25th SEA Games, Laos

The Lao National Sports Committee held a test run of the SEA Games welcoming ceremony last Tuesday.

Female students from the National University of Laos practised holding placards bearing the name of each of the 11 participant nations, to welcome the athletes at the start of their stay at the SEA Games Village from December 9 to 19.

Some 300 volunteers and liaison staff from the National University of Laos took part in the exercise.

The test run started at Wattay International Airport and continued at the SEA Games Village .

Sports committees and officials from the university, who will work during the games, also attended the practice event.

SEA Games Organising Committee Vice Chairman Dr Souvannarath Saignavong said the sports committee would be able to improve the welcoming ceremony after analysing the first practice session.

On November 26, the sports committee will hold the final practice session.

It will do a test run of the flag raising ceremony at the SEA Games Village on Thursday.

Practising the welcome ceremony will test public security and transportation.

Dr Souvannarath said it was very important because Lao leaders and athletic teams would be able to see how Laos will welcome other athletes at the village.

He said male and female speakers would be careful to pronounce the name of each country accurately.

During training at the village, Lao dancers practised their performance to welcome the athletes.

Vice Mayor of the village Ms Keomanivong Phimmasen said athletes from six countries would stay at the village.

The six countries were Brunei , Indonesia , Singapore , Thailand , Malaysia and Laos , she said.

There are 77 coaches and athletes from Brunei , 389 from Indonesia , 376 from Singapore , 829 from Thailand , 667 from Malaysia and 612 from Laos .

Mrs Keomanivong said the number of athletes from the five other countries would be confirmed by the sports committee this week.

The Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC) will raise the flags of the 11 participating countries at a ceremony to honour the 50th anniversary of the SEA Games Federation Committee at the SEA Games Village on December 8.

More than 4,000 athletes staying at the SEA Games Village are set to arrive in Vientiane in time for the ceremony. The village consists of eight 4-storey dormitories.

The flag raising ceremony for the 50th anniversary of the SEA Games Federation will be an important event.

This ceremony indicates that the athletes of the 11 countries have arrived at the village and will start preparing for the games.

As the host country Laos will stage performances and other activities on the opening night.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

After many months of preparations, the SEA Games Organising Committee has arranged a rehearsal session next week to put everything to the test.

The SEA Games Technical and Preparation of Sport Contingent Committee reported last Friday that all committees and federations will set up sample events on November 16-20.

This is seen as a valuable exercise to highlight any problems before the main event next month.

Technical Committee Chairman Somphou Phongsa told the local press it would be an important event and give participants useful experience.

There will be test events for some sports, after which all the committees and bodies involved will go to the field to see what aspects need to be improved or changed.

“This rehearsal will follow the plan for the games in December which the organisers have prepared, then all committees will follow up the plan,” Mr Somphou said.

Test events will include setting up equipment and systems such as timing and scoring, along with other practical aspects of the games.

They will also involve gathering athletes at the SEA Games Village , referees at hotels, transportation, traffic control, medical services, and security.

“For example, transport officials will pick up athletes and referees from various places and follow the planned route to each stadium. When they arrive, other committees will follow the prepared plan step by step until we get to the end of the games,” Mr Somphou said.

“Then we will practise raising the flag of the winner's country, presenting medals and other items on the agenda.”

The exercise would replicate the actual events that would take place during the SEA Games.

“If we find any mistakes, those responsible will correct the situation before the games,” he said.

The event will be the biggest test for all the committees involved and a useful experience in pointing out mistakes and any weaknesses in preparations. All of the committees and other bodies involved are now training their staff and volunteers who will work at the games.

“In the last few days many of the IT staff working at the games have had a training course from the National Authority for Science and Technology,” Mr Somphou said.

“Today there will be another training course for masters of ceremonies and presenters to make sure they know what they have to do and what their mission is, as well as how to collect information about the games for presentation during the main event in December.”

He said many of the trainees would appear on television so their dress, health and education as well as use of local and foreign languages should be perfect, so they could be understood by viewers and listeners throughout the region.

On the same day, other committees have a training session in flag raising and medal presentation.

The test event will answer questions posed by the games organising committee and members of the public about whether Laos will be a good host of the 25th SEA Games.


By Souknilundon Southivongnorath

The most famous, brightest and talented artists at present in Laos come together to sing the 25th SEA Games theme song. They are Sithiphone, Sam, Gai, Malya and Poui. The English version is called SEA Games Harmony and Lao version is Samakee SEA Games. Lyric and Rhythm by: Saysavath Singnamvong.



SEA GAMES HARMONY
Lyric and Rhythm by: Saysavath Singnamvong
Music arrangement by: (Mee) Soulinthone Kounsathone
English Arrangement by: Sithiphone Souvannasouk, Sam, Andy
Performance by: Sithiphone Souvannasouk

Malya: Hand in hand together we’re strong
A brighter day has come along

Gai & Poui: To celebrate with all nations
Step forward, United in SEA Games

Sith: Together we’ll build our athletes
Forever our friendship in games

Sam: Competed a game with heart and soul
Go forward, United in SEA Games

Group: SEA Games is what brings us together
Hand in hand, walk the same path in peace
SEA Games is a great competition
Tight the knot comes together for SEA GAMES

Group: Hand in hand together we’re strong
A brighter day has come along
To celebrate with all nations
Step forward, United in SEA Games

Na ……Na………Na………Na………Na………Na……

Group: Harmony, friendships in SEA Games
Compete in spirit and fair play
Light up the SEA Games torch
Eternal flame

Photo:Mr Somsavat Lengsavad ( second left ) accepts funding from the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam and Hong Quang company of Vietnam at a handover ceremony in Vientiane yesterday. –Photo Khamphanh

The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) and the Vietnamese company Hong Quang have each presented about 850 million kip (US$100,000) to help fund the opening ceremony of the 25th SEA Games.

The handover ceremony took place on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Lao-Viet Bank in Vientiane yesterday.

Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, who is also the Chairman of the 25th SEA Games Organising Committee, accepted the funds from BIDV and Hong Quang on behalf of the Lao government.

BIDV Board of Directors Chairman Tran Bac Ha said it was part of the bank's commitment to the development of Laos .

“The bank is not only supporting the Lao-Viet Bank; we have also supported socio-economic development in Laos , including poverty reduction and education in the rural areas,” he said.

Mr Somsavat thanked Vietnam for supporting Laos in several fields of development, and the upcoming SEA Games in particular.

The 25th SEA Games is the first such event to be hosted by Laos , and the country hopes to produce some interesting surprises at the opening and closing ceremonies.

The organising committee has approved the date of the opening ceremony for December 9, while the closing ceremony will take place on December 18.

In regard to this year's SEA Games, the Vietnamese government has helped Laos by training athletes at Vietnamese camps.

Vietnam has also supported Laos by building an athletes' training centre in Vientiane at a cost of about 34 billion kip (US$4 million).

The centre, located in Sikeuth village, Naxaithong district, was officially opened earlier this year.

Another major SEA Games project receiving a grant and soft loan from the government of Vietnam is the athletes' village. The village is being built on a 42,000sqm site at the Dongdok campus of the National University of Laos. It is now 80 percent complete.

The government will spend more than 161 billion kip (US$19 million) on the project.

This amount comprises a loan of more than 127 billion kip (US$15 million) and a grant of 34 billion kip (US$4 million) from Hoang Anh Gia Lai Joint Stock Co of Vietnam . The remainder comes in the form of a soft loan with no defined interest rate.



By Sisay Vilaysack