Let's watch video clips the closing ceremony of the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane, Laos 18th December 2009. See you all again in the 26th SEA Games in the Republic of Indonesia 2011.
The 25th SEA Games here in Laos will go down in history as the Games with many firsts. While Laos hosted the Games for the first time, this landlocked Indo-China nation has certainly left a big mark in the world of sports in this part of the world. A poor nation in terms of economy, Laos left no stones unturned in their bid to leave a lasting impression among the 11 participating countries that it has arrived to take on the best in the region - both in terms of sporting excellence and development. From the friendly people with an ever ready smile and greeting you with a warm sabaidee (Hello), the Laotians extended their hospitality to one and all who came to the country for the Games - as participants or as visitors.
More importantly, Laos shed its 'whipping boys' or 'minnows' tag and put up an impressive performance in the sporting arena with an impressive haul of medals won by their athletes. From winning just five gold medals at the last SEA Games in Korat, Thailand in 2007, Laos made every one sit up and take note of their athletes as they raked in 33 gold, 25 silver and 52 bronze medals - surpassing their earlier target of 25 gold medals.
As expected, Thailand topped the medal tally with a haul of 86-83-97 but the entire kingdom was left weeping by losing the football gold - dubbed the 'mother of all gold medals' in both the men's and women's football. Thailand had been winning the SEA Games crown in men's football for the last eight editions since 1993 while for the women, they were the defending champions.
Thai football has certainly taken a beating in Laos where it is the first time since 1973 that Thailand failed to make the final four in football.
At the same time, Laos are fast gaining on the football powerhouses in the region by reaching the semi-finals before falling 3-1 to eventual champions Malaysia. On the other hand, Malaysian regained their status as the SEA Games football champions with a 1-0 win over Vietnam in the final. Malaysia also knocked out Thailand from a place in semi-finals.
And Thailand's supremacy as the top sports nation in the South East Asian region have also come under serious threat. Vietnam finished a close second in medal tally with figures of 83-75-57.
Indonesia established themselves as the sprint kings with Suryo Agung Wibowo retaining his 100m with a new record of 10.17 (which is faster than winner 's time of 10.21 at the 2006 Doha Asia Games) and the 200m. Indonesia, who will host the 26th edition of the Games in 2011, also hailed little "wonder girl" Triyaningsih, who stands at 146cm and weighs slightly over 37kg, as the long distance queen. She retained the 5,000m and 10,000m golds with the latter in a record time of 32:49.47 (old record 33:50.06).
The 21-year-old from Salak Tiga in Central Java, is ranked eighth in the world in women's marathon. The men's 10,000m also went Indonesia's way with Agus Prayogo taking the gold. He also took the 5,000m gold for repeat his success he achieved in Korat. Malaysia's ended a 12-year wait in the men's 400m with Mohd Zafril Zulaisni taking the gold - after Romzi Bakar last won the gold in Jakarta in 1997. Vietnam broke the monopoly of traditional powerhouses Malaysia and Indonesia in pencak silat by taking six golds compared to the three gold haul in Korat.
Laos shooters and taekwando exponents were also on golden trail - sending out strong signals that their rivals will have to take note of their 'arrival' in the two sports. A big 'thank you' to the people of Laos. You made us all feel at home while showing true sportsmanship in the battle for the medals in what is a incident-free SEA Games when it comes to the subjective sports. Laos may have finished in mid-table in the medal standings but you were the big winners overall.
We are bound to hear of Laos in the coming future. A point to note is that every nation returned home with a medal to show for their participation where Timor Leste at least won three bronze medals - a significant showing of the Games anthem of Generosity, Amity, Healthy Lifestyle.
SEAG
The opening match in Group B football of the 25th SEA Games in Laos will be played on 5 December considering that they are only four teams in the group as against five teams in Group A.
The first match in Group B at the National Stadium will be Singapore taking on Indonesia while hosts Laos will play Myanmar, who were the silver medallist two years ago in Thailand.
GROUPINGS
Group A: Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Timor Leste, Cambodia
Group B: Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Indonesia
FIXTURES
2 Dec (Main Stadium): Malaysia vs Timor Leste (1500hrs)/ Thailand vs Vietnam (1745hrs)
4 Dec (Chao Anu Vong Stadium): Thailand vs Cambodia 1500hrs)/ Vietnam vs Timor Leste (1745hrs)
5 Dec (Main Stadium): Singapore vs Indonesia (1500hrs)/ Laos vs Myanmar (1745hrs)
6 Dec (Main Stadium): Vietnam vs Malaysia (1500hrs)/ Timor Leste vs Cambodia (1745hrs)
7 Dec (Chao Anu Vong Stadium): Myanmar vs Singapore (1500hrs)/ Indonesia vs Laos (1745hrs)
8 Dec (Chao Anu Vong Stadium): Timor Leste vs Thailand (1500hrs)/ Cambodia vs Malaysia (1745hrs)
9 Dec: Opening Ceremony
10 Dec (Chao Anu Vong Stadium): Myanmar vs Indonesia (1500hrs)/ Laos vs Singapore (1745hrs)
11 Dec (Chao Anu Vong Stadium): Cambodia vs Vietnam (1500hrs)/ Malaysia vs Thailand (1500hrs)
14 Dec (Chao Anu Vong Stadium): Semi-finals
17 Dec: Third/ Fourth Placing (1500hrs at Chao Anu Vong Stadium)/ FINAL (1700hrs at Main Stadium)
Check out some photos taken from the SEA Games village in Vientiane, Laos.
For more photos, check out at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laoseagamesvillage
Experienced golf coaches from the Republic of Korea are improving 10 Lao golfers' techniques in the hope they will pick up medals at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane this December.
Mr Kim Mun Su and his assistant, Mr Kim Mun Kyu have been training six male and four female golfers since March this year.
Lao golfers are practicing on various courses including the Km14 golf course, Km6 golf course, and Daensavanh course in Vientiane as well as courses in Savannakhet and Champassak provinces and those in the neighbouring countries of Vietnam and Thailand .
Chairman of the Lao Golf Federation, Mr Sounthone Sirisack said the federation is trying to give the golfers as much experience as possible on different courses.
The federation will cooperate with the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation to hold an international level pre-SEA Games tournament in October and November.
The Lao golfers will have an opportunity to train at the Km18 course when it is finally constructed.
The pre-games tournament will test the golfers' skills and allow the federation to select a final squad of four males and three females to compete at the games.
He said to be selected to represent Laos , golfers must not only posses the necessary skills but also have good behaviour and the right attitude.
Mr Sounthone said it would be difficult for Laos to win a gold medal in golf at the games but the event will provide an excellent opportunity for the young team to gain international experience.
The current squad ranges in age from 16 to 28 years old. They are currently situated in Vientiane where they are training twice daily.
He said the federation is looking to build the stocks of talented young golfers for success at international events in the future.
He said the Lao golfing scene is growing steadily and many young people are interested in the game.
In the lead-up to the games, the federation will hold training courses for 30 technical officials and 70 caddies who will participate in the games.
The golf event at the games will comprise of men's and women's singles and teams events.
The Lao team was unsuccessful in the golf event of the 24th SEA Games in Thailand in 2007.
By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes
The national men's football team will return from Vietnam in June to continue their training in Vientiane after bad weather disrupted their training in Vietnam .
Head Coach Xaysana Savatdy told Vientiane Times yesterday the team would resume their training in Laos because the wet season in Vietnam meant conditions there were unsuitable.
“Out training facility in Hanoi doesn't have an indoor court, so it's hard for our players to practise their skills and techniques in preparation for the SEA Games in December,” he said.
The 30 member squad left Vientiane in early March to train in Hanoi and have improved under the guidance of Vietnamese trainers.
“We initially planned to stay in Vietnam for longer, but the rain is hindering our preparations so we will return to Laos for a short time,” Mr Xaysana said.
“At the training camp here we can easily monitor the players' health, nutrition and training regime. We have found their skills and strategies have improved greatly and are looking forward to some competitive matches to test the team.”
The team hopes to play some matches on their return home to put their training into practice.
A member of the squad said the team has been training hard across a variety of areas in Hanoi .
“The Vietnamese coach has a lot of experience, having played football and studied at a football school before becoming a coach. The training facility also has top quality equipment and pitches.”
“Some members of the squad are still students and are having troubles with their studies. The Lao Football Federation wants to solve those problems soon in line with the Prime Minister's agreement on study arrangements for SEA Games athletes,” said Mr Xaysana.
He said he was confident the team would perform well at the games.
“Let's wait and see the difference in the squad when they return to Vientiane . I believe they will surprise many people in the matches leading up to the games and also during the event itself.”
In the coming months a final squad of 20 players will be selected for the games and they will return to train in Hanoi in August or September.
By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
vientianetimes
The Lao Disabled Women's Development Centre (LDWDC) is determined to produce Southeast Asian Games' merchandise following a decision by the SEA Games Organising Committee to issue copyrights to the centre free of charge.
LDWDC Director and founder Ms Chanpheng Sivila told Vientiane Times recently she was pleased to learn of the decision as it results in significantly reduced production costs.
“We are making four types of souvenirs - photo albums, photo frames, namecard boxes and notepads. All these are handmade from mulberry paper. Prices range from 15,000 to 25,000 kip.”
The public can buy the centre's creations at mini-marts and handicraft stores in Vientiane .
Each product will have a maximum run of 1,000 units, meaning 4,000 units will be produced in total during the games.
The centre has 15 productive members at present.
“Even though we have so far made only 30 percent of the souvenirs I can guarantee we'll have everything finished by September,” Ms Chanpheng said.
“We estimate that by the end of the games we will have earned about 50 million kip.”
She said any profit would go towards vocational training for disabled women and creating jobs for the training centre's graduates across the country, as well as providing equipment for training.
Design and marketing are thought to be the keys to sales success.
“We are concentrating on marketing strategy and product design as there will be many kinds of souvenirs on sale during the games. We want to have as great a market share as possible, so our products should be unique,” she added.
“I'd like to ask the Lao people to help those who are disabled by purchasing our products. I hope everything will be completely sold out.
“At the end of this month the centre will hold a short course on how to make the paper we will use, as we need more people to help us with this work. The course will be funded by the Bank of the Lao PDR.
“To make sure we have everything ready on time we have to train more people, and I'd like to thank the Bank of the Lao PDR for their support,” Ms Chanpheng said.
The LDWDC was established seven years ago. It is located in Dongphosy village, Hadxaifong district, Vientiane , and today has more than 40 disabled members.
The centre's mission is to provide disabled women in Laos with support, knowledge, skills and access to jobs to help them become self-sufficient and productive members of society.
By Souriya Meunviseth
Vientianetimes
Photo: Lao children practice Karate inside the Budo center in Vientiane, Laos.
(KPL) Lao-Japan Budo Centre to be used for Karatedo and Judo competitions in the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane will be complete by this year’s end.
The centre is located on the land of former Chao Anou Secondary School near the old National Stadium, Chanthaboury district, Vientiane.This centre will comprise with one building of indoor stadium, which could receive up to 600 seats.
Head of International Sports Department and National Sports Committee Mr Soulasith Oupravanh last week said, “The Lao-Japan Budo Centre Construction Project is implemented with a financial grant from the Japanese Government, which is worth more than 600 million Japanese Yen. The construction started from October 2008 and 20 per cent of the work have been implemented so far.”
The centre is scheduled to complete September this year three months before the 25th SEA Games opening.
This sporting facilities will be used for not only karatedo and judo competitions but also for badminton, table tennis and trakaw competitions.
More than 250 Lao doctors, nurses and students from various medical facilities around Vientiane will provide medical services at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane this December.
Member of the National Olympic Committee of Laos and Chairman of the Medical Anti-Doping Commission, Dr Alongkone Phengsavanh, said on Monday the team will be divided into three groups for medical services, food safety issues and doping tests.
The doctors come from major hospitals in Vientiane including Mahosot, Mittaphab, Setthathirath, 103 and 109 and the University of Health Sciences . Some will provide emergency medical services for athletes injured while competing, while others will specialise in assisting athletes with physical rehabilitation to recover from minor injuries.
Dr Alongkone said about 80 doctors and nurses will take part in training courses next month to learn more about doping tests.
In addition, doctors and nurses in major hospitals will be on stand-by 24 hours a day to provide emergency medical services for everyone during the games.
“Even though it will be the first time we've hosted the SEA Games, we are confident our team can provide effective and efficient services, as we have already proven when we hosted other big events such as the Asean Summit in 2004,” Dr Alongkone said.
By Sangkhomsay Bouphanouvong
vientiane times
During the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane , to run from December 9-18, action will be broadcast live on 14 television channels in six countries.
A meeting took place in Vientiane yesterday to discuss TV broadcasting fees and copyright.
Television networks that have agreed in principle to broadcast the SEA Games live are Brunei Radio and Television, Lao National Radio and Lao National Television, Lao Star Channel, Forever Group Co. Ltd (FRTB4-Myanmar), Media Corp TV Singapore Pte. Ltd, National Broadcasting Service of Thailand (NBT), TPBS, Channel 7, Channel 5, VTC Digital-Vietnam, VTV, TOT Co. Ltd., and CAT Telecom Co. Ltd.
The Phetchampa Advertising Company (PAC) is representing the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee (LAOSOC) and hosted the TV broadcasting rights meeting on duties and copyright for broadcasting in six Asean countries.
Vice President of the Lao National Olympic Committee, Mr Chanpheng Silattana, representatives from LAOSOC and from Asean countries attended the meeting.
PAC Director, Mr Khammoui Keomany, said he was looking forward to cooperating with LAOSOC and the Lao people to successfully selling TV broadcasting rights for the games.
Laos will use about 16 mobile broadcasting vans to cover all sports venues and will employ more than 144 people to work in production. The budget for the management of TV broadcasting is about 34 billion kip (US$4 million).
On the same day, LAOSOC officials reported progress on the sports complex and many other venues that are yet to be completed.
Venues include the main sports complex, indoor stadiums at the National University of Laos, the Chao-Anou football stadium, the Lao-ITECC arena and the Bungkha-nhong indoor stadium.
The venues are being built with the installation of broadcasting facilities in mind as provision of broadcasting equipment at each venue is a requirement for hosting the games. The national football stadium at Dongsanghin village in Xaythany district will be inspected and tested in June by LAOSOC before hosting the games' opening and closing ceremonies in December.
By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes
