25th SEA Games, Laos

Photo: Miss Vanphakone Insouvong ( right ) and Miss SEA Games representatives pose at the committee's office.

The Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC) will select 11 Miss SEA Games representatives at the committee's office on Saturday to carry placards bearing the names of the 11 countries participating in the 25th SEA Games.

The 11 ladies will parade the placards around the main stadium during the games in Vientiane in December.

They will be selected from a group of 100 selected by the Ministry of Information and Culture (MIC) last year.

The group is currently improving their general knowledge, awareness of Lao culture and dancing skills, and will dance to songs specially chosen for the games. They are also touring important sites around the capital.

Most of the group are students at the National University of Laos or other institutions in the capital.

At the committee's office on Saturday, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture Buangeun Xaphouvong presented the group of 100 to LNSC Vice President Bualane Silypanya.

The LNSC will teach the ladies about the technical aspects of each sport to be contested at the games.

Mr Buangeun said the group had shown good patience with their training, were confident about performing in public and had a good knowledge of social and economic topics.

They were also culturally aware and knew how to behave with diplomatic guests after receiving training relating to appropriate attire, speech and presentation.

He said the group would be able to use their knowledge to ensure the games were a success and to gain future employment.

Mr Bualane said the ladies would work with more than 3,000 volunteers and liaison staff to ensure the games run smoothly.

The 3,000 volunteers and liaison staff are students and officials from the National University of Laos, colleges, schools and ministries in the capital.

Mr Bualane said the Miss SEA Games representatives would be involved in welcoming important guests and presenting medals to athletes.

One Miss SEA Games representative, Miss Vanphakone Insouvong, is confident of her ability to carry out her duties after receiving training from the MIC.

She was very proud to represent the Lao people at this historic event, which would be a good opportunity for Laos to show it could host future international sporting events.

She said she was ready to be involved in the games and hoped to be one of the 11 selected to participate in the opening and closing ceremonies.

Miss Vanphakone lives in Donekoy village in Sisattanak district. She is currently in her fifth year of a degree in dentistry at the University of Health Sciences .

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

(KPL) More than Ninety per cent of the construction of the stadium to be used to inaugurate the 25th SEA Games has been completed.

The report on its progress was made during a meeting of organizing committees for 25th SEA Games in the Prime Minister?s Office and under the chairmanship of Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, on 23 May.

Another report announced during this meeting was the completion of a road that ran around the stadium but another road, scheduled to be completed by next month, would run around the campus of the local university.

The two stretches of road cost 684 million kip and 8 billion kip respectively.
In addition, road works in other locations are being carried out but they are expected to be completed before the commencement of the 25th SEA Games in December.
The new stadium, designed to accommodate 20,000 people, is now being fitted with decorations and its completion date could be as soon as September.

Other stadiums that will be used for sporting events for the coming 25th SEA Games will be equipped with new sports equipment and they will undergo tests next month.