25th SEA Games, Laos

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.

Laos says it is on track to host it's first ever international sports event, next year's South East Asian Games, thanks to international help.

China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and the Olympic Council of Asia have come to Laos's rescue to ensure the Games go ahead.

Laos Olympic chief, Somphou Phongsa, says the impoverished nation is up to the task, with facilities 60 per cent ready.

Although only a minor event on the sporting calendar, the SEA Games is taken as seriously as the Olympics by the 11 competing countries, most of which are historic foes.

Some nations are unhappy the communist country was awarded the Games, and are furious that the number of sports was slashed from 43 to 25, with obscure disciplines like Muay Lao, pencak silat, wushu, petanque and kempo replacing traditional sports like gymnastics, archery, cycling and weightlifting.

China has provided more than $100 million to construct a 20,000-seat stadium and is building two indoor stadiums, a tennis centre and the country's first Olympic-sized swimming pool.

South Korean companies are financing a taekwondo centre and a 27-hole golf course and Japan was funding a judo venue.

Thailand last month pledged $2.9 million and will train officials in 12 sports, while neighbouring Vietnam has put up $19 million to build eight 10-storey apartment blocks for athletes.

Singapore has offered computer technicians and English teachers to educate volunteers and staff, most of which will be local university students.

The Games take place in December 2009 and will be contested by Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Burma, East Timor, Brunei, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Source: www.radioaustralia.net.au

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

(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.

Korean consultant to the Lao Badminton Federation, Mr Jae Jin Kim, will help the national badminton team's quest for a medal at the 25 th SEA Games in Vientiane in 2009.

Secretary General of the Lao Badminton Federation Bounleua Sinxayvoravong signed an agreement with the Chief Executive Officer of InnoMax Corporation from the Republic of Korea , Mr Jae Jin Kim, at the Lao National Sports Committee's office on Tuesday.

Mr Jae has pledged more than 200 million kip (US$25,000) to the Lao badminton team, to enable them to travel to the Republic of Korea for training in May. Accompanying the team will be a number of Lao Badminton Federation officials, who will gain valuable experience in competition organisation and management from their Korean counterparts.

At present a Malaysian badminton coach is training the Lao team in preparation for the Vientiane Badminton Open to be held at the National University of Laos in April.

“We have invited badminton teams from many countries to attend the Badminton Open, including teams from South East Asia, the Pacific and Europe ,” said the Assistant to the President of the federation, Mr Somsaveng Sengsylavong.

“However, the arena lacks special impact-absorbing flooring as we have a limited budget for the event,” he said.

Source: 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

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