25th SEA Games, Laos

Photo taken on October 2008.

Laos, which will host the South-East Asia (SEA) Games in November, has received assurances that the Chinese-constructed National Stadium will be completed by March, a Lao foreign ministry spokesman said Tuesday.”The Chinese contractors have assured us that the stadium will be completed by March,” said the ministry’s spokesman Yong Chanthlangsy.

“This will give the Lao government enough time to rehearse all the things we need to do to prepare for the games,” Yong told Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) over phone.

Land-locked Laos, one of South-east Asia’s poorest countries with a population of less than six million, will host the SEA Games for the first time in mid-November.


Photo taken on October 2008

To help Laos prepare for the games, China has provided government loans amounting to $80 million to its communist neighbour to build a new National Stadium Complex in Vientiane, the capital.

The SEA Games’ planned 390 events in 25 different sports will be held in Vientiane’s two sports stadiums and several venues in the capital.

Deputy Prime Minister Somsawat Lengsawat, who heads the National Preparatory committee for the SEA Games, was informed of the progress on the main stadium at a meeting in Vientiane Monday, said Yong.

The 2009 Southeast Asian Games Village Project, which is under construction in the Lao capital of Vientiane, is now 45% completed.

Work on the 25th SEA Games athletes’ village, which is being built by Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai Joint-Stock Company (HAGL), began on August 1, using almost 700 workers, 95% of whom are from Vietnam.

HAGL is sponsoring the US$19 million 25th SEA Games Village Project with $4 million in nonrefundable aid and an interest free loan of $15 million, which will be repaid within three years.



The project, which will be handed over to Laos’ National University after the sports event, will have 992 rooms in eight four-story blocks, a 1,200-seat dining room, a central hall and functional rooms. The site will also have football fields and basketball facilities.

The athletes' village is on a 42,000sqm site at the Dongdok campus, National University of Laos. The village comprises 10 buildings and other auxiliary facilities. Eight four-storey buildings with international standard facilities will contain 1,000 rooms and accommodate 4,000 athletes. A single-storey building will house a canteen and a three-storey building will contain multi-purpose management offices.

Photo: Deputy Minister of Information and Culture Professor Dr Bosengkham Vongdara, who is Honorary President of the newly reformed committee of the Lao Cycling Federation ( fourth right ), takes part in the start of the public cycling race in Vientiane yesterday morning. --Photo Sangkhomsay

The Lao Cycling Federation (LCF) is hopeful of winning gold medals at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane next year after launching a new committee on Sunday.

Vice Minister of Information and Culture and LCF Honorary President Prof. Dr Bosengkham Vongdala, LCF President Vilaysouk Phimmasone and senior ministry officials attended a ceremony to launch the federation's new committee on Sunday in Vientiane.

Dr Bosengkham and senior officials participated in a mountain bike caravan procession along Fa-ngum Road as part of the event.

Mr Vilaysouk said the federation hoped to upgrade Lao cyclists' skills with the aim of achieving success at the SEA Games.

He said the federation was planning to organise an inaugural national cycling competition, a promotional bicycle caravan and an international cycling race in the lead-up to the games.

The federation's organising committee has sent cyclists to participate in the eighth National Games to be held in Champassak province in December.

The federation will organise a road race in January to select cyclists to join the national squad.

Mr Vilaysouk said the LCF was planning to send the national team to compete in at least two international races next year.

On Sunday, the federation organised a 6km road race along Fa-ngum Road involving more than 150 cyclists from Laos and neighbouring countries.

The race was held across various categories for competitors aged eight to over 50. Winners received trophies and cash prizes from the federation.

The event was supported by the federation and Lao Star Television Channel.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong

The 25th SEA Games stadium will be used for an inauguration of 2009 SEA Games hosted by Laos, is confirmed that it would be completed in timely manner, said a senior official is responsible for the construction.

The new football stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies of the games will take place is 65-80 percent complete, the indoor stadium is 90 percent complete, the petanque field is 80 percent complete and the taekwondo court is 95 percent complete

“Laos has enough budget for the construction of 25th SEA Games stadium, thanks to the financial support of Chinese Development Bank worth about US$ 80 million,” Meanwhile the Government has already made a decision to fork out a minimum of 69 billion kip to improve old existed stadiums in Vientiane Capital. All of them would be used for the football competition.

The construction work is under laying out water pipe system, land clearance and road construction access to the stadium, which expects to be completed before inauguration on December 2009.

The Laos National Sports Complex is located about 20 Km from the centre of Vientiane City and comprises a 20,000 seating capacity main stadium, a 2,000 seating capacity indoor aquatics complex, with a outdoor warm-up pool, a Tennis centre consisting of 2,000 seating capacity centre court plus 6 other tennis court, two indoor stadiums each with seating capacity of 3,000 and a indoor shooting range with 50 seats.

The sports complex is in a sprawling 185 ha site, with an Olympic Park, adequate parking lots, lakes and open spaces. An archery centre could be constructed in the open space next to the shooting range. There is adequate space for a trap and skeet range to be added later, if required.

“The stadium will be competed three months in advance in order to inspect its standard,” Mr Khiengkham stated further.

The 2009 SEA Games in Laos is being kept over eyes on from many countries.



Scale model of the Laos national Sports Complex. The indoor aquatics complex is the the foreground, with the tennis centre on its right (marked as 6). The National Stadium with the warm-up track on its left. The two indoor stadia are on the right of the National Stadium, and are marked as 3 & 4. The shooting range is at the top of the model. The Olympic Park is at the top of the model.

A final decision on the sports to be contested at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane next year will be made today, 2009 SEA Games Executive Committee Meeting Chairman, Mr Somphou Phongsa, said yesterday.

The committee is meeting in Vientiane from November 11 to 13 with various councils, federations and officials in Vientiane , to discuss issues relating to the games.

The meeting will discuss and finalise TV broadcasting rights for the games, and decide on the sports to be included.

According to a press release, the SEA Games Federation's Sports and Rules Committee confirmed Lao officials had proposed the games comprise 398 events in the 25 sports of athletics, aquatic sports (including swimming, diving and water polo), archery, badminton, billiards and snooker, boxing, cycling, football, golf, judo, karatedo, sepak takraw, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and squash, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu, muay, fin swimming, petanque, shuttlecock and pencak silat.

Mr Somphou said the committee decided to omit some proposed events including the 4x200m running relay, and the 50m breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke swimming events__, as these events are not included in Olympic competition.

“These events were cancelled as many member countries of the SEA Games Federation did not wish them to be included,” he said.

The committee decided on an ‘entry by quota' policy which limits the number of events in which some countries can enter athletes. For example, a country that has many experienced athletes in the sport of boxing will only be permitted to enter athletes in a certain number of events in that sport. This will ensure the games are fair and balanced for all participating countries.

“Under the rules governing the SEA Games, the committee must announce the official number of sports and events 12 months before the start of the games. The committee will inform participating countries by letter next month,” said Mr Somphou.

Mr Somphou said some countries wanted to add more sports to the schedule. Myanmar had requested canoeing be included and the Philippines wanted basketball to be added. The committee will continue discussions regarding these requests before finalising the schedule today.

Television broadcasting rights for the games are usually decided by the SEA Games Federation, but on this occasion the Laos 2009 SEA Games Organising Committee will decide who receives the rights.

Details relating to the allocation of revenues generated by the TV rights will be discussed at the meeting today.

The meeting is being attended by representatives of several Southeast Asian sporting bodies, with Timor Leste the only SEA Games member not present.

Vientianetimes

A football stadium in Vientiane to be used for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 25th SEA Games will be finished by March next year, according to officials.

The stadium is currently 70 percent complete. The Chairman of the 25th SEA Games Organising Committee is Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad. Mr Somsavat, ministry officials and senior officials from the Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC) surveyed progress on construction of the site in Vientiane yesterday. Mr Somsavat said construction was on schedule and officials were pleased the facilities would be ready in time for the games.

The football stadium must be finished by July next year, under an agreement signed by the LNSC and construction companies. The Industrial Park Overseas Investment Co Ltd, China Yunnan Construction Engineering Group Corporation and China Development Bank are undertaking construction of the sporting facilities.

Mr Somsavat said the football stadium was an indication of the cooperation relationship between Laos and China and he believed athletes from other countries would be impressed by the facilities. He said officials were confident Laos would host a successful event, thanks to the support of China.

Industrial Park Overseas Investment and China Yunnan Construction Engineering Group have employed more than 1,200 personnel from China and 400 Lao labourers to work at the site. All the sporting arenas will meet requirements as stipulated by the Asian Athletic Federation. In addition to the football stadium, athletes’ accommodation, two multipurpose indoor stadiums, tennis courts, a shooting field, an archery field and a swimming pool are all being built on 1,000 hectares of land in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district, 16km south of the city centre.

A contract for the construction of the main stadium was signed between the Lao government and the China Development Bank in Vientiane in April 2007. The two Chinese construction companies have agreed to lease the land for 50 years from the Lao government. At the end of this period the facility will be handed back to the Lao people. Construction of the complex is projected to cost US$100 million. Mr Somsavat and his delegation visited the athletes’ dormitory at the National University of Laos’ Dongdok campus, which is currently about 15 percent complete and on track for completion in June next year. The taekwondo training centre at the National University of Laos is being built with funding assistance of US$300,000 from the Booyoung Company of the Republic of Korea. The Lao national taekwondo team will begin training at the centre in preparation for the SEA Games as soon as construction is complete.

The LNSC will use the centre to host future national and provincial taekwondo, wrestling and other martial arts events.

Vientianetimes

Under the original plan, the organising committee proposed Vientiane be the main venue for the games, with Champassak and Luang Prabang provinces hosting some events.

The technical committee has now said the government has decided all events will take place in Vientiane and the organising committee has now allocated venues for each sport.

A technical committee official, Mr Phouvane Vongsouthi, told the media the organising committee had called off plans for events to be organised in Champassak and Luang Prabang provinces because of budget constraints.

The organising committee said recent heavy flooding around the country had caused a great deal of damage and money that had been allocated for the SEA Games had been diverted to help flood victims. Committee members had decided not to continue with the construction of SEA Games facilities in the provinces, but to hold all the events in Vientiane .

The organising committee confirmed preparations for the SEA Games were on schedule and said all the venues would be ready on time.

The committee says athletics, swimming, diving, water polo, badminton, golf, shooting, volleyball, tennis and archery events will take place at the new sports complex being built at Km 16 in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district.

Table tennis matches will take place at the National University of Laos (NUOL) indoor court and taekwondo and wrestling events will also be held at the campus, in the Booyoung indoor stadium.

Pétanque matches will be at the Dongdok campus and boxing bouts will take place in the Olympasia indoor stadium at the campus.

Sepak takraw, wushu and pencak silat events will be held at the Lao International Trade Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Football matches will be played at four different venues: the National Stadium in Anou village, Chanthabouly district; the new stadium at Km 16; the NUOL stadium and the Army stadium at Km 5.

Judo and karatedo athletes will compete at the Chao-anouvong indoor stadium in Anou village.

Kick-boxing and shuttlecock events will take place at the Vientiane Sports Department in Beungkhayong village, Sisattanak district.

Billiards and snooker will be played at the Don Chan Palace .

These plans will be reviewed at a meeting of the SEA Games Council to take place in Vientiane from November 11-13. The meeting will be attended by representatives of various Southeast Asian sporting bodies.

The people of Laos are preparing to welcome visitors to Laos to cheer on their teams at the games. The games are held to build a bridge of friendship among all South East Asian nations.

By Sisay Vilaysack
Vientianetimes

Local companies are being sought to produce merchandise for sale during the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games to be held in Laos next year.

Companies wanting to produce merchandise branded with the SEA Games logos must first seek permission from Phetchampa Advertising Company, otherwise they will be in breach of copyright.

Eight foreign companies have already been granted these rights, but no Lao companies have expressed an interest in using the official SEA Games' logos.

Phetchampa Advertising is contracted by the government to organise sponsorship and marketing for the SEA Games and they can license companies to use the logos for a fee.

Company Director, Mr Khammoui Keomany, said the company was outsourcing the production of merchandise so it did not have to be involved in manufacturing or distribution.

Local companies had proposed manufacturing goods and selling them to Phetchampa Advertising for distribution, but the company is not interested in this.

“Granting permission for companies to use the logos, for a small fee, allows the event to generate income without us having to become involved in the production process,” he said.

“It is the responsibility of the company rather than the committee for any issues with product quality. We are not responsible for controlling the scale of production, so if the companies have surplus merchandise after the event it will not have any effect on our company.”

Those who have registered have enough experience to evaluate the market and how much merchandise they can sell, he said.

Mr Khammoui is also a member of the SEA Games Organising Committee. He said the fee for companies to use the logo was not too high and was not deterring local businesses. Instead, he attributed their lack of interest to insufficient marketing experience.

“We are working hard to convince local and foreign businessmen and companies to be sponsors, in order to promote the SEA Games to the outside world,” he said.

Mr Khammoui said there would be a large market for SEA Games merchandise because local people, tourists and athletes from the 10 participating countries would be interested in buying souvenirs at the event.

Businesses which have already been granted rights to use the logos include companies from Malaysia , Singapore and Thailand.

By Phonesavanh Sangsomboun
Vientianetimes

Photo: Lao’s Thongmala Viengphane, left, carries the ball against Cambodia during their bronze medal match Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007, at the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Lao defeated Cambodia 15-0 for the bronze medal

(KPL) The rules for the 25th South East Asian Games will be written by representatives of Laos, Malaysia and Singapore, following a meeting of the SEA Games Sports and Rules Committee in Vientiane this week.

The officials will formulate the rules for the competition organising and programmes, which will be presented to SEA Games meeting in November, along with the list of sports to be competed at the event.

Lao SEA Games Sports and Rule Committee Chairman Mr Souvannarath Saignavong said the national sports committee wishes to hold more than 25 sporting events to meet the requests of all countries, but we believe this is impossible to do that.

“Many countries are interested in assisting Laos to host the 25th SEA Games, and believe Laos would be able to host the event successfully,” said Mr. Souvannarath.

Last April’s first SEA Games meeting approved 25 sports for the Vientiane Games.

These include swimming and diving, wrestling, track and field, badminton, rugby, boxing, football, futsal, golf, judo, karatedo, petanque, sepak takraw, billiard and snooker, shooting, muay, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, boat racing, wushu, pencak silat, shuttlecock, volleyball and beach volleyball.

More than 200 cars and 200 buses will be used to transport athletes and officials around Laos during the 2009 SEA Games.

More than 10,000 people, including about 4,500 athletes and delegates, are expected to visit Laos for the event next year.

SEA Games Transport Committee Head, Mr Lattanamany Khounnyvong, told Vientiane Times the committee had sent a draft transport plan to the SEA Games Organising Committee Secretariat.

The plan proposes the use of 200 cars and more than 200 buses during the games, which will take place in Vientiane and Champassak and Luang Prabang provinces.

Mr Lattanamany, who is also Ministry of Public Works and Transport Office Head, said the plan may be adjusted after being reviewed by the organising committee.

“We expect the draft plan will be approved by the end of this month and we hope to arrange contracts with private sector entities by the end of October,” he said.

The transport committee plans to have vehicles departing the athletes' accommodation in Dongdok village and going to the National Sports Stadium every 10 minutes during peak times of the event.

This service will operate every 20 minutes during off-peak times and will include special arrangements for large groups of athletes.

Mr Lattanamany said the transportation of athletes' luggage was a priority and the committee had sent official letters to overseas aviation companies requesting them to provide priority services when transporting athletes' equipment and belongings.

He said the number of services operating between provinces would be decided after participating countries confirmed the number of athletes and delegates attending.

Public vehicles will be banned from entering the stadium area to ease traffic congestion during the event.

“We are currently discussing parking arrangements for public vehicles,” Mr Lattanamany said.

Officials intend to arrange public transport services for people wishing to attend events.

Mr Lattanamany said the committee met on a weekly basis to update information and discuss appropriate preparation work.

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
Vientianetimes

(KPL) Lao National Sport Committee last Friday organized a press conference on the preparation for Miss SEA Games Contest 2009. The games will be held on 9-18 December next year in Vientiane.

The press conference was chaired by Deputy President of Lao National Sport Committee, Mr Boualan Silipanya, and attended by concerned officials.

“This event aims to have Miss Sea Games, who will serve as sport and cultural ambassadors of the event,” Mr Boualan said.

Women, aged between 18 and 25, with the height of over 155cm, single, fluent in both Lao and English and healthy, can apply for the contest with the Secretariat of Miss Sea Games Contest at Lao National Sport Committee Office between 1 July and 15 September.

Yuuwakai Association helps Lao Karatedo Federation to build new training center



(KPL) The Yuuwakai Association of Japan will provide its grant aid worth about 10 million yen to build the Karatedo training center in Laos.
This was a part of contribution from Yuuwakai Association to improve the standards of Lao Karatedo fighters.

The statement was released during the courtesy visit to Mr. Vilayvong Boudakham, Vice Secretary General of Lao Central Youth Union of Yuuwakai Association delegation led by its president Watanabe Shinichi.

The Yuuwakai association delegation arrived Vientiane on 4 August for a two day working visit to Laos.

The delegation was warmly welcomed by Mr. Phongsavat Bouphan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs who is also honorary president of Lao Karatedo federation.
20% of grant aid will be used to construct the first phase of office and training center, which will begin in September, while the remainder will be use to fund the second and third phases of construction.

Source: kpl

The Ministry of Information and Culture has received the green light from the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee to help promote the 2009 SEA Games through the media.

The ministry plans to set up five sub-committees to provide information through print and electronic media to a global audience.

Deputy Minister of In formation and Culture Professor Dr Bosengkham Vongdara held a press conference yesterday announcing the sub-committees of media information providers were established last year.

The sub-committees focus on: a public relation team, local press centre, international press centre, TV live broadcasting centre, and the SEA Games Secretariat coordination team.

The committee for live TV broadcasting will cooperate with the Phetchampa Advertising Company to schedule the broadcast programme of all competition events during the games, including the opening and closing ceremonies.

Prof Bosengkham believes the committee will perform their duties successfully, providing media information nationally and to other SEA games member countries.

The SEA Games main press centre will be located at the International Cooperation Training Centre in Vientiane , while Champassak and Luang Prabang will also have press centres to cover events in both provinces.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong

The Lao national judo team will be able to maintain its third position in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games to be held Vientiane at the end of next year, according to the Lao Judo Federation President.


Speaking a press conference yesterday, Mr Khemsath Philaphandeth said the judo team won third place at the last SEA Games in Thailand , and he would do his best to ensure the team secured the same position in the Vientiane event in 2009.

The Lao judo team won two gold medals in those games.

Mr Khemsath said the federation would hold the first all Lao judo championships in Vientiane on July 26 and 27. The best Lao judo competitors will be selected at this event to compete in the 2009 SEA Games.

The event will be held at the Phonesavanh School , Dongdok village, Xaythany district, Vientiane .

Mr Khemsath said the federation would invite competitors from the provinces of Khammuan, Savannakhet and Vientiane . About 80 competitors are expected to take part .

The 12 best judo competitors will train in Vietnam for three months to prepare for the SEA Games. The federation has already sent three competitors to train in Mongolia for this purpose.

Mr Khemsath said the first all Lao judo championship aimed to promote the sport among Lao people and to raise judo to an international standard in Laos .

He said the federation would spend about US$15,000 to host the championship. The main sponsors of the event are the KP Company and Lao Toyota Company.

The federation will host a similar competition next year, one month before the official opening ceremony of the SEA Games in Vientiane . The competition will be a trial for competitors and venues, to ensure readiness for the games.

He said Laos had sent three Lao judo trainers to Nepal to attend an international federation referee examination, so they can perform these duties at the games.

Mr Khemsath said the Lao judo team had made satisfactory achievements over the past years with six bronze medals in the Southeast Asia Championships in Vietnam this year. The Lao judo team also won a bronze medal at an international tournament in Vietnam .

By Vientiane Times

Village area for hosting the 25th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos


Training center 1


Training center 2


Sport complex at Km16, Vientiane, Laos

JAKARTA: Four countries are urging host Laos to add several sports to the 25th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, which are scheduled to be held from Dec. 13 to 21 next year, according to Indonesia's sports chief.

Rita Subowo, chairwoman of the National Sports Council (KONI), said Friday that Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand had met with representative from Laos to discuss the possibility including sports such as basketball, archery, canoeing, weightlifting and cycling.

"However, Laos indicated it would not host those sports events due to lack of facilities and funds," Rita said.

"Those sports would give Indonesia good medal chances," she said.

Laos plans to stage 25 sports, much fewer than the 43 at the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand.

Rita said the four countries would further discuss the issue in November in the hope of convincing Laos to add those sports. (ewd)

http://thejakartapost.com

New karatedo committee takes office

More than 100 people watched as the Lao Karatedo Federation announced the formation of a new committee last Sunday at the International Cooperation and Training Centre in Vientiane.



Minister to the Prime Minister's Office and President of the Lao National Sports Committee Dr Phouthong Seng-akhon adopted the measure aimed at improving the organisational structure of the karatedo executive board in April this year.

The new committee conprises five consultants of whom two hold honorary positions. There are also 11 administrators.

“The announcement of this new structure is part of the federation's development plans as required by the Lao National Sports Committee in preparation for the 25 th SEA Games, which Laos will host next year,” federation president Vilayvong Bouddakham said.

At the same time, members of the outgoing executive committee and donors to the federation received certificates of honour and congratulations.

Attendees then watched a karatedo demonstration led by federation advisor Phongsavath Boupha, in which more than 60 fighters took part.

Mr Vilayvong and President of the Yuuwakai Association of Japan, Mr Watanabe Shinichi, signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of a karatedo practice centre and office.

Mr Vilayvong said the US$100,000 grant aid from the Yuuwakai Association would provide the federation with better training facilities and encourage more people to take part in the sport.

The association has been providing Japanese karatedo coaches for long term training programmes to help strengthen Lao players' skills.

According to a press release from the federation, the government has set a target for athletes to win 25 gold medals in 25 th SEA Games, including two in karatedo.

The federation plans to expand training for karatedo fighters nationwide in a bid to increase the number of players.

“The Eighth National Games is taking place in Champassak province in December. This is good preparation for Lao athletes taking part in the SEA Games,” Vice President of the Lao National Sports Committee Somphou Vongsa said.

According to 2007 federation figures, Laos has only about 100 karatedo fighters. This is much less than the estimated 25,000 in Vietnam, 10,000 in Myanmar, 3,000 in Cambodia and 100,000 in Thailand.

The federation was first established in 1998 when it was called the Karatedo Association. The Lao National Sports Committee later changed the name to the Lao Karatedo Federation.

Lao karatedo fighters have taken part in many international competitions, including the 22 nd SEA Games in Vietnam (no medal), 23 rd SEA Games in the Philippines (one bronze), the World Karatedo Championships in Germany in 2004 (one bronze) and a meet in Australia in 2006 (no medal).

Karatedo fighters also attended the 13 th Asian universities competition in Vietnam in 2006 (two silver and 10 bronze medals) and the 24 th SEA Games in Thailand in 2007 (one bronze).

By Vientiane Times

The Lao National Sports Committee is improving the old National Football Stadium in Vientiane in preparation for the 25 th SEA Games to be held in Laos next year.

The government is spending 14 billion kip on the work, which began in April and is set for completion by June next year. Group B football matches will take place at the stadium.

The grass will be reseeded and repairs will be made to the electrical system, seating, toilets and running track. New changing rooms will also be built.

The existing stadium has 6,000 seats, which is believed to be sufficient to accommodate spectators at the first round of the football tournament.

Athletics teams are currently training at the stadium in preparation for the 8 th National Games in Champassak province in December. The Lao Football Federation also holds Lao league football matches here.

It is expected there may be some disruption to these activities while the repairs are in progress.

The government is spending a further 20 billion kip to repair the 10,000-seat football stadium in Luang Prabang province, where the SEA Games' women's football tournament will take place.

“The SEA Games Council committee will survey the football stadiums in Vientiane and in Luang Prabang and Champassak provinces next year after repairs have been made,” the Chief of Facilities of the Lao sports committee's Construction Department, Mr Phaiboon Chanthamaly, said.

A new football stadium is being built in Champassak province and is set for completion by the end of this year. The stadium will be used for the National Games and also for some of the men's football matches in the SEA Games. The stadium, which it is located in Pakxe district, will have 15,000 seats.

The semi-final round of the SEA Games' men's football competition will take place at the new National Football Stadium at Km18 in Xaythany district, Vientiane . This stadium will also be used for the opening and closing ceremonies of the games.

The new stadium will have 25,000 seats. Construction work has already begun and the stadium will be finished next year.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

The National University of Laos is planning to build dormitories to accommodate the 4,000 athletes from 11 countries who will take part in the SEA Games, which Laos will host next year.

“We are waiting for a budget allocation from the government for construction of the dormitories before we start work,” the university's Vice President for Student Affairs, Professor Lammai Phiphakkhavong, said yesterday.

The Lao government will cooperate on the project with a construction company from Vietnam , according to an agreement by the two countries.

“We will be ready to provide accommodation for the athletic teams when the dormitories are built,” Professor Lammai said.

A 5.3 hectare site is available at the university for the dormitories and a car park.

Students will be able to live in the dormitories once the SEA Games have ended.

The Lao National Sports Committee and government organisations will also provide athletes with accommodation in hotels and guesthouses in Vientiane .

Champassak and Luang Prabang provinces are also taking steps to secure accommodation for athletics teams and visitors. These provinces will host the games' football matches.

The sports committee will open a Sports Training Centre in Sikhottabong district, Vientiane , in December, where Lao athletes will live and train in preparation for the games.

Construction of the training centre began in January and is due for completion towards the end of this year.

The Vietnamese government assisted in funding the project, providing more than 35 billion kip (US$4 million) to the sports committee.

Officials from the governments of Laos and Vietnam attended a stone-laying ceremony on May 19 last year in Sikeuth village, Naxaithong district, to mark the agreement on the construction of the training centre.

Source: Vientianetimes

Teachers from the Physical Education Teacher Training School and the National University of Laos met on Thursday to discuss how best to improve schools for participation in the 25 th South East Asian Games, which will be hosted by Laos in 2009.

Teacher Training School Director Intong Leusinsay said the school planned to allow staff with expertise in badminton, boxing, football, judo, karatedo, petanque, basketball, sepak takraw, wushu, shuttlecock and table tennis to assist at the SEA Games.

Mr Intong said for the Ministry of Education to achieve its Millennium Development Goals it would upgrade the training school to a college by 2012. This would enable it to have better resources for the teaching of physical education.

There are more than 1,000 graduates of the school since it was established in 1978, with most of them using their skills to teach in both public and private schools.

Mr Intong said in a bid to combat drug use in schools many teachers would continue with sports programmes that had been initiated, hoping to encourage better behaviour among students.

He said the aim of these programmes was to improve students' skills, develop their capacity and instil a greater sense of morality, so they would grow up to become strong athletes.

Another objective of the programmes was to teach children about the country's socio-economic development goals, and the importance of a clean school environment, a healthy society and good hygiene practices.

Mr Intong said the project also aimed to produce resources that would show schoolchildren the path to community and school leadership, give them the opportunity to protect traditions and culture, and achieve the standards set by the ministry's national education reform programme.

He said the ministry was developing education in keeping with the government's continuing strategic vision for the next 12 years.

“At present education is not well integrated between schools and families, and society contributes little to the stimulation of teachers, parents and children in regard to learning,” Mr Intong said.

He said teachers would set up groups of volunteer children to run activities in schools, including sports, game playing and art competitions.

By PHAISYTHONG CHANDARA
Vientianetimes