25th SEA Games, Laos

Vientiane Vice Mayor and SEA Games Decoration Chairman Bounchan Sinthavong has urged everyone to help clean up and beautify Vientiane ahead of the SEA Games in December.

At a press conference, Mr Bounchan said cleaning was the responsibility of people who live along Vientiane roadsides, who should make sure their front yard and house is clean and free of dust.

“Five districts in central Vientiane have assigned village officials to sign contracts with people who have promised to clear and clean their land, which will help to spruce up Vientiane before and during the games,” he said.

The committee said more than 1,500 families lived along the 21 major roads in Vientiane , and that those people should share the workload to make sure the city presents a good image.

“As part of our mission, district and village officials will be checking to see that local people have cleaned up around their houses,” Mr Bonuchan said.

The vice mayor also reported that the decorative work around Vientiane was 95 percent complete, and this included planting shrubs, raising the national flag of each guest country and displaying the SEA Games logo.

“We have been putting up flags since Friday and the decorations are almost finished in Vientiane , to attract local and foreign visitors to the event. We also plan to install special lights in various parks,” he said.

He also reported on the construction of the major road link to the sports complex at the National University of Laos Dongdok campus, the SEA Games Village , and the major road from Donnoun to the National Stadium.

“This month the construction of the road, the installation of the lights and the planting of shrubs along roads from Phontong to Dongdok will be complete. Some parts of the road between Donnoun and the National Stadium are under repair due to damage from the rainy season,” Mr Bounchan said.

He added that if nothing went wrong, most of the work would be done on time or before the games. The vice mayor urged people to work together to keep cleaning from now on in order to welcome visitors from abroad to Vientiane next month.

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes

Photo: Lane Xang Avenue, Vientiane

Vientiane to have decorations up by end of June

Vientiane will finish its programme of beautification by the end of this month in preparation for the 25th SEA Games which the capital will host from December 9-18.

This work is considered very important in readying Vientiane ahead of the games.

At a meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office on Friday, Deputy Vientiane Mayor Bounchan Sinthavong said more than 6 billion kip would be spent on sprucing up the capital.

Efforts are being focused on Vientiane 's main streets, including Lane Xang Avenue , Anouvong Road and Fa-ngum Road .

Mr Bounchan said a company was being awarded a contract to carry out the work.

At present, the Vientiane Urban Development and Administration Authority (VUDAA) only focuses on this aspect of civil works from time to time, but it will now be working to smarten up the city on a daily basis.

The VUDAA will install pictures of the 25 sports to be included in the games at the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge , along with pictures of the games' mascots, the elephants named Champa and Champi.

The authority will also install promotional signs at Wattay International Airport , the athletes' dormitory, the main sports complex at Km16 and at other sports venues nearby.

The Ministry of Information and Culture is responsible for the opening and closing ceremonies of the games.

The ministry has set aside four days for government officials and student teams to rehearse dance routines and other work. It is preparing the traditional dances and songs that will be performed at the ceremonies, dramas, and the costumes to be worn by artists, speakers and singers.

The Ministry of Finance is planning to print one million lottery tickets to be sold before the opening ceremony as a way of raising money for the games.

The meeting was attended by Standing Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee (LAOSOC) Somsavat Lengsavad, Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC) President Dr Phouthong Sengakhom, ministers and senior officials from LAOSOC.

Mr Somsavat said the opening and closing ceremonies would be full of interest and a very happy occasion, and would certainly be ready in time for the games.

Preparations for the games are making good progress, according to reports from senior officials of the 25 sports federations presented at the meeting. Meetings to discuss progress are taking place at the Prime Minister's Office every month.

Vientianetimes