25th SEA Games, Laos

Noy Sengsouriya, English TV program's announcer in Laos

The Lao SEA Games Organising Committee yesterday declared it will organise a contest to select public announcers to be involved in the games this December.

Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Information and Culture's Performing Arts Department, Mrs Somchith Phomsavanh said the search is on for male and female comperes.


Mrs Somchith Phomsavanh.
Those selected will make public announcements during the opening and closing ceremonies of the games.

“We have not placed a limit on the number of applications that will be accepted because we want many people to enter so the committee can easily select the most talented announcers,” said Mrs Somchith, who is also a member of the organising committee.

“However, the committee will select only four male and four female announcers to be involved in the opening and closing ceremonies of the SEA Games,” she said.

“Those selected will have the very important role of making public announcements, including the introduction of programmes, during the opening and closing ceremonies.”

“Announcements will be made in both Lao and English, so obviously entrants need to have very good skills in both those languages.”

“Additionally, all applicants must be well-presented, aged between 18 and 30 and be at least 1.50 metres in height for females and 1.65m for males,” she explained.

The committee welcomes all professional and amateur announcers and also encourages Lao students who have recently returned from studying abroad to apply.

The opening ceremony of the 25th SEA Games will be held on December 9, with the closing ceremony to be held on December 18.

The games will involve athletes from the 11 nations of Laos , Vietnam , Cambodia , Brunei , Thailand , Malaysia , Indonesia , Myanmar , Philippines , Singapore , and Timor Leste.

The 25 sports which will be competed at the games are athletics, aquatics (swimming, diving and water polo), archery, badminton, billiards and snooker, boxing, cycling , football, golf, judo, karatedo, sepak takraw, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu, muay, fin swimming, petanque, shuttlecock and pencak silat.

Applications for the contest are open from August 20 to September 20. Those seeking more information can call 212419, 911480 or 020 9849414.

By Sisay Vilaysack
Vientianetimes

Encouraging women's involvement in soccer for physical, mental and social health is the aim of the FIFA Women's Football Com-Unity programme.

FIFA together with Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC) held a seminar in Vientiane yesterday to promote women's football.

The interactive seminar showcased women's football experiences to local participants including representatives of government, football federations, international organisations and the sports committee.

Regional FIFA officials and participants shared insights on methods to improve all levels of Lao women's football.

LNSC Vice President Boualan Sripanya said the seminar dealt with preparations for the 25th SEA Games to be held in December, particularly as they relate to the women's game.

“Lao women's football is still missing some techniques and experience so this seminar will help them to improve as we prepare to host the games,” he said.

The seminar will run for three days and include presentations by FIFA members on women's football in the region and media discussions on how to improve coverage of women's football.

Organisers of the seminar also discussed the organisation of football friendlies, including the upcoming under-16 women's match between Laos and Cambodia on May 22.

FIFA Women's Football Committee and FIFA Instructor Ms Keri Michelle Cox said Laos boasted a good ranking for its women's football teams in the Asean region and FIFA could see the potential of the game.

“We really hope participants will demonstrate the potential of women's football during the three days of the seminar,” she said.

Women's football was officially established in Laos at the end of 2007, and the national team has attended various regional competitions since then.

There are 25 players in the U-16 squad and 30 at the national level.

Apart from the capital, the players hail from Khammuan, Xayaboury, Vientiane , Champassak and Savannakhet provinces.

Most come from poor families and want to make the most of this opportunity to make their name in football in the future.

Lao Women's Football Committee Vice Chairman Ms Valy Vetsaphong said the team had won matches in Singapore , Malaysia and Indonesia and drawn in the Philippines .

At the 24th SEA Games in Thailand they got through to the semi-finals on only their first appearance at the meet.

The team is ranked fifth in South East Asia, 15th in Asia and 74th in the world.

“ Laos is the first country in the world to which FIFA has donated a dormitory for our players because of the potential FIFA sees in our game,” she said.

The committee is awaiting the arrival of a coach from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to train the 30-strong women's squad before their departure for training in Vietnam in June.

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes

Hongthong to be developed night market for SEA Games 2009


Photo: Famous night market in Luang Prabang, northern Laos

(KPL) Domestic and foreign investors are constructing a night market in Hong Thong, Chanthaboury district, Vientiane Capital.

“At present, only 20 per cent of the construction has been carried out but we believe it will complete before the opening of the Vientiane Games in 2009,” said this week Mr. Phouvong Phamisith, the project manager.

The construction is being carried out on an area of 17,720 sq m occupying the land of Ban Sailom and Ban Thong Khankham Tay, Chanthaboury district.

The development costs around 45 billion kip. The market would feature handicrafts, souvenir shops, beauty salons, traditional food restaurants and traditional music gigs.