More than 20,000 spectators took their seats for a rehearsal of the 25th SEA Games opening and closing ceremonies at the National Stadium on Saturday.
Kaysone Phomvihane Avenue and Road No. 13 south were busy as the friends and families of more than 8,000 performers and other interested people drove to the stadium to watch the performance.
The event was arranged by the SEA Games Opening and Closing Committee as a practice run to test out both lighting systems and participants ahead of the big night on December 9.
The performance scheduled for the opening ceremony took place first, followed by the routines rehearsed for the closing ceremony.
The committee checked out all the lighting and sound systems as well as making sure the thousands of performers were step perfect.
For the most part, the performers did very well but some were obviously unsure and lost their way at times.
Many people who went to see the event told press the performance was the greatest show they had ever seen in Laos .
They were impressed with the colourful and traditional costumes worn, and fascinated by the skills of the many youngsters taking part.
Mrs Daoleuang of Nongbua village said if her daughter were old enough she would have let her take part in the performance.
“It's very beautiful. It's not the same as when I saw it on television during the last rehearsal. It was much better seeing it live at the stadium because of the great atmosphere and the good sound system.”
During the event, the SEA Games Organising Committee held a traditional ceremony to wish for good luck during the games. Leading the ceremony were committee Chairman and Standing Deputy Prime Minster Somsavat Lengsavad and other officials involved in the event.
There will be another rehearsal early next month before the start of the games.
Traffic police reported that more than 4,000 vehicles went to the stadium on Saturday, keeping police at work until midnight as they directed traffic to reduce congestion as people were leaving.
More than 8,000 performers from Laos gathered at the National Stadium in Vientiane for the rehearsal of the opening / closing ceremony of the 25th SEA Games 2009 in Laos. Check out the clip below:
The National Stadium will not have a booth selling tickets for the SEA Games opening and closing ceremonies tickets, as there are only 1,000 tickets left, the Vongkhanty Construction Company has said.
The company is responsible for ticket sales.
Company President Phankham Vongkhanty said at a press conference yesterday that people who wanted a ticket should hurry to reserve and buy one because they would soon be sold out.
“The SEA Games Organising Committee agreed to officially distribute the tickets on Monday. We started selling them for 200,000 kip on November 9 by calling people who had booked to come and collect and pay for their tickets,” Mr Phankham said.
The company continued to distribute tickets but raised the price to 300,000 kip yesterday.
“We've done it like this so the distribution process won't become complicated,” Mr Phankham said.
He also said each ticket had a stamp from the Ministry of Public Security and a 3D hologram sticker of the 25th SEA Games logo.
People who come to collect their tickets should look through the hologram, Mr Phankham said.
If there is no hologram, the ticket is not authentic.
The company reported that more than 13,000 tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies had been printed.
There were 5,470 tickets costing 500,000 kip, 4,102 tickets costing 400,000 kip, 3,418 tickets costing 300,000 kip and 684 tickets costing 200,000 kip.
SEA Games Organising Committee Deputy Chairman Dr Phouthong Seng Akhom said prices were lower than those charged by countries hosting the SEA Games in pervious years.
“We have prepared a VIP area of about 4,500 seats, but the committee will prepare some more seats for senior government officials,” he said.
The company had alerted provincial administration offices throughout the country that they had tickets set aside for them, but there are some who have not yet confirmed they will be buying the tickets.
“Many sports officials who are coming from other provinces to prepare for the SEA Games had tickets to distribute in their provinces,” Mr Phankham said.
The company reiterated to the press that ticket sales would be closing soon, and people should buy tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies before they sold out.
Mr Phankham said if people could not purchase a ticket, they could watch the ceremonies on television.
Alternatively, the committee plans to install a large screen outside the stadium to broadcast the ceremonies for people who didn't get a ticket.
Tickets are currently selling for 400,000 kip and 500,000 kip.
Anyone interested should contact the company on +85621 260458 +85621 260458 or +85621 260459 +85621 260459.
By Souknilundon Southivongnorath (Latest Update Novembe 11 , 2009)
(KPL) Thirty per cent of tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 25th SEA Games have already been booked by authorities of ministries and state and domestic and foreign private sectors.
Mr. Phankham Vongkanthi, Director of the Vongkanthi Construction Company, SEA Games Ticket Agent, said last week that after the company signed a concession for distributing the tickets of the 25th SEA Games, the tickets have been already booked by 30 percent. Tickets to the opening and closing ceremonies of the 25th SEA Games, at the new complex stadium, Dong Sang-hine village (at KM 16), Saythany district, Vientiane Capital, are available for sale with 500,000 kip of VIP seat, 400,000 kip for type B seat, 300,000 kip for type C and 200,000 kip for type D.
