25th SEA Games, Laos

SEA Games countdown starts
By Peter Atencio



THE countdown for the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Laos has begun.

A beauty pageant, performances from various artists and a dazzling fireworks display greeted the public last night during the launch of the official countdown for the official staging of the 25th SEA Games at the Chao-anouvong stadium at the Anou Village of the Chanthbouly District in Vientiane.

The ceremony was organized by the Lao SEA Games Organizing Committee, in cooperation with the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Vientiane Administration Office.

The event featured 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 when it is held from Dec. 9 to 18 at the capital city of Laos.

A countdown clock, placed at a nearby shopping mall, has also began ticking.

Last month, the SEA Games Federation approved 390 events in 25 sports for the Games.

Athletes from the 11 member-nations of Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Timor Leste and host Laos are expected to send their entries from the different sports in the Games’ calendar.

Thailand is assisting Lao authorities organize the Games by providing 179 million baht ($5.18 million) in funding assistance for the construction of a stadium in Beungkhayong Village, Sisattanak District of Vientiane.

Aside from the Thais, China and Vietnam have also provided additional funding to be used to construct other facilities which will be used for the Games.

Laotian officials said the track and field facility will be completed in October 2009

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Patuxay clock will count down to SEA Games


Photo: Victory gate or Patouxay in the heart of Vientiane, Laos

A clock will be installed at the Patuxay Monument in Vientiane on New Year's Eve to start the countdown to the SEA Games in December next year.

Deputy Minister of Information and Culture Bouangeun Saphouvong said the installation of the clock would be a spectacular event and would also include the official presentation of 100 Miss SEA Games representatives to the public.

“We have already set up a committee to organise the event. The start of the countdown will be one of the biggest events ever staged at Patuxay,” he said.

Several songs composed especially for the SEA Games will also be introduced to the public for the first time on New Year's Eve.

Mr Bouangeun said popular older and younger singers would be invited to take part in the celebrations.

Members of the public and VIP guests can reserve tables at the event, which will feature a variety of entertainment shows and activities. Mascots and SEA Games souvenirs will be on sale during the evening.

More than 180 women applied to be Miss SEA Games, and the committee has chosen 100 of them to participate in the games next year. They will be trained how to interact with and greet guests politely, walk elegantly, speak English, and acquire general knowledge in preparation for the event.

Eleven country placard bearers will be selected from the 100 representatives to take part in the stadium parade that precedes the games.

After the countdown clock is installed, fireworks will light up the sky to mark the occasion and bring in the New Year.

By Phonesavanh Sangsomboun
Vientianetimes