25th SEA Games, Laos

(KPL) Some night pubs or entertainment places throughout Vientiane Capital might be ordered to close their operation temporarily during the 25th SEA Games, after having entertainment places found as guilty.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Public Security told KPL news that it would prepare a plan to join a co-operation with Vientiane Capital Information and Culture Office in inspecting the entertainment places, which have been seen as seriously social impact.

It pointed out that now many young people including students who have only 13-18 age, were seen in society they were being persuaded by many unsuitable things especially some entertainment places, which infringed regulations and principle.

Mr Sengpheth Phommaly, Deputy Head of Vientiane Capital Security Office disclosed yesterday that police officers have prepared their plan in order to cope with SEA Games by inspecting the entertainment places and cracking down the criminal gang throughout Vientiane Capital.

Now police officers suspected that having many entertainment places in Vientiane were accused of violating regulations, which involved with allowing many lower-age students to night pub and opening over times.

?Some entertainment places might be risky of enticing the young people step into necrotic drug easier if we no have any regulations for controlling them? said Mr Sengpheth.

He said that many ten places across the Vientiane Capital would be ordered to close their operation temporarily when police officers found many shortfall and guilty. As a group of business people who operate their business on entertainment they opened green light for young people aged lower than 18 year-old going to night pub.
He added that now the criminal and thief issues have been increased continuously, almost of cases are involved with young people.

More than 2,900 schoolchildren from the nation's capital took part in a rehearsal on Saturday for performances at the SEA Games opening and closing ceremonies.

Pupils from Vientiane Secondary School , Nongbone, Nonsavang, That Luang, Xaysettha, and Donenoun secondary schools, Nongnieng Lower Secondary School and the primary school of the National University of Laos will be training every Saturday until the start of the SEA Games in December. The games run from December 9-18.

The performances are being coordinated through the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Vientiane Education Department.

From October to December, the children will practise at school every day under instruction from their teachers.

On Saturdays they will rehearse at Chao Anouvong football stadium from 8 to 11am and again from 2 to 4pm. The children will perform modern and traditional dances.

In December, they will move to the National Football Stadium at Km16, where they will rehearse three times before the games.

Those taking part in the rehearsals will need to rearrange their school terms. They will start the school year on July 1, and have their first exams in October. They will have their second exam after the games are over. They will have rehearsals after lessons each day.

Head of the General Education Section of the Vientiane Education Department, Mr Southany Saignasane, said the children were enthusiastic about their rehearsals and their parents supported their participation.

Mr Southany said teachers at each school were teaching the children about the various sports to be included in the games, and telling them about 11 South East Asian countries that will compete.

It is hoped the rehearsals will encourage the children to learn to be sociable, friendly and outgoing, and not afraid to put their best foot forward during the games showpiece ceremonies.

More than 400 children at the primary school of the National University of Laos will perform the Anakhotsotsay dance, which is said to lead to a good future.

The Lao SEA Games Organising Committee said this school had been chosen for rehearsals because it has a large shady field.

It is also fairly easy for children to get from here to the National Football Stadium for dress rehearsals and performances.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

(KPL) The 25th SEA Games Committee for Accommodation, Food, Decoration and tourism is in need of financial support to cater to the domestic and foreign visitors as well as athletes, and they would boost the local economy by spending as much as four billion kip.

Deputy Mayor of Vientiane, Somvandy Nathavong, who is in charge of this committee, revealed that regarding the hosting of this sporting event here, the Lao government is making an effort to strengthen the solidarity, culture, economy and friendship among the participating countries.

He said this when he to the Vientiane executive broad on 24 April on the progress of the preparation for the upcoming 25th SEA Games, to be held in Vientiane at the end of this year.

He said that the cost of the preparatory work for his committee is 4.8 billion kip.
At the present, 70 hotels in five districts in Vientaine Capital are considered fit to accommodate the visitors and athletes, he said to the executive board.

Closing ceremony of the 24th SEA GAMES in Thailand and the performance from Laos who will host the 25th Sea Games in Vientiane 2009.