Here are the prices of tickets to different sport events. Tickets for football matches, for both male and female, cost 100,000 kip, 70,000 kip and 50,000kip, respectively.
The tickets to boxing event at Beungkayong indoor stadium is 50,000 kip per person. And the tickets to other kinds of sports cost 30,000 kip and 20,000 kip per person.For further information, interested people can call 021 260 458, 260459, or 020 6990635, the Ticket Sales Office of the 25th SEA Games, at the Sibounheuang village, Chanthaboury district, Vientiane Capital.The tickets will be on sale on 20 October and at the venues.
Standing Deputy Prime Minster and SEA Games Organising Committee Chairman Somsavat Lengsavad has asked the Opening and Closing Committee to prepare a trial run of the two ceremonies for Party and government leaders.
Mr Somsavat said at a committee meeting last Friday that the ceremonies' organising chairman should arrange a two-day performance of the ceremonies for Party and government leaders so they could see what had been prepared for the games in December.
“When I report on the progress made by the organising committee at Party and government meetings, I find people are worried about how the preparations are going because this is the first time we've held a sporting event of this magnitude,” Mr Somsavat explained.
He said he had been asked to show how the committee will pack thousands of people into the National Stadium and how it will coordinate the performances.
“If they can match the performances held in China to celebrate the 60th anniversary of National Day, it will be very good. But I know that China has a lot experience with this kind of event,” Mr Somsavat said.
During the performances, he asked each of the committees involved to test their various roles in the games, as success would depend on how well prepared each section was.
“All sections should make plans to manage their work during the games. For example, traffic officials should keep traffic = the area or on the way to the stadium,” Mr Somsavat said.
Deputy Minister of Information and Culture and Chairman of the SEA Games Opening and Closing Committee, Mr Bouangeun Saphouvong, said the ceremonies will involve performances by thousands of people who are currently rehearsing for the shows.
“We began rehearsals in May and will continue until next month. We are currently holding rehearsals at That Luang esplanade and various schools but hope to soon organise practices at the National Stadium where the games will take place.”
During Friday's meeting Mr Somsavat also said all construction work should be fully completed and events held to test the facilities before the SEA Games begin on December 9.
“All committees must watch this practice event together and see how each performs. If there are any weak points, these must be addressed before the games get underway,” he said.
The most famous, brightest and talented artists at present in Laos come together to sing the 25th SEA Games theme song. They are Sithiphone, Sam, Gai, Malya and Poui. The English version is called SEA Games Harmony and Lao version is Samakee SEA Games. Lyric and Rhythm by: Saysavath Singnamvong.
SEA GAMES HARMONY Lyric and Rhythm by: Saysavath Singnamvong Music arrangement by: (Mee) Soulinthone Kounsathone English Arrangement by: Sithiphone Souvannasouk, Sam, Andy Performance by: Sithiphone Souvannasouk
Malya: Hand in hand together we’re strong A brighter day has come along
Gai & Poui: To celebrate with all nations Step forward, United in SEA Games
Sith: Together we’ll build our athletes Forever our friendship in games
Sam: Competed a game with heart and soul Go forward, United in SEA Games
Group: SEA Games is what brings us together Hand in hand, walk the same path in peace SEA Games is a great competition Tight the knot comes together for SEA GAMES
Group: Hand in hand together we’re strong A brighter day has come along To celebrate with all nations Step forward, United in SEA Games
Na ……Na………Na………Na………Na………Na……
Group: Harmony, friendships in SEA Games Compete in spirit and fair play Light up the SEA Games torch Eternal flame
Photo:Mr Somsavat Lengsavad ( second left ) accepts funding from the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam and Hong Quang company of Vietnam at a handover ceremony in Vientiane yesterday. –Photo Khamphanh
The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) and the Vietnamese company Hong Quang have each presented about 850 million kip (US$100,000) to help fund the opening ceremony of the 25th SEA Games.
The handover ceremony took place on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Lao-Viet Bank in Vientiane yesterday.
Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, who is also the Chairman of the 25th SEA Games Organising Committee, accepted the funds from BIDV and Hong Quang on behalf of the Lao government.
BIDV Board of Directors Chairman Tran Bac Ha said it was part of the bank's commitment to the development of Laos .
“The bank is not only supporting the Lao-Viet Bank; we have also supported socio-economic development in Laos , including poverty reduction and education in the rural areas,” he said.
Mr Somsavat thanked Vietnam for supporting Laos in several fields of development, and the upcoming SEA Games in particular.
The 25th SEA Games is the first such event to be hosted by Laos , and the country hopes to produce some interesting surprises at the opening and closing ceremonies.
The organising committee has approved the date of the opening ceremony for December 9, while the closing ceremony will take place on December 18.
In regard to this year's SEA Games, the Vietnamese government has helped Laos by training athletes at Vietnamese camps.
Vietnam has also supported Laos by building an athletes' training centre in Vientiane at a cost of about 34 billion kip (US$4 million).
The centre, located in Sikeuth village, Naxaithong district, was officially opened earlier this year.
Another major SEA Games project receiving a grant and soft loan from the government of Vietnam is the athletes' village. The village is being built on a 42,000sqm site at the Dongdok campus of the National University of Laos. It is now 80 percent complete.
The government will spend more than 161 billion kip (US$19 million) on the project.
This amount comprises a loan of more than 127 billion kip (US$15 million) and a grant of 34 billion kip (US$4 million) from Hoang Anh Gia Lai Joint Stock Co of Vietnam . The remainder comes in the form of a soft loan with no defined interest rate.
The rehearsal of "Golden Rice Field", a part of performances prepared for the Openning and Closing Ceremony of the 25th Seagame to be held in Vientiane, capital of Laos in late 2009, is being continuously rehearsed at Nongbon High School and 65% ready.
Mr. Phoumy Phomkeona, Head of Nongbon High School, concurrently the director responsible for 'Golden Rice Field' and "Keua Kao Gad" performances which will be used at Opening and Closing Ceremony of 25 Sea Games had confirmed in an interview that the "Golden Rice Field" performance is being continuously rehearsed already 6 weeks at the front playing ground of Nong bon high school, with 410 students, 10 reserves, as well as 20 leading performers from Central Artists Troupe are in participation. With respect the Keua Kao Gad performance, the rehearsal will start soon. During October to November, the two performances will participate in grand rehearsal at National Stadium at Km 16, Saythani District.
Mr. Phoumy had further stated that: the rehearsals faced difficulties during initial period such as: shortage of vehicle accommodating students, performers. Therefore, the participating students mostly have no rider license and sent to school by their parents with most of students were ontime, but few students were late.
The rehearsal is being conducted every saturday from 8 am in morning session and 1pm-6pm for afternoon session during the initial period. For the grand rehearsal period, the Sea Games Organising Committee will provide vehicles for picking up and sending students to their home to ensure smooth rehearsals and to assure best and brilliant performance for the Opening and Closing Ceremony of the 25 Seagame.
(KPL) The Lao cultural performance programme will be a pillar of the inauguration ceremony to kick-start the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane from 9 to 18 December this year and it is an opportunity for Lao to showcase her culture to an international audience.
However, there will also be another cultural performance and it will be held during the closing ceremony of the sporting event.
Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Bouangueng Saphouvong, who is in charge of the arts performances for the for official opening and closing ceremonies of 25th SEA Games, said that rehearsals are being held and commenced in June.
He continued, ?The main programme of the art performances will focus on Lao culture and for the opening and closing performances the total number of performers is 8,000.
More than 2,900 schoolchildren from the nation's capital took part in a rehearsal on Saturday for performances at the SEA Games opening and closing ceremonies.
Pupils from Vientiane Secondary School , Nongbone, Nonsavang, That Luang, Xaysettha, and Donenoun secondary schools, Nongnieng Lower Secondary School and the primary school of the National University of Laos will be training every Saturday until the start of the SEA Games in December. The games run from December 9-18.
The performances are being coordinated through the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Vientiane Education Department.
From October to December, the children will practise at school every day under instruction from their teachers.
On Saturdays they will rehearse at Chao Anouvong football stadium from 8 to 11am and again from 2 to 4pm. The children will perform modern and traditional dances.
In December, they will move to the National Football Stadium at Km16, where they will rehearse three times before the games.
Those taking part in the rehearsals will need to rearrange their school terms. They will start the school year on July 1, and have their first exams in October. They will have their second exam after the games are over. They will have rehearsals after lessons each day.
Head of the General Education Section of the Vientiane Education Department, Mr Southany Saignasane, said the children were enthusiastic about their rehearsals and their parents supported their participation.
Mr Southany said teachers at each school were teaching the children about the various sports to be included in the games, and telling them about 11 South East Asian countries that will compete.
It is hoped the rehearsals will encourage the children to learn to be sociable, friendly and outgoing, and not afraid to put their best foot forward during the games showpiece ceremonies.
More than 400 children at the primary school of the National University of Laos will perform the Anakhotsotsay dance, which is said to lead to a good future.
The Lao SEA Games Organising Committee said this school had been chosen for rehearsals because it has a large shady field.
It is also fairly easy for children to get from here to the National Football Stadium for dress rehearsals and performances.
