25th SEA Games, Laos

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)

The printers are rolling and now SEA Games ticket producers are waiting for the Marketing and Benefit Committee to allow the distribution of tickets, Vongkhanty Construction Company confirmed yesterday.

Company President Phankham Vongkhanty told the press the company had already printed opening and closing ceremonies tickets.

However, there had been a need to change some sponsors positions on the tickets, then reprint them again.

They are now waiting for the committee's agreement to begin distribution of the reprinted tickets.

The company had promised to produce the tickets by the middle of October and distribute them from October 20.

However, issuance of tickets has been postponed due to incorrect sponsor positioning in the design of the ticket.

Distribution of the replacements now awaits the decision of the Marketing and Benefit Committee.

“Another reason for the delay is that the committee wants to make sure the tickets can't be copied by unscrupulous groups of people. I can confirm this is not possible,” Mr Phankham said.

Since early October the company has been printing the opening and closing ceremony tickets and sent them to the committee for inspection.

The committee called on the company to change the positions of sponsors listed on the tickets.

“We had already printed some tickets before they were viewed and edited by the committee.”

“Now we've made a new design and have got them printed, so we're just waiting for permission from the committee to allow us to begin distribution,” Mr Phankham said.

As they wait, the company has ordered 3D hologram stickers to attach to the tickets to prevent them being copied.

However, the company isn't sure if the stickers will be finished in time for distribution.

Mr Phankham said the committee advised that the tickets must also have a stamp from Ministry of Public Security with the sticker.

“If the stickers aren't complete, we will use only the stamp,” he said.

“Don't worry, because we have many identifiers which help us to tell the difference between a genuine and a fake ticket.”

The company reported that more than 13,000 tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies will be printed: 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.

“I can guarantee that there are 3,000 tickets costing 500,000 and 400,000 kip still left - the rest have already been reserved.”

“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.

Mr Phankham also gave some hope to potential spectators without tickets.

He said if a person who reserved a ticket didn't pay on time, the reserved tickets would be sold to others.

Recently, a neighbouring country's media outlets reported that tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies were very expensive.

However, 25th SEA Games Organising Committee Deputy Chairman Dr Phouthong Seng Akhom said prices were lower than those charged by countries hosting the SEA Games in previous years.


By Souknilundon Southivongnorath

Vientianetimes

(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.

All tickets issued for the 25th SEA Games in December will have design features that will make them impossible to copy, according to the Vongkhanty Construction Company yesterday.

Company President Phankham Vongkhanty said the company had a concession to print and distribute all tickets including those for the opening and closing ceremonies, and security against counterfeits would have the highest priority.

“We are working closely with the Ministry of Public Security on ways to make all tickets secure, but we will not reveal what these are. It will be easy for our staff to know which ones are real and which are fake,” Mr Phankham said.

He said the company will organise a training course for staff who will check all tickets before spectators enter a stadium. “They just have to look at the ticket and can tell straight away if it's real or fake.”

“Now we are doing research on the numbers of tickets to the opening and closing ceremonies as well as to sporting events. We need to know the number of standard and premium tickets.”

Mr Phankham said the Marketing and Benefit Committee had had orders from almost 10,000 people for tickets to the opening and closing ceremonies but the exact number was not yet known.

The company says there are four different ticket prices: 200,000 kip, 300,000 kip, 400,000 kip and 500,000 kip.

Tickets to events will have prices depending on the popularity of the sport, with prices ranging from 100,000 to 300,000 kip.

“Football is very popular so these tickets will be more expensive. Boxing and other events will have another price but events will be free if there are few spectators. We strongly encourage local spectators to come and watch the less popular sports as well,” he said.

The company reported that entry to cycling, golf, billiards, snooker, athletics, petanque, weightlifting and archery events will be free.

“We are moving to new offices so our fax, telephone and email details will be available soon,” Mr Phankham said.

The company explained how tickets could be booked by fax and email. Central and provincial government officials, people and businesses should contact the company or the SEA Games Marketing and Benefit Committee in Vientiane to reserve tickets.

Mr Phankham said Lao residents and foreigners interested in buying tickets should contact the committee or the company.

“If there are a lot of people wanting to come from overseas they should contact a Lao embassy but a small group can contact a relative here to make a reservation for popular events.”

The games will take place from December 9 to 18 in Vientiane , and will comprise 383 events in 25 sports.

Athletes from Laos , Vietnam , Cambodia , Brunei , Thailand , Malaysia , Indonesia , Myanmar , the Philippines , Singapore and Timor Leste will take part.





By Souknilundon Southivongnorath

Vientianetimes

The 25th SEA Games Marketing and Benefit Committee (SEAGMBC) officially announced ticket prices for all sports and the sell will be start early September 2009.

The price for all sports are as follow: (1$ = 8,500 Kip)

- VIP seats are reserved for leaders and government's guests
- Type A seat: 500,000 Kip
- Tpye B seat: 400,000 Kip
- Tpye C seat: 300,000 Kip
- Tpye D seat: 200,000 Kip

Tickets for all kinds of sports
Football (Men/Women, Quarter final)
- Football : 70,000 Kip (under the roof)
- Football : 50,000 Kip

Football (Men/Women, Semi final)
- Football : 100,000 Kip (under the roof)
- Football : 70,000 Kip

Badminton (KM 16)
- Fixed price: 30,000 Kip

Swimming (KM 16)
- Fixed price: 30,000 Kip

Boxing (Beungkayong stadium)
- Fixed price: 50,000 Kip

Pencak Silat, Sepak Takraw, Table tennis, Wushu (Lao ITECC)
- Fixed price: 30,000 Kip

Shuttle cock (Beungkayong stadium)
- Fixed price: 30,000 Kip

Judo, Karate-do (Anounvong stadium)
- Fixed price: 30,000 Kip

Tennis (KM 16)
- Fixed price: 30,000 Kip

Volleyball (KM 16)
- Fixed price: 30,000 Kip

Shooting (KM 16)
- Fixed price: 30,000 Kip

Teakuando (National university of Laos)
- Fixed price: 20,000 Kip

Wrestling (National university of Laos)
- Fixed price: 20,000 Kip

Free entrance

- Cycling (Victory gate > Tadxon > Dansoung )
- Goft (KM 18)
- Billiards / snooker (Donchanh Palace hotel)
- Athleticss: Track & Field(KM 16)
- Petanque (National University of Laos)
- Weightlifting (National University of Laos, Phonsavanh school)
- Archery (KM 16)

Parking
- Car: 20,000 Kip
- Motobike: 10,000 Kip



Source: ECOM

The 25th SEA Games Marketing and Benefit Committee (SEAGMBC) has announced ticket prices and distribution for the event to be held in Vientiane this December.

SEAGMBC Vice President, Mr Chanpheng Siratana said the ticket prices had been agreed upon by all the committees involved in organising the games.

“We met and discussed the ticket prices many times and have come up with what we believe are reasonable prices for both local and foreign people,” Mr Chanpheng said.

Tickets for both the opening and closing ceremonies of the games will be divided into four different categories, costing 500,000 kip, 400,000kip, 300,000 kip and 200,000 kip.

Ticket prices for sporting events will depend on the event, but will cost between 20,000 and 100,000 kip. Some events will be open to the public free of charge.

“Seven sports will be free for spectators - cycling, golf, snooker, athletics, petanque, weightlifting and archery,” he said.

The committee reported that currently tickets are only available for purchase in Laos .

“We are not sure if we will sell ticket online because the matter is still under discussion with other committees. We hope to make tickets available to sporting fans in other countries soon,” said Mr Chanpheng.

There have been public complaints that tickets to the opening and closing ceremonies of the games are too expensive. Many believe the high prices are unaffordable for Lao people.

Mr Chanpheng said the opening and closing ceremonies would be broadcast through Lao National Television but urged people to attend the events.

“The ceremonies will be fantastic and I really want Lao people to attend and experience the atmosphere at their home games.”

“We also plan to invite representatives of government offices to participate in the ceremonies,” he said.

“We are not yet sure how many tickets to the opening and closing ceremonies will be made available to the public, because we are unsure how many VIP guests will be attending.”

“We have taken steps to ensure that counterfeit tickets will not be an issue,” Mr Chanpheng said.

Tickets for the games are already designed and awaiting approval from various SEA Games committees before they are printed and ready for sale.

The 25th SEA Games will take place from December 9 to 18. Athletes will contest 390 events in the 25 sports of athletics, swimming, archery, badminton, snooker and billiards, muay, cycling, football, golf, judo, karatedo, sepak takraw, shooting, tennis, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, wrestling, weightlifting, boxing, pencak silat, petanque, fin swimming, diving and shuttlecock.

Athletes from Laos , Vietnam , Cambodia , Brunei , Thailand , Malaysia , Indonesia , Myanmar , the Philippines , Singapore and Timor Leste will take part.

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientiane

(KPL) People who would like to touch the real atmosphere of opening ceremony of the 25th SEA Games have to fork out at least 200,000 kip (US$25) per ticket while highest cost may be 500,000 kip per ticket (about US$50).

The price was discussed at a meeting held on 3 July, Vientiane, under the Mr Chanpheng Silattana, Deputy President of the Lao Olympic Committee.

Four types of tickets are available for sale respectively 500,000 kip, 400,000 kip, 300,000 kip and 200,000 kip. Now the tickets are on sale at the National Acrobatic Committee Office, Vientiane.

