25th SEA Games, Laos

Chairman of the SEA Games Federation Council meeting Dr Phouthong Sengakhom (third right) speaks to delegates from other members of the federation. –Photo Sangkhomsay

The SEA Games Federation (SEAGF) has approved 390 events in 25 sports to be scheduled at next year's 25th SEA Games in Laos .

The SEAGF council met in Vientiane yesterday with leaders of federations from member nations to finalise events for the games, after two days of discussion.

SEAGF Council Chairman Dr Phouthong Sengakhom said the meeting covered sports for competition and TV rights for next year's games, plans for the 50th anniversary of SEAGF, establishment of a SEAGF coordinating office, progress of preparations for the 2009 games, and potential host nations for the next games in 2011.

Dr Phouthong, who is also President of the Lao National Sports Committee and Lao National Olympic Committee, said the meeting had agreed that Laos would organise a ceremony to celebrate SEAGF's 50th anniversary in Vientiane in June next year.

At the meeting, Lao officials presented a progress report on preparations for the games including sporting venues, accommodation for athletes and officials, the media centre, and transport and traffic arrangements.

The games will run from December 9 and 18, with the opening ceremony to take place on December 13.

Dr Phouthong thanked SEAGF members for supporting Laos in hosting the games, as well as the governments of Vietnam and Thailand for supporting the construction of infrastructure for the games.

The 25 sports to be contested at the games are athletics, aquatic sports (swimming, diving and water polo), archery, badminton, billiards and snooker, boxing, cycling, football, golf, judo, karatedo, sepak takraw, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and soft tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu, muay, fin swimming, petanque, shuttlecock and pencak silat.

Competition venues include the national sports complex at Km 16 in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district; Don Chan Palace ; Booyoung and Olympasia indoor stadiums

Vientianetimes

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

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.

POC lobbies for more SEAG events
By NICK GIONGCO



The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is pushing for the inclusion of basketball and a few other sports in the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Laos.


POC president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco Jr. is currently in Vientiane, Laos to lobby for sports where the Philippines is considered strong, according to POC spokesman Joey Romasanta.

Cojuangco is accompanied by secretary-general Steve Hontiveros, treasurer Julian Camacho, legal counsel Ding Tanjuatco and athletics chief Go Teng Kok, designated as head of the sports and rules committee for the Laos Games. Also with the group is Dr. Martin Camara, head of the medical committee.

Aside from basketball, the POC is eyeing the inclusion of billiards, fencing, cycling, dancesport and chess.

The 25th SEA Games is slated Dec. 13-21 next year with only 22 sports on tap.

Owing to the lack of facilities in Laos, a landlocked country in Indo-China bordered by Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma and China, the host said they could only organize a limited number of sports.

Forty-three events were staged last year in Thailand, nearly the same number held in Manila in 2005.

"Some of our neighbors in the SEAG are going to help us in our bid to have basketball in 2009," said a member of the POC party to Laos yesterday in an overseas call.

"We told them that when the Philippines hosted the SEAG in 2005, basketball was not played owing to the suspension (by the FIBA)."

The Philippines retained the basketball crown, but finished sixth overall last year in Thailand.

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/SPRT20080424122709.html

The Lao Karatedo Federation is expanding the number of training camps around the country, in an effort to bring fighters up to an international level.

Vientiane has four karatedo training facilities - the 279 Army Camp at Sithong, 105 Army Medical School, Vientiane Secondary School and the Telecom School . The federation will open another camp at the Comcenter Business Administration College next month.




Comcenter students will be able to study for about five years, after which they will receive a certificate and a black dan (or belt).

The federation will also set up training camps in Borikhamxay and Champassak provinces in May.

Karatedo trainers at each camp will prepare young fighters to compete in the 8 th National Games in Champassak province this December.

“We will select the best fighters at the games to join the national team in their preparations for the 25 th SEA Games, to be held in Vientiane next year,” said the Vice President of the Lao Karatedo Federation, Mr Sonesak N. Nhansana.

More than 100 students from Vientiane Secondary School attended a training course to improve their skills last week.

Last Sunday the federation hosted a seminar about competition rules and held an examination for 70 young fighters from the four camps in preparation for the upcoming National Games.

“All the fighters understand the rules and passed the examination,” said Mr Sonesak.

The seminar was attended by professional karetedo fighter Fujikyo Omura, who holds eight dans. Mr Sonesak is the best fighter in Laos , with 4 dans.

At the SEA Games in Thailand last year, Souphansa Inthavongsa won a bronze medal in the men's karatedo 75kg category.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

(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.

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



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

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

Photo: Official mascot for the 25th SEA Games in Laos

Champa and Champi very pleased that our country “Lao PDR” has an opportunity to play host for Coming 25th SEA Games in the year 2009, which shall be the first times ever for our country .we, therefore, would like to take this opportunity to welcome our SEA Games Families and friends from various countries to visit “Laos”. Our country is full natural resources, green environment, national and natural cultures with variety of tourist destination. We, both Champa and Champi, shall assure all of our friends who shall visit us during this SEA Games, our best hospitalities and generosities.

We have full confidence that our friends shall have the most impression of our country “Laos”. This 25th SEA Games 2009 which is considered as the most spectacular multi-sports festival of this region shall certainly harmonized the frien-ship, international relationship, sincerity and joyfulness among our ASEAN member countries.

Don’t forget! Come and visit us in December 2009.
See you in the coming 25th SEA Games 2009.

Sabaidee

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Sisay Vilaysack
vientianetimes

The Lao 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

Photo: Sengdara fitness center in Vientiane.

The National Olympic Committee of Thailand presented fitness equipment worth 650 million kip to the Lao National Olympic Committee at the Lao National Club on Tuesday.

Minister to the Prime Minister's Office and President of the Lao National Olympic Committee Dr Phouthong Seng-akhom received the equipment from the President of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, Mr Yuthasak Sasiprapha, during a handover ceremony.

The two countries will continue their cooperation in the sports sector for the 25 th SEA Games in Laos in 2009.

The fitness equipment will be installed at the new Lao National Sports Training Centre in Vientiane this year, once construction of the centre is complete.

Source: 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

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

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 Brewery Company (LBC) has made a decision to support US$1 million for the Lao PDR to be the host of the 25th SEA Games in 2009.

This is according to a signing ceremony among the LBC, Phethchampa Advertising Company, RSBs Companies on 22 August at Done Chan Palace Hotel.

The signing ceremony of the patronisation was witnessed by Standing Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Somsavat Lengsavad and President of the Lao National Sports Committee, Dr. Phouthong Seng-akhom.
The LBC’s support will cover the 25th SEA Games activities becoming main sponsor of Laos and for the 25th SEA Games.

Laos has scheduled to be the host of the 25th SEA Games in 2009 but now it is a big challenge for the first time of the Laos, particularly the preparing plan which is quite poor in order to avoiding bad feedback from society in the nation and overseas.

The preparing plan should be made better than current situation, said an official concerned.

Laos has no experience to organise the big event like the SEA Games if this job’s output was good it would raise the reputation of the country to the international stage, an official of the Lao National Sports Committee continued.

At present, the Government has received constantly from private companies, international organisations and friendly countries for preparing the 2009 SEA Games.

Source: kpl