The 25 SEA Games in Vientiane is approaching, and all the sport avenues are now almost ready to welcome all guests. Check out photostream of SEA Games sport complex located at KM 16, Vientiane, Laos
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Accurate weather forecasts are important as sports venue and road construction companies make work plans in the run-up to the SEA Games in December, a Vientiane weather forecaster says.
Head of the Meteorology and Hydrology Department's Weather Forecast and Aeronautical Division, Ms Souvani Phonevilay, said because Laos was hosting the SEA Games this year the department would be providing up-to-date information.
Competitors in the games would be able to receive weather forecasts through SMS text messages to mobile phones, while construction companies were contacting the department for current information.
“We have been quite busy with the onset of the rainy season because construction companies are especially interested in getting accurate weather forecasts so they can plan various construction jobs, especially those building sports facilities for the games,” she said yesterday.
“We are now giving information to about nine construction companies working on sports venues as well as five other construction companies. It's very useful for them in making plans for different aspects of their work.”
The department is issuing weather forecasts to the companies every day and one week ahead so they know how heavy rainfall will be. This is important for site supervisors wanting to work with cement or lay asphalt.
The department also issues weather forecasts every six hours.
“We are working with Lao Telecommunications (LTC) on providing weather forecasts through SMS text messaging during the SEA Games. LTC is considering whether they will support us in this,” Ms Souvani said.
In October, media will be invited to attend a seminar organised by the department about weather forecasts. Technical jargon will be explained so journalists can pass on information to the public and raise weather reporting standards to international levels.
The seminar will also prepare staff for providing forecasts to athletes so they will be informed about local weather conditions during their events.
Facility Construction Department Chief of the Lao National Sports Committee, Mr Phaiboun Chanthamaly, said “Weather forecasts are very important for us in planning construction of the main stadium for the games. We need to know how to schedule various jobs in advance so we can get everything done on time.”
“We get weather forecasts one week in advance from the Weather Forecast and Aeronautical Division. If we know it's going to rain we don't make plans to lay concrete or asphalt, or dig the ground to lay foundations.”
Now that it's raining, he said, workers were planting grass around the Km 16 national football stadium and had nearly finished the job.
“We need to know about the weather a week in advance so we can plan the next construction job. It's important for road construction and also in assigning manpower to the right area of work, especially during the rainy season,” said Deputy Project Head of the Phontong Road upgrade project, Mr Tingkham Sysavath.
He said if he knew heavy rain was on the way, he would stop paving or preparing soil and instead would lay drainage pipes or get on with other work that would not be affected by rain.
Accurate weather information ensured work went smoothly and the job would be finished on time, he said.
By Panyasith Thammavongsa
Vientianetimes
Federations struggle to reach starting blocks
Many Lao sports federations still lack adequate funding to purchase equipment and prepare athletes for the 25th SEA Games, which will take place in Vientiane from December 9-18.
Federations are facing financial difficulties with their preparations but are trying to send as many athletes as possible to train at the Sports Training Centre in Sikeuth village, Naxaithong district, and other training facilities in Vientiane as well as sending athletes to train in neighbouring countries in the lead-up to the games.
At the Prime Minister's Office on Sunday, the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee (LAOSOC) and the Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC) held a meeting to discus preparations for the games.
The meeting was attended by Standing Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of LAOSOC, Mr Somsavat Lengsavad, LNSC President, Dr Phouthong Seng-akhom, along with federation presidents and senior officials from LNSC.
At the meeting each federation submitted funding proposals to the LNSC for the purchase of sporting equipment, financing to support athletes and other games preparations.
The LNSC currently has a budget of 7 billion kip to use in preparing athletes in 25 sports for the games.
Currently the tennis, golf, karatedo, judo, muay lao and taekwondo federations are sponsored by various companies, including some international organisations.
There are still many federations looking for sponsors to support their teams, such as the national women's football team which lacks the funding to enable it to compete at an international level.
The Lao Cycling Federation is another body urgently seeking funding to help riders prepare for the games.
Mr Somsavat said the federations would like to help athletes when they have difficulties with their education and families.
He said the federations are doing their best to prepare athletes for the event and enable them to win medals.
The national sepak takraw squad is currently training in Savannakhet province but plans to move to train at the indoor stadium at Lao-ITECC in Vientiane in October.
The sepak takraw federation will host the SEA Games' sepak takraw event at Lao-ITECC and has a medical team preparing alongside the national team.
On Sunday officials from LAOSOC and LNSC also visited athletes' accommodation facilities and the Sports Training Centre.
The 25th SEA Games will consist of events in athletics, swimming, diving, water polo, archery, badminton, billiards and snooker, boxing, cycling, football, golf, judo, karatedo, sepak takraw, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, beach volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu, muay, pencak silat, petanque, fin swimming and shuttlecock.
By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes
SEA Games countdown at Chao-anouvong stadium
The official venue for the launch of the countdown to the 25th SEA Games will be Chao-anouvong stadium in Anou village of Chanthbouly district, according to the Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC).
The LNSC's publication ‘Sports Daily News' yesterday reported the ceremony was being organised by the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee (LAOSOC) in cooperation with the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Vientiane Administration Office.
The countdown ceremony will be held on December 31 and will be attended by high-ranking government officials, as well as being open to the public.
The ceremony will commence at 6.30 pm and run until 1am on January 1, 2009. Attendees will not only be able to enjoy the New Year celebrations and the launch of the countdown to the 2009 SEA Games, but also a show from Miss SEA Games contestants, performances by various artists, and a dazzling fireworks display.
The event will also feature the selection of the final 11 Miss SEA Games ambassadors who will lead athletes of each country into the stadium during the opening and closing ceremonies of the games.
A countdown clock to be placed at the Talat Sao Shopping Mall is currently being prepared, according to the games' major sponsor Lao Brewery Company.
Last month the SEA Games Federation approved 390 events in 25 sports for the games which will run from December 9 to 18 in Vientiane .
The games will involve athletes from the 11 nations of Laos , Vietnam , Cambodia , Brunei , Thailand , Malaysia , Indonesia , Myanmar , Philippines , Singapore , and Timor Leste, which will be making its SEA Games debut.
The games aim to promote friendship, solidarity and understanding between countries in the region, while promoting sport and providing an opportunity for athletes to compete in order to improve their performances at the Asian Games and Olympic Games.
By Sisay Vilaysack
