and August, when they will also compete in friendly matches against those countries.

At a friendly tournament in Phnom Penh , Cambodia , last week, the women's beach volleyball team was defeated 2-0 in each of their matches against Cambodia and Vietnam .

Players in all the squads come from the Vientiane , Xieng Khuang, Borikhamxay, Savannakhet and Champassak provincial teams as well as the Ministry of National Defence team. They were selected after the eighth National Games held in Champassak province last December.


By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

Photo: Lao children practice Karate inside the Budo center in Vientiane, Laos.

(KPL) Lao-Japan Budo Centre to be used for Karatedo and Judo competitions in the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane will be complete by this year’s end.

The centre is located on the land of former Chao Anou Secondary School near the old National Stadium, Chanthaboury district, Vientiane.This centre will comprise with one building of indoor stadium, which could receive up to 600 seats.

Head of International Sports Department and National Sports Committee Mr Soulasith Oupravanh last week said, “The Lao-Japan Budo Centre Construction Project is implemented with a financial grant from the Japanese Government, which is worth more than 600 million Japanese Yen. The construction started from October 2008 and 20 per cent of the work have been implemented so far.”

The centre is scheduled to complete September this year three months before the 25th SEA Games opening.

This sporting facilities will be used for not only karatedo and judo competitions but also for badminton, table tennis and trakaw competitions.

(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.

Photo: Volunteers and liaison officers attend the training course at National University of Laos.

More than 1,200 students from the National University of Laos (NUOL) are currently attending a training course to prepare for the duties they will perform at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane in December.

The 807 volunteers and 411 liaison officers were selected for the training course after been interviewed by teachers from the university's Department of English in February and March.

An opening ceremony for the training course was held on Wednesday at the university and was attended by Vice President of the Lao National Sports committee (LNSC), Mr Somphou Phongsa, and senior teachers from NUOL.

NUOL President Dr Soukkongseng Saignaleuth said the course aimed to make sure the students would be able to do their work at the games efficiently and be of help to visitors and athletes .

He said the students would study the cultures and customs of other Asean member countries.

Topics for the training course include the history of the SEA Games, tourism in the region, Lao culture, English language, geography, history, and the roles and responsibilities of volunteers and liaison officers.

The course will run until March 31 and is being taught by Mr Somphou and teachers from NUOL.

The volunteers will be divided into four groups of about 200 each, while the liaison officers will be split into two groups.

A further 2,000 volunteers are needed for the games and the NUOL is currently in the process of going through more than 6,000 applications from students wanting to be a part of the games. Teachers will select a further 2,000 students, who will then take a similar training course.

The university is seeking more than one billion kip in funding for the training courses from the government.

The LNSC will delegate responsibilities and duties to a total of 3,000 volunteers and liaison officers in June.

By working at the SEA Games, the students will gain valuable experience and be able to help tighten the bonds of friendship between Laos and other countries in the reg ion.

Volunteers will take care of official guests and dignitaries during the games, while liaison officers will accompany athletes as they travel between venues, and help with public security.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

Laos has announced it will host a meeting to discuss television broadcasting rights for the 25th SEA Games which will run from December 9-18 in Vientiane , according to the Phetchampa Advertising Company.

The company is responsible for managing advertising and TV broadcasting rights issues for the games, following a decision by the SEA Games Organising Committee of Laos.

Phetchampa Advertising Company Director Mr Khammoui Keomany told local media last week the meeting on TV broadcasting rights will run from March 26-28 in Vientiane .

Mr Khammoui, who is also the chairman of the sub-committee on sales, commerce and copyright for the games, said regional interest was high.

“More than 40 television channels in Southeast Asia are interested in sending their representatives to attend the meeting this month.”

He said the main topics to be discussed would be host preparations for TV broadcasting, media ID cards, immigration, customs and shipping.

“We are open to participants if they have any questions on TV rights,” he said.

“We will invite representatives from each committee to report on their rules. For example, customs officials will talk about their arrangements for foreign media who will bring equipment to cover the games, such as cameras,” Mr Khammoui added.

He said the procedure for setting broadcast fees was clear.

“TV broadcasting fees will be set according to the rules of the SEA Games Federation (SEAGF).”

Cable TV, free TV, satellite, Internet and mobile phone broadcasting fees would all have to be determined, he said.

Prior to this meeting, the SEAGF has organised meetings aimed at improving the standard of SEA Games TV broadcasting to make it more professional.

At a SEAGF meeting in Vientiane last November, the process to sell broadcasting rights to the games was approved. SEAGF also approved 390 events in 25 sports to be scheduled for competition at this year's SEA Games to be broadcast live on screens at other competition venues.

Laos will use about 16 mobile broadcasting vans to cover all sports venues and will employ more than 144 people to work as cameramen and producers. The budget for the management of TV broadcasting is about 34 billion kip (US$4 million).

vientianetimes

Photo: Mr Somsavat Lengsavad speaks at the sports committee's office.

Athlete transport and accommodation, public health and media coverage were some of the items on the agenda of the Lao National Sports Committee when it met yesterday to discuss preparations for the 25th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

The SEA Games will be held in Vientiane in December 2009, marking the first time Laos has hosted the event.

SEA Games Organising Committee Chairman and Standing Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Somsavat Lengsavad, spoke at the meeting and said Lao people would be proud the country was capable of planning such a large sporting event.

“Our target is to win 25 gold medals, but the athletes will have to win fairly,” he said.

“We will not stand for any cheating, especially involving drugs. If we find out that any referee has been biased then we will reprimand them.”

More than 700 cars and buses will be used to transport athletes and officials during the SEA Games, which will run from December 9-18.

Mr Somsavat said transport links were currently being upgraded and the new national football stadium in Xaythany district of Vientiane was finished and ready to use.

Lao sports officials are now selecting the best athletes in their respective sports, and China has offered to train some Lao athletes ahead of the event.

Away from the sporting field, the committee will make its final selection of female ambassadors for the SEA Games on New Year's Eve, when it will crown a number of young women with the title of Miss SEA Games.

The committee will meet again on Friday to discuss the budget for the games.

Also attending the meeting was Minister to the Prime Ministers Office and Lao National Sports Committee President, Dr Phouthong Seng-akhom, and other deputy ministers.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

Weight lifting, cycling, archery and water polo may be added to sporting events included in next year's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos, following a meeting of the event's rules committee which began yesterday in Vientiane.


Members from the national sports committees of participating countries attended the meeting to talk about the rules for sports to be included in the SEA Games in November 2009.

Participants at the three-day meeting will consider imposing restrictions on how many events each country can enter in any one sport. This follows a principle seen at the Olympic Games which had eight taekwondo categories, but countries were only permitted to enter competitors in four categories.

It has also been proposed that a special 4x200m relay event be held just for competitors from Laos , Cambodia , Brunei Darussalam and Timor Leste. Sport in these countries are less developed than in other nations and it is hoped these countries will have more opportunities to win medals if they compete against each other in one event.

Meeting Chairman Kasem Inthara said the committee would learn from the experiences of previous organising committees to ensure the SEA Games was successful and ran smoothly.

Next year's SEA Games will include athletic events, aquatic events and traditional sports.

They are: diving, water polo, swimming, archery, badminton, billiards and snooker, boxing, cycling, football, golf, judo, karatedo, sepak takraw, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and soft tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu, muay, fin swimming, petanque, shuttle cock and pencak silat.

Source: Vientianetimes

Photo: Lao’s Thongmala Viengphane, left, carries the ball against Cambodia during their bronze medal match Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007, at the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Lao defeated Cambodia 15-0 for the bronze medal

(KPL) The rules for the 25th South East Asian Games will be written by representatives of Laos, Malaysia and Singapore, following a meeting of the SEA Games Sports and Rules Committee in Vientiane this week.

The officials will formulate the rules for the competition organising and programmes, which will be presented to SEA Games meeting in November, along with the list of sports to be competed at the event.

Lao SEA Games Sports and Rule Committee Chairman Mr Souvannarath Saignavong said the national sports committee wishes to hold more than 25 sporting events to meet the requests of all countries, but we believe this is impossible to do that.

“Many countries are interested in assisting Laos to host the 25th SEA Games, and believe Laos would be able to host the event successfully,” said Mr. Souvannarath.

Last April’s first SEA Games meeting approved 25 sports for the Vientiane Games.

These include swimming and diving, wrestling, track and field, badminton, rugby, boxing, football, futsal, golf, judo, karatedo, petanque, sepak takraw, billiard and snooker, shooting, muay, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, boat racing, wushu, pencak silat, shuttlecock, volleyball and beach volleyball.

photo: Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad speaks at the Prime Minister's office.

The Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC) has accomplished the goals set for the previous three months of preparation for the 25 th SEA Games to be held in Vientiane next year.

At the Prime Minister's Office on Friday, the national sports committee held a meeting to summarise its work and plan its tasks for September to December.

Standing Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the 25 th SEA Games Organising Committee Somsavat Lengsavad and senior officials attended the meeting.

Mr Somsavat said Laos had been given a great honour in hosting the SEA Games. The event would serve to strengthen the country and boost solidarity.

He suggested the committee should set out clear plans for assistance and cooperation with other countries.

From September to December, the sports committee will cooperate with Singapore to prepare for the event.

The Vietnamese government will assist with the installation of IT systems and electronic equipment in the new football stadium and the indoor stadiums to be used in the games.

The national sports committee will hold a Miss SEA Games beauty pageant and will build a digital clock in Vientiane to mark the countdown to the games. The time will run from December 31 this year until the opening ceremony of the games in December 2009. The clock is to be sponsored by the Lao Brewery Company.

The Thai Tourism and Sports Ministry will spend about 21.3 billion kip (84 million baht) to renovate the national football stadium, tennis courts and the sports department's indoor stadium.

The ministry will also pay about 1.5 billion kip (6 million baht) towards the training of LNSC officials, as well as referees and athletes.

The committee will also receive assistance through cooperation with doping control staff from Vietnam and Thailand .

At the end of this year, the committee will open the sports training centre and athletes' accommodation in Vientiane , to be built with assistance from the Vietnamese government.

The Lao football, judo, karatedo, wushu, wrestling, pencak silat, swimming and diving teams are currently training in Vietnam .

Also in the past three months, committee officials improved their skills at the Lao-Singapore Cooperation Centre in June and planted 500 trees around the new football stadium.

In May, the committee held discussions on work plans for the games including accommodation, food, decoration of the city, tourism, traffic, telecommunications and other work.

The committee asked the Olympic Committee of Asia and the competition organising committee of the SEA Games to assist in running the games.

Athletes' accommodation is under construction at the National University of Laos, assisted by the Vietnamese government.

Last July, the committee visited Incheon district in the Republic of Korea , where district officials provided them with sports equipment worth more than 3.5 billion kip (US$405,000).

When Lao government officials attended the Olympic Games in China last month, they signed an agreement for SEA Games cooperation with the Chinese government in Beijing . The Lao wushu and shuttlecock teams will attend training in China ahead of the games.

Singapore helped with tourism promotion for the games last month. This month it will work on business communication for the games and next month plans to assist with hospitality management.

The new football stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies of the games will take place is 65-80 percent complete, the indoor stadium is 90 percent complete, the petanque field is 80 percent complete and the taekwondo court is 95 percent complete.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

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

The Lao national judo team will be able to maintain its third position in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games to be held Vientiane at the end of next year, according to the Lao Judo Federation President.


Speaking a press conference yesterday, Mr Khemsath Philaphandeth said the judo team won third place at the last SEA Games in Thailand , and he would do his best to ensure the team secured the same position in the Vientiane event in 2009.

The Lao judo team won two gold medals in those games.

Mr Khemsath said the federation would hold the first all Lao judo championships in Vientiane on July 26 and 27. The best Lao judo competitors will be selected at this event to compete in the 2009 SEA Games.

The event will be held at the Phonesavanh School , Dongdok village, Xaythany district, Vientiane .

Mr Khemsath said the federation would invite competitors from the provinces of Khammuan, Savannakhet and Vientiane . About 80 competitors are expected to take part .

The 12 best judo competitors will train in Vietnam for three months to prepare for the SEA Games. The federation has already sent three competitors to train in Mongolia for this purpose.

Mr Khemsath said the first all Lao judo championship aimed to promote the sport among Lao people and to raise judo to an international standard in Laos .

He said the federation would spend about US$15,000 to host the championship. The main sponsors of the event are the KP Company and Lao Toyota Company.

The federation will host a similar competition next year, one month before the official opening ceremony of the SEA Games in Vientiane . The competition will be a trial for competitors and venues, to ensure readiness for the games.

He said Laos had sent three Lao judo trainers to Nepal to attend an international federation referee examination, so they can perform these duties at the games.

Mr Khemsath said the Lao judo team had made satisfactory achievements over the past years with six bronze medals in the Southeast Asia Championships in Vietnam this year. The Lao judo team also won a bronze medal at an international tournament in Vietnam .

By Vientiane Times

Photo: New stadium for 25th SEA Games in Vientiane, Laos

(KPL) Laos has announced a series of venues for the 25th SEA Games, which will be held in the country at the end of next year.

Most of the infrastructure for the games are now under construction, said Chairman of the Lao National Sports Committee Phouthong Seng-akhom on July 15.

The main stadium is being built in Saythany district, 16 km south of Vientiane Capital, at a cost of over 100 million USD. Another three stadiums are also under construction in Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Champassak provinces.

Besides, Laos has arranged four more sporting facilities in Vientiane for the 25th SEA Games.

The Southeast Asia’s largest sporting event, is scheduled in Laos in December, 2009, with 25 sporting events.

Photo: Mr Vilayvong Boutdhakham ( third left ), Mr Phongsavath Boupha ( fourth left ), Mr Watanabe Toshiyuki ( fourth right ) and federation officials gather at the Youth Union on Monday.

The Lao karatedo team is hoping for two gold medals at the 25 th SEA Games in Laos next year, after winning only one bronze medal at the 24 th SEA Games in Thailand last December.

On Monday the Lao Karatedo Federation held a ceremony at the Lao Revolutionary Youth Union to present certificates and black belts (dan) to the federation president and officials.

A representative of the Yuuwakai Association of Japan, Mr Watanabe Toshiyuki, presented certificates and black belts (5 dan, 4 dan and 3 dan) to President of the Lao Karatedo Federation and Deputy Security General of the Lao Revolutionary Youth Union, Mr Vilayvong Boutdhakham, and to the federation's vice presidents, secretary and trainers.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and consultant to the federation Phongsavath Boupha, national team members and members of the Vientiane Secondary School Karatedo Club also attended the ceremony.

“We want to strengthen the hearts of the federation's president and officials to encourage them to continue to improving karatedo in Laos ,” Mr Phongsavath said.

“We thank the Yuuwakai Association and hope Japan will continue to help us develop karatedo in Laos and that our two countries will enjoy friendly cooperation.”

The karatedo team from Vientiane Secondary School gave a demonstration of their skills at the end of the ceremony.

Consultant to the federation Sonesak N.Nhansana supervised an examination of karatedo fighters in several categories at the Lao Telecom Centre Shotokan Karatedo camp on Sunday.

Seven candidates passed the examination and received a black belt and 3 kyu, 7 kyu and 8 kyu belts. They have been training in the sport since March this year. The camp will send a karatedo team to compete in the 8 th National Games in Champassak province in December and the camp's top fighters will join the national team at the 25 th SEA Games in Laos next year.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

(KPL) The Lao National Foot Shuttlecock Federation has hoped to win two gold medals in the 25th SEA Games next year although the federation is established this year.

Lao shuttlecock athletes did quite well in the international competitions wining one bronze medal in the World Foot Shuttlecock Championship in Germany in 2002 and two silver and bronze medals in the 22nd SEA Games in Vietnam in 2003.

“We hope to win two gold medals in the SEA Games as we have seen that our athletes have constantly developed their competition skills,” said the president of the Lao National Foot Shuttlecock Federation Dr. Bosengkham Vongdara.

“After establishing, the executive committee of the federation will publicise foot shuttlecock and organise the competitions of this sport in provinces to seek athletes for national team.”

Source: kpl

(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