Many sport events include bicycle, golf, petanque, snooker, track-and-field, weigh lifting and archery will be free of charge.

Photo: Ms Thibphakone Southammavong trains at the Lao Table Tennis Federation club.

The Lao table tennis team will struggle to win medals at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane this December due to a lack of training, according to a senior official.

Secretary General of the Lao Table Tennis Federation, Mrs Somchay Vongsa, said if the national players trained regularly and competed in more international tournaments, they may have a chance of winning medals at the SEA Games in 2011.

The team has been training at the federation's club since last August.

Sixteen members of the team are training in Vientiane , while a further three are training in Bangkok , Thailand .

The squad is being guided by coaches from China , Thailand and Laos in the lead-up to the games.

Mrs Vongsa said the Lao government plans to support the federation by spending more than US$100,000 on six tables for training and a further six tables for competition, as well as some other international standard equipment from Sweden.

The federation will host the table tennis event at the National University of Laos.

The younger members of the Lao team gained some experience after competing in the 15th South East Asia Junior Championships in Bangkok , Thailand , on June 23.

Other players competed in the All Thailand table tennis tournament from June 27-29, which consisted of U-12 and open divisions.

The All Thailand event is held five times a year. The federation will send five men and five women to compete at other events in July and August.

Mrs Vongsa said the Lao team will gain good experience from the tournament, which attracts the best players in Thailand .

The federation also plans to send national players to other international tournaments in neighbouring countries before the games begin, Mrs Vongsa said.

Next year, the federation will encourage students at lower and upper secondary schools in Vientiane to take up table tennis in an effort to boost national stocks of talented players.

One member of the national team, Ms Thibphakone Southammavong, is a 21-year-old student at the Faculty of Engineering of the National University of Laos.

Ms Thibphakone said the Singaporean, Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian teams were very strong and included some of the best players in the world.

She said while the Lao squad may have a chance of winning a medal in the team event (three players) at the SEA Games, they will struggle for success in singles and doubles events.

Ms Thibphakone began playing table tennis in primary school and has gone on to represent her country several times. She won three gold medals in the doubles, team and mixed doubles events at the eighth National Games in Champassak province last December.

She was unsuccessful in medal attempts at the 22nd SEA Games in Vietnam in 2003 and the 24th SEA Games in Thailand in 2007, which she attributed to nerves and lack of experience at the international level.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

Tickets to both the opening and closing ceremonies of the 25th SEA Games will cost 500,000 Kips (US$58), according to the Lao National Sport committee (LNSC).



Source: vientianetimes

Vientiane authorities are readying accommodation, food and tourism services for guests and athletes visiting Laos for the 25th SEA Games in December.

The capital will provide accommodation for about 4,000 athletes, and is making sure international-standard hotels and top end guesthouses are ready for visitors.

The Vientiane Tourism Department held a meeting at the National Culture Hall on Friday to discuss the preparations, as well as public security and public health.

The meeting was attended by Vice Vientiane Mayor and Vice President of the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee (LAOSOC), Mr Somvandy Nathavong, LAOSOC officials and staff from the department, hotels and guesthouses.

Mr Somvandy asked businesses to help in providing accommodation, food and tourism service during the games, which he said was a historical event for Laos .

He said Laos was satisfied its political stability would enable sound public security.

The Tourism Department has asked for more than 2 billion kip to redecorate and clean accommodations and provide food and tourism services.

Officials will check 12 hotels to make sure their standards are adequate. Hotels in five districts are still under construction but will be finished before the games. Officials will also inspect athletes' accommodation at the National University of Laos.

They will hold a meeting for businesses to respond to the call to support the SEA Games' effort and will continue checks of hotels and guesthouses for VIP guests, to be conducted by the Lao National Sports Committee and sports federation officials.

The Tourism Department will publish a Vientiane Tourism Guide Book and will hold two training courses for management staff in hotels, guesthouses and restaurants.

Hotels, guesthouses and restaurants in Vientiane will all be spruced up, with staff to wear traditional costumes to welcome guests and put Lao culture on display.

All sports venues, hotels, guesthouses, tourist facilities and other places will be tightly secured.

Public health officials will promote the need for cleanliness and hygiene and check the food provided by hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and markets in Vientiane for athletes and visitors.

Mr Somvandy said the games offered a good opportunity to develop human resources and businesses and for the Lao people to receive foreign guests.

He was confident the services offered would be up to international standards.

He advised business operators to take advantage of the event by putting up the price of rooms in hotels and guesthouses and raising meal prices.

The games represented the work of the Lao people and they should unite in hosting the event, he said.

The health unit would award certificates to restaurants if it could be determined they cooked clean food. Public health officials said they lacked money to buy some of the equipment they needed to carry out their work.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes