25th SEA Games, Laos

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.

More than 100 martial artists gave a demonstration to a curious crowd at the Faculty of Economics and Business at the National University of Laos on Saturday.

The demonstrators, from the junior and senior categories of various martial arts, comprised 50 judo fighters, and 40 male and 21 female practitioners of aikido. They came from Vietnam , Cambodia , Singapore , Thailand and Laos and performed alongside karatedo teams. They received training for this event from Japanese experts.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Phongsavat Boupha, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture Bouangeun Xaphouvong, Japanese Ambassador to Laos Masaaki Miyashita, presidents of the judo aikido and karatedo federations and senior officials watched the performance along with students.

“It is my great pleasure that the Embassy of Japan is hosting this martial arts demonstration here today. I would like to welcome all guests and thank them for coming to this event,” Mr Miyashita said.

Judo is a traditional Japanese martial art dating back to ancient times along with sumo wrestling. It is renowned for its solid manual movements, without the use of any protective gear or equipment. After the Second World War, it gained an international reputation and was practised by millions of people all over the world. For some time it was included in the Olympic Games.

Karatedo is believed to have its origins in Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan . Again, it doesn't involve the use of any instruments, but there is more emphasis on striking and kicking.

The birth of aikido is relatively recent, dating back to around the 1920s. This martial art is primarily used for self-defence, rather than for attack. It also attaches great importance to harmony between the body and the mind. These martial arts are not simply physical sports, but also emphasise the importance of discipline and self-control.

Some of the players who demonstrated their skills and expertise on Saturday had won SEA Games' medals.

“I am confident that many more of them will obtain medals in the coming SEA Games in Vientiane later this year,” Mr Miyashita said.

He said the Japanese government was continuously contributing to the development of martial arts in Laos by organising annual events and building the Lao-Japan Budo Centre in Vientiane .

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Lao judo and karatedo federations and the Lao Aikido Club for their valuable collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in organising today's event,” he added.

“It's particularly important to mark this event as part of the Mekong-Japan Exchange Year 2009 programme. I hope you enjoy beautiful and powerful performances by Lao martial artists.”

The national judo team will compete at a judo competition to be held in Thailand on April 4. Teams will also take part in the first Asean Martial Arts competition to be held in Thailand at the end of April.

Judo events in the 25th SEA Games will include eight men's categories (55kg, 60kg, 66kg, 73kg, 81kg, 90kg, 100kg and over 100kg), while the eight women's categories are in the 45, 48, 52, 57, 63, 70, 78 and over 78kg weight divisions.

Karatedo events will consist of male combatants in seven categories (55kg, 60kg, 65kg, 65kg, 70kg, 75kg, 80kg) and women fighters in four (48, 53, 60 and over 60kg).

At the 24th SEA Games held in Thailand last year, the Lao judo team won two gold, one silver and three bronze medals, while the karatedo team won a bronze medal.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

Photo taken on October 2008.

Laos, which will host the South-East Asia (SEA) Games in November, has received assurances that the Chinese-constructed National Stadium will be completed by March, a Lao foreign ministry spokesman said Tuesday.”The Chinese contractors have assured us that the stadium will be completed by March,” said the ministry’s spokesman Yong Chanthlangsy.

“This will give the Lao government enough time to rehearse all the things we need to do to prepare for the games,” Yong told Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) over phone.

Land-locked Laos, one of South-east Asia’s poorest countries with a population of less than six million, will host the SEA Games for the first time in mid-November.


Photo taken on October 2008

To help Laos prepare for the games, China has provided government loans amounting to $80 million to its communist neighbour to build a new National Stadium Complex in Vientiane, the capital.

The SEA Games’ planned 390 events in 25 different sports will be held in Vientiane’s two sports stadiums and several venues in the capital.

Deputy Prime Minister Somsawat Lengsawat, who heads the National Preparatory committee for the SEA Games, was informed of the progress on the main stadium at a meeting in Vientiane Monday, said Yong.

SEA Games countdown at Chao-anouvong stadium



The official venue for the launch of the countdown to the 25th SEA Games will be Chao-anouvong stadium in Anou village of Chanthbouly district, according to the Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC).


The LNSC's publication ‘Sports Daily News' yesterday reported the ceremony was being organised by the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee (LAOSOC) in cooperation with the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Vientiane Administration Office.

The countdown ceremony will be held on December 31 and will be attended by high-ranking government officials, as well as being open to the public.

The ceremony will commence at 6.30 pm and run until 1am on January 1, 2009. Attendees will not only be able to enjoy the New Year celebrations and the launch of the countdown to the 2009 SEA Games, but also a show from Miss SEA Games contestants, performances by various artists, and a dazzling fireworks display.

The event will also feature the selection of the final 11 Miss SEA Games ambassadors who will lead athletes of each country into the stadium during the opening and closing ceremonies of the games.

A countdown clock to be placed at the Talat Sao Shopping Mall is currently being prepared, according to the games' major sponsor Lao Brewery Company.

Last month the SEA Games Federation approved 390 events in 25 sports for the games which will run from December 9 to 18 in Vientiane .

The games will involve athletes from the 11 nations of Laos , Vietnam , Cambodia , Brunei , Thailand , Malaysia , Indonesia , Myanmar , Philippines , Singapore , and Timor Leste, which will be making its SEA Games debut.

The games aim to promote friendship, solidarity and understanding between countries in the region, while promoting sport and providing an opportunity for athletes to compete in order to improve their performances at the Asian Games and Olympic Games.

By Sisay Vilaysack

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 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.

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

The Lao National Sports Committee yesterday held its eighth meeting at the Prime Minister's Office to evaluate preparations for the 25 th SEA Games to be held in Laos next year.

Standing Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the 25 th SEA Games Organising Committee, Mr Somsavat Lengsavad, ministers and senior officials from the sports committee attended the meeting.


Photo: New stadium for 25th SEA Games in Laos

President of the Lao National Sports Committee and Vice Chairman of 25 th SEA Games Organising Committee, Dr Phouthong Seng-akhom, reported on the progress made in the run-up to the games.

“The committee is concerned about the standard of information technology equipment to be installed at the new stadium,” Dr Phouthong said.

Two months ago, professionals from Malaysia and Thailand came to Laos to advise the committee on the necessary equipment.

The sports committee is organising the SEA Games, which will consist of 25 sports.

Referees and organising committees from the 25 sports federations will be responsible for judging during competition.

The sports committee is overseeing repairs to existing stadiums and access roads. At present the main stadium, which will be used for major football matches and the opening and closing ceremonies, is 35 percent complete.

The committee is asking local companies to provide funding to support the games.

Ministers and senior officials reported on the progress they had made in preparation for the games.

The Ministry of Information and Culture is responsible for the performances at the opening and closing ceremonies. It will need about 5,000 people to perform in various events and will invite singers from 11 other countries to take part.

“Government organisations are responsible for all aspects of the games and for carrying out checks on all services provided,” Mr Somsavat said.

Organisations will monitor water supply, hotels and security, as well as the airports in Champassak and Luang Prabang provinces.

Lao teams are competing in eight sports and will undergo training in Vietnam from June to September in agreement with the government of Vietnam . The Lao football team will be one of the teams training in Vietnam .

The sports committee is also sending referees for training overseas so they are qualified to judge in the games.

“Every referee will undergo a training course before the games,” Mr Somsavat said.

(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

Photo: Meeting participants admire the design of the SEA Games stadium and environs, currently under construction in Vientiane

Laos yesterday presented its first proposal for a total of 22 sports to be included in the 25 th South East Asian (SEA) Games, to be held in Laos at the end of next year.

The proposal was made yesterday at the first 25 th South East Asia Games Executive Committee Meeting, which is taking place in Vientiane from April 22-24.

A member of the Sports and Rules Standing Committee of Laos, Mr Phouvanh Vongsouthi, presented the proposal to the meeting. The suggested sports are athletics, badminton, boxing, football, golf, judo, karate-do, muay, petanque, pencak silat, shuttlecock, rattanball, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, traditional boat racing, tennis, volleyball, wrestling, wushu and fin swimming.

Other countries taking part in the games proposed additional sports, including water polo, archery, billiards, snooker, basketball, bowling, gymnastics, cycling, canoeing, chess, body building, fencing, dance, rowing, weightlifting, vovinam, hockey, squash and kempo.

Responding to the proposal, meeting chairman Dr Souvannarath Saignavong asked executive committee members to put their proposals in writing to the Lao National Olympic Committee for reference and further discussion.

Final approval of the sports and specific events is expected to be given at a SEA Games Council meeting that will be held at the end of this year.

Dr Souvannarath informed participants the 25 th SEA Games' charter would be based on that approved in Manila , the Philippines , in 2004, along with some adaptations, such as the descriptions of the duties of each country's National Olympic Committee.

This year's charter states that the traditional combat boxing sport formerly referred to as “muay Thai” in the 24 th SEA Games held in Korat, Thailand, should be known as “muay”, according to the head of the meeting secretariat Soudthanom Inthavong.

Officials also presented the minutes of the Medical Committee Meeting held on Tuesday, which will also be presented at today's SEA Games Council meeting.

The medical committee presented its comments on four cases of doping at the last SEA Games, held in Thailand . Attendees approved the comments and the matter will be further addressed at the SEA Games Council meeting for final approval and public announcement.

An Indonesian participant proposed improvement of the standards of SEA Games' athletes, saying they lagged behind those of competitors in the Asian Games, whose member countries had taken steps to raise standards.

The Lao side presented its ideas for activities to celebrate the 50 th anniversary of the Southeast Asian Peninsular Games - the origin of the SEA Games - including an Olympic Day run, in which each member country would send their athletes to participate, Mr Soudthanom said.

Today's SEA Games Council hopes to approve various issues discussed during the two-day executive committee meeting, among other issues.

The attendees toured the Lao National SEA Games stadium, which is under construction in Xaythany district, Vientiane . The stadium is now 35 percent complete and set for completion by June next year.

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
Vientianetimes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

KPL

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

(KPL) Hongthong Park, Ban Koualouang, Chanthaboury district, Vientiane Capital, is being developed with adding a 24-hour market with a 200-car parking lot.

The development of 17,000 ha park is also to welcome the upcoming 25th Southeast Asian Games to be held in Vientiane in 2009.

The 25 billion kip development is the co-operation between Vientiane Administration, the Vientiane Urban Development Administration Authority (VUDAA) and Khampaisana Company.

The improvement of the park will be carried out by Khamphaixana Company, which will operate the park for 40 year after completing the construction.
Concerned parties signed a memorandum of understanding on the development last Thursday in Vientiane among the witness of Deputy Mayor of Vientiane Mr Bounchan Sinlavong and concerned officials.

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

Two companies awarded advertising rights for the South East Asian (SEA) Games, to be held in Vientiane in 2009, have now sold part of their stake in the business to a Thai company.

Phetchampa Adverting Company of Laos and the RS International Broadcasting and Sports Management Company (RSBS) of Thailand were given sole advertising rights to the games last year.

The business comprises marketing, the opening and closing ceremonies and international TV broadcasts of the games, including advertising.

Phetchampa and RSBS signed an agreement on Friday in Vientiane with the Tee Ro Thai Intertrade Co Ltd of Thailand , selling them the sales' rights for the production of the games' mascots, Champi and Champa, for about 140 million kip (500,000 baht).

More than 50,000 units will be produced for sale.

In addition, RSBS plans to invest provide 560 million kip (2 million baht) for the production of medals and sportswear for Lao athletes and trainers.

The signing ceremony took place between the Director of the Phetchampa Advertising Company, Mr Khammoui Keomany, and the Managing Director of TRT Intertrade Co Ltd, Mr Praphan Prangla-or.

“We will also help with adverting for the sale of Lao handicrafts during the games,” said Mr Khammoui.


By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

The Lao Wrestling Federation is gearing up to host a major wrestling competition among South East Asian nations in Vientiane in December.

The federation wants the contest to be an opportunity to test the chances of the Lao wrestling team to achieve gold in the 25 th SEA Games in 2009.

The federation does not yet have a stadium for the competition due to a lack of funding, and there no plans for the construction of a stadium this year.

“We hope to hold the contest at the training centre of the Lao Taekwondo Federation, if we ask for assistance from them,” said the Vice President of the Lao Wrestling Federation, Mr Bouathong Southammavong.

The Booyoung Company from the Republic of Korea is already building a taekwondo training centre in Vientiane ; the company began work on the project in November last year, and the building is set to be completed by April. The Asia Association's Wrestling Committee President, Mr Chang Kew Kim, will present equipment to the federation in March. During this visit, Mr Chang will also survey the taekwondo centre for suitability.

“We believe that more people will be interested in wrestling after the competition in December, and we also want to promote the sport to increase our chances of selecting a good team for the 25 th SEA Games,” said Mr Bouathong.

Mr Chang will recruit a skilled trainer to help improve the Lao wrestling team ahead of the games.

The Lao committee and the head trainer, Mr Manolom Phinith, discussed with Mr Chang after the team's success in the 24 th games in Thailand last year the possibility of receiving help from the association.

The wrestling events in December will consist of men's and women's wrestling events in eight categories.

Four men and two women wrestlers competed in the 24 th SEA Games, when Khonekeo Thatthavong in the 74kg category and Vilakone Vongphachane in the 60 kg category both won bronze medals.

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