25th SEA Games, Laos

Lao-ITECC has become one of the venues to be used for 25th Seagames, the first grandiose regional event ever to take place in Laotian soil, after the 25 Seagames Organising Committee has selected this Shopping Center as one of the main venues to be used for competition of 3 sports such as: Sepak Katraw, Panjak Silat and Wushu (Martial Art) during the 25th Seagame to be held in Laos in December 2009.

Mr. Souliyong Youivanivong, General Manager of the Lao World Co.LTD stated that: ITECC started its construction in 2003 and completed in 2004 with an aim to be used as main venue for hosting the ASEAN-related Meetings in February 2004, 10th ASEAN Summit in Nov 2004 and other international meetings that Laos has gained privilege as a host country. Beside, the trade exhibition has also been held here displaying agricultural, industrial and handicraft products, consumer goods, as well as holding reception, wedding reception. ITECC could accomodate up to 2000 guests. The ITECC also has 32 laned-Bowling Center, 2 Cineplexes and Snooker Courses. Due to is its easy access and convenience, particularly its large parking lot, the ITECC holds trade exhibition 2 times monthly showcasing local product as well as products from neighboring country such as vietnam and Thailand.

During the 25th Seagames, the ITECC has been designates as venue for the competition of the 3 sports mentioned aboved in which the Sepak Takraw and Wushu will take place at its main hall inside ITTECC and Panjak silat will take place at reception hall on second floor. During the end of November ahead of the Games, the Seagame Organising Committee will conduct improvement works such as lighting, audience seats improvement for accommodating 1000 audiences.

In order to contribute to the success in hosting the game, ITECC will charge no rent fee and kindly help pay for electricity, cleaning fee. During the game, ITECC will allow exhibition only on its parking lot in order to let the audiences be able to buy things back home. Moreover, Lao world Company has simultaneouly gained privilege to provide foods including breakfast, lunch and dinner for approximately 3000 to 4000 Laotian and foreign athletes at Athletes Residences located in National University.

Mr. Souliyong has futher stated that: the Subcomittee for Public Security will be responsible for security-related matters during the game and will conduct in-place security commands to ensure 100% of security, same standard that Laos previously provided in hosting international events.

Source: Vientianemai
Translated by: Boy in VT

ORGANIZERS of the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Laos, which will be hosting the games for the first time, said they need at least two more months to complete the construction of the venues and other facilities.

This was according to Deputy Prime Minister and chairman of the 25th SEA Games Organizing Committee Somsavat Lengsavad and senior LNSC officials following an ocular inspection they conducted on the main stadium, the golf course, the main access roads and the Athletes’ Village.

Work was supposed to be finished by March, but according to the Games’ official Web site, the Chinese and Korean companies involved in the construction work are having a difficult time completing the job at the main venue in the Saythany district.

The foreign contractors said the delay was caused by several factors, one of which is the dry summer season, which is not suitable for growing grass inside the football stadium. The grass will only be planted in June, which is the start of the rainy season.

Also, the land around the golf course have yet to be cleared because “some people have yet to leave their homes to make way for the construction.”

Lao Golf Federation president Songkham Silaphets said the course would be completed in May, “as long as plans don’t change.”

Meanwhile, the access road is reportedly 75 percent complete and will be landscaped by May, while engineers from the two companies said it is also difficult to dig drainage channels and install electricity around the main stadium and other venues, prompting Somsavat to ask the Ministry of Public Works and Transport committee to cooperate with the contractors regarding these problems.

More than 400 Lao workers are involved in the construction at a cost of more than $100 million.

A ceremony to hand over the stadium to the Lao government will take place in September.

The 25 events of the 2009 SEA Games to be held in Vientiane in December will be scattered around the eight stadiums. Peter Atencio

www.manilastandardtoday.com

Grass is to be planted in the main football stadium to be used in the 25th SEA Games in December, along with the installation of an electronic scoreboard and seating.

This work is scheduled for the end of June, by which time there should be enough rain to make the grass grow quickly and abundantly.

The Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC) will carry out an inspection of the stadium, located at Km 16, after the grass, scoreboard and seating are in place.

The Industrial Park Overseas Investment Co Ltd and the China Yunnan Construction Engineering Group Corporation have decided not to plant any grass yet because of the difficulty of growing a healthy pitch in the dry season.

The corporation has now finished 95 percent of the stadium, with more than 1,045 Chinese workers and more than 400 Lao workers involved in the construction process at a cost of more than US$100 million. A ceremony to hand over the stadium to the Lao government will take place in September.

Ahead of the games, the LNSC will hold competitions to test out the venues and athletes.

Standing Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the 25th SEA Games Organising Committee, Mr Somsavat Lengsavad, and senior LNSC officials on Friday inspected the progress made on the stadium, golf course, main access road and athletes' accommodation.

The access road is 75 percent complete and will be landscaped in May.

Engineers from the two companies are finding it difficult to dig drainage channels and install electricity around the main stadium and other venues.

Mr Somsavat suggested a Ministry of Public Works and Transport committee should cooperate in these areas of work.

He said water and electricity installation would have to be finished next month in order for the remaining work to continue smoothly.

At present 19 officials are managing the construction of the main football stadium, two indoor stadiums, swimming pool, shooting field, tennis courts and beach volleyball site.

Mr Somsavat said the LNSC should assign more than this number of officials because 19 people were not enough to ensure security.

The LNSC will hold friendly football matches with teams from neighbouring countries ahead of the games to help improve the national team and test out the stadium.

The committee will hold a Pre-SEA Games to test the various venues and teams before the actual games begin in December.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

The Lao Golf Federation says the new golf course in Phokham village (km18) in Xaythany district where the SEA Games' golf tournament will take place is now 80 percent complete. A new golf course for use in the SEA Games is being built in Phokham village (km18) in Xaythany district.

Construction began in January 2008 and the three nine-hole courses will be finished by May. Only two will be used for the SEA Games.

The Booyoung Company of Korea invested about 50 billion kip (US$5 million) for construction of the 27-hole international standard golf course, which is being built on about 150 hectares of land.

Federation President Songkham Silaphet still hopes the company and the Lao government will seal the 2,250 metre road around the course and install lighting.

The federation is having difficulty clearing land around the course because some people have not yet left their homes to make way for construction.

Mr Songkham said the course would be completed in May as long as the plans did not change.

The federation says it will be able to maintain the grass on the golf course ahead of the games, despite the hot, dry weather.

Golfing events at the games comprise men's and women's singles and men's and women's teams.

The Youth Garden Golf Course at Km 14 in Hadxaifong district is not at the standard needed for international tournament play, but is where the Lao team is training in preparation for December.

Although the medal winning chances for Laos are meagre as the team lacks international experience, the federation is still hopeful of a good performance.

The federation is looking for a professional coach to train the team.

The Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation, based in Australia , will provide financial assistance for the Lao golf team to participate at the games.

Booyoung signed a contract with the Asean Civil Road and Bridge Construction Company of Laos to design and create the golf course. The company will also build amenities such as a restaurant and hotel, to attract tourists.

After the close of the games, the Booyoung Company will extend the course by an additional 60 hectares, to make a total of 210 hectares and 45 holes.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes