2009seagames 2009seagame 2009 SeAGAMES in Loas

Last of Laos..Vientiane

2009-03-15T22:56:00.000+09:00

Very hot here in Laos this week. Temperatures hovered around 40 degrees C all week until Friday evening when it turned surprisingly cool overnight. Sunday today and temperatures are heading up again.
The locals say that April is usually the hottest month so they are dreading the prospect of it being even hotter. Vientiane is an inland city and Laos is totally landlocked so very little influence from ocean breezes. The Mekong is very low at present so no influence there either.

Motorcycles outside a College

I took this photo on my walk to my office one day this past week. As I had said earlier, motorcycles are the preferred mode of transport by most young people here, and especially younger women and students. The motorcycles are predominantly very cheap Chinese-made imports as well as the usual Japanese standard models. Note the way that helmets are left on the cycle, along with other gear like jackets, gloves etc. I understand there is no stealing of property. Very refreshing to see this.

street cart selling food

All female students, government employees and shop assistants in general wear a dress called a “sinh”, which is a wrap around long skirt as you can see in the photo here to the left.

The sinh is worn at variable lengths but usually down to just above ankles, and they are available in a wide variety of colours and designs. They are usually worn with a simple blouse, usually light coloured (white, beige, yellow etc), again as can be seen in the photos.

Two more examples of sinhs

My office is situated in the ground floor of one of the Ministry of Education buildings. We have effective air con with wifi internet link so the working conditions are good.

My office is just inside this door

sign outside the office

Something unrelated to Laos.
I just read a series of stories about the Saturday concerts in Sydney and Melbourne for the “Fire relief” funds for the bushfire victims in South eastern Victoria.
Amazing reunion of several of the really great Australian bands and other icons of pop music. I became positively nostalgic to read some of the names and playlists. I have every one of these songs on my iPod and this music is a great way for me to link back with Australia.
Midnight Oil (Redneck Wonderland, Read About It, a Jimi Hendrix-style version of Advance Australia Fair, and, of course, Beds Are Burning”
Hunters and Collectors (When the River Runs Dry, Do You See What I See?, Holy Grail, Throw Your Arms Around Me and the classic, The Slab).
Split Enz aka Crowded House (History Never Repeats, Poor Boy, I See Red, Six Months in a Leaky Boat and, rather appropriately for Melbourne, Four Seasons in One Day).

Another story from the weekend press in Melbourne left me feeling VERY sad too. Lou Richards is set to retire from the Sunday AFL sports show. I grew up through the 60s and 70s with Lou’s crazy newspaper columns and of course his antics on Sunday “World of Sport” with the late Jack Dyer, Ted Whitten and others. He is 86 now and slowing up so I guess it is no surprise that he has to stop but I still feel sad. Lou is a Magpie legend.

Vietnam, Laos sign goods transit agreement

2009-03-15T22:54:00.000+09:00

VIENTIANE, March 14 (VNA) – Vietnam and Laos has signed an Agreement on Goods Transit in Vientiane during a Laos visit by Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang from March 13-14.

The signing, which took place at talks between Hoang and his Lao counterpart Nam Vinaketh, aims to create favourable conditions for the distribution of goods from the two nations to a third country.

The two sides noted remarkable growth in bilateral trade last year with two-way trade expanding by 35.5 percent from 2007 to reach 422.8 million USD.

They also signed a working minute highlighting focal tasks for this year, including a project on trade development until 2015, developing border markets, organising a Vietnam-Laos trade fair and boosting cooperation in industry and training.

Minister Hoang was received in Vientiane on March 13 by Laos Prime Minister Buasone Bouphavanh, who said that the Lao Government and relevant agencies would create favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to implement investment projects in Laos.

Laos’ industry, trade, mining and energy sectors are the main contributors to the high investment and cooperation rates between the two countries. Solving a number of long-standing problems that hinder cooperation projects between those sectors would contribute to improving the cooperation between the two countries.

The Lao PM and his guests exchanged views on the implementation of Vietnamese electricity projects in Laos and assigned the Lao Energy and Mining Ministry to collate investors’ opinions on the subject, which will then be submitted to the PM.

He thanked the Vietnamese Government for its pledge to support Laos’ accession to the WTO.

Minister Hoang reported to the PM that his ministry also plans to sign with Laos’ Ministry of Energy and Mining a memorandum of understanding regarding increased cooperation between the two countries in this field.

The two sides will review the implementation of cooperation programmes and draw up plans for the future.

Hoang said he intends to discuss with the Lao side a previously-signed agreement, granting each other special preferences and recognition of goods originating in each country, as well as reviewing the implementation of current Vietnamese projects in Laos, including electricity projects.

Hoang said that Vietnamese investors in Laos have pledged to fulfill agreements with the Lao Government and asked Laos to supplement a number of policies to ensure that they are compatible with investment projects in the fields of science and technology. (VNA)

from:mcot.net

Lao Plaza Hotel ( Laos )

2009-03-14T22:30:00.000+09:00

This country interest me mainly because of their religion. I was currently into landscape photography before I did my main focus on portraits. I had a chance to see this photograph of a huge statute of a buddha lying on the ground with the arms extending to the ears. It was not really buddha but like one of those caricatures we see in buddha temples. I was amazed with that picture that I googled it and I discovered where it was. That was my main reason of visiting Laos. It is a country adjacent to Vietnam and Thailand.

I stayed at Lao Plaza Hotel. Again, because my travel agent friend recommended it. The hotel entrance had a spell binding effect on me. The entrance was huge with a covered drop off area. The hotel from the outside was not as intricately modern like most of the known hotels but it was elegant. The bell boy assisted me up to the registration table. The people there were amiable and sweet. They offered their welcome with warm smiles. The registration was quick than expected. I was surprised how skillful the personnel were considering they struggled articulating everything. The lobby looked chic and very contemporary. The furnishing were adorable and the interiors were well made. I love the concept regarding its interior design. Chairs were assembled in the cafe surrounding the small coffee shops. The hotel lobby had high ceiling and the walls were made up of glass.

My room was even more splendid. I got a suite because the price was really affordable. The room’s floor was made up of shiny wooden bricks. It was shimmering that it enticed me to barefoot the entire time. The bed had simple structure but the sheets smelled like dried cassis. The lamps were square and the bedside cabinets were classy mahogany wood. A small table was in the corner with fresh carnation. The room also had a cute sofa and a persian carpet beneath the centerpiece. The TV was flat screen but not LCD. The lavatory typifies an unflustered haven for relaxation. It was clean and the aroma was really good. I supposed they used fragrance oil to flavor the place because the smell was just very unique.

I opted to eat at Dok Champa Restaurant because among others, this is the one which offers Lao cuisine. It is really my strategy when I am jet setting to not just explore the country but the cuisine as well. Here, the food did not just satisfy my hunger but satisfied my whole persona. I love Lao cuisine. I’ve added it to my favorite asian cuisines. The restaurant made you understand what Lao culture is all about by capsulizing it thru their cuisine.

The spa was amazing. I never had a massage this good since I had it in Bali. The massage caressed me much to the point that it lulled me to slumber after.

This hotel is a must visit when you are in Laos. First, the price is okay and not very expensive compared to the world-renowed hotels we know. Second, though the price is affordable, quality is not a luxury here. The service and amenities you will experience is the same with the well known hotels. And lastly, I felt sincerity and content with the personnel’s display of genuine customer service. Plus, the food is mouth-watering.

Vientiane Arch in Laos

2009-03-14T22:29:00.001+09:00

f you are heading for a Visa run or just touring around Vientiane, you’ll most likely cross paths with the Vientiane Arch. Behind the arch lies a small park in the middle of a sort of traffic roundabout.

Vientiane Arch

Pho Vientiane

2009-03-14T22:28:00.001+09:00

Pho is one of my favourite Vietnamese dishes, along with the fresh spring roll. The first time I had Pho was at a friend's place in Sydney. Her mum cooked this most delicious noodles in beef broth dish. It was my first introduction to Vietnamese food. Well, I haven't had Pho for a long time, and was really happy when Pho Vientiane was recommended to me.

Pho Vientiane is one of those "local" restaurants, nothing fancy with simple tables and plastic chairs. The first thing that we noticed was that it was quite busy, which is always a good sign! I couldn't wait to try the Pho. Here it is!

Well, I remembered Pho to be somewhat tastier, but this one was still quite nice, and it was only 30 baht. For non-beef eaters, they also have the pork version. Might try that next time.

Their deep fried spring roll dishes were great though. We had fish spring rolls with the loveliest soft and fluffy fish, and a yummy dipping sauce (above). The deep-fried pork spring rolls were delicious too (below).

Somehow, we ended up with mostly fried dishes, but I will try the fresh spring rolls next time and will report back.

All in all, it was a good value meal. The dishes are between 30-60 baht.

We're sure to go back to try the other dishes.

Location: Right at the end of an arcade opposite the Shangri-La Hotel on Changklan Rd. Watch out for the red sign.

Opens daily - 9am-9pm

Russia helps Laos build three hydropower plants

2009-03-14T22:27:00.001+09:00

Russia will help Laos build three hydropower plants in the south of the country to supply domestic demand and exports, the local newspaper Vientiane Times reported Friday.

Currently, the Region Oil Company of Russia is working on documents to sign with the Lao government and developers, said the newspaper.

The documents include a shareholder agreement, a project financing scheme, power purchase agreements (PPA), an operation and maintenance agreement, and concession agreement for the projects of three hydropower plants, namely Nam Kong 1 in Attapeu province, Xekong 4 and 5 in Xekong province.

The company has carried out all the necessary surveys and prepared drawings with approval from the Lao Ministry of Public Works and Transport. And the selection of contractors to carry out construction of the projects is also in process, said the Russian company Deputy General Director Vasily Morgun.

The three hydropower plants are estimated to cost more than 17.1 trillion kip (about two billion U.S. dollars) and have an installation capacity of 1,200 megawatts, said Morgun.

The three hydropower plants are expected to start energy generation in 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively.

Source: Xinhua

From:english.people.com.cn

Buddha Vientiane Laos

2009-03-14T22:22:00.000+09:00

Buddha Vientiane Laos

See http://www.justbuddhas.org for more Buddha images

Vietnam to send 800 to SEA Games

2009-03-14T11:52:00.000+09:00

Vietnam to send 800 to SEA GamesHANOI, Feb 19 (VNA) – Vietnam will send an 800-member team to the 25 th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos this December, announced the Sports Administration.

The announcement was made at a meeting deploying culture, sports and tourism works this year, which was held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Hanoi on Feb. 17.

The Vietnam sports delegation will aim to earn around 55-60 gold medals at the Laos Games, and rank in the top three.

At the 24 th SEA Games in Thailand , the largest in the regional event’s history with 43 events and 488 sets of medals, Vietnam sent 1,000 athletes and finished in the top three.

Vietnam has also defined some main tasks in 2009, including helping Laos organise the 25 th SEA Games successfully, earning 11 golds to rank sixth at the third Asian Indoor Games, hosted by Vietnam, taking part in the Asian Martial Arts Festival with 80 athletes and gaining gold medals in pencak silat, karatedo, taekwondo and wushu and partaking in the Asian Youth Sports Festival in Singapore with 90 players, all while preparing for the 2010 Asian Games and the 2012 Olympics.

This year, Vietnam will also be the host of over 200 tourneys, of which 30 will be international. (VNA)Vietnam to send 800 to SEA Games

Vientiane and around it

2009-03-11T09:42:00.000+09:00

A few more pictures from the surroundings of Vientiane, mainly trips along the Mekong, upstream and downstream. The really nice thing about the city is that it is so easy to get out of it and see nature and rural life.

Leaving or arriving in Vientiane via the Mekong in the dry season. The Mekong has a huge sandbank in the dry season which is used for playing football or walks, everything left of the sandbank on this picture is Vientiane and on the right side of the river it is Thailand.

It is the season for planting rice again and the rice fields are back in an amzing green colour. It looks beautiful with nice sunshine on it.

Just a couple of kilometers out of town a little village, but this time of the year you can buy sugar cane juice, very nice for breaks.

Road along the Mekong a bit outside of town.

Fishers on the Mekong

A very nice part of the Mekong where we even managed to swim

Vientiane

2009-03-11T09:40:00.000+09:00

Little Novice and Icecream Man

Vientiane, the capital of Laos, is no more than a provincial town compared to other capitals of the world There are a lot of Wats, but most of them are fairly new, because the city was looted several times. Nothing compared to VangVieng, the Lao entertainment centre. French colonialism is still present in the names of the streets and there are some nice colonial buildings left, but ugly concrete buildings predominate. However, it was nice to sit in one of the many river restaurants and enjoy a meal. My favourite was green curry consisting of green vegetables, lots of basil, chilis and coconut milk. The national dish is a different one: Laab Lao, minced meat of your choice, seasoned wit lots of mint, garlic, sage, basil and spring onions served with a couple of cucumber slices on a bed of lettuce! My breakfast is fairly different from my German one:noodle soup with chicken bits and a big portion of greens: lettuce,chili, beans and mint leaves - I must admit: I prefer toast with jam & butter, but it is not available here! Lao people are the most friendly I have ever met: Wherever you go people greet you with “sabai dee” it happened to me several times that motorists slowed down next to me in order to ask “Where are you from” “What is your name?” “Where do you want to go?”. …. Children like to clap my hand when I pass - always with a broard smile on their face .It makes me sad that more than 40 % percent of the Lao children are malnutrioned due to lack of proteine and about 30% of the hill tribe population is illiterate. And up to today children and gro wn ups die or lose parts of their body though landmines and clusterbombs that did not explode - and there are still thousands somewhere hidden in the grass. Many hospitals do not have a bloodbank or oxygene to treat badly injured people so that they are left to die. Every new US-President and highranking general should pay a visit to the COPE -center in Vientiane and percieve what their decisions meant to real people.

EU Proposes Additional Aid to Laos

2009-03-11T09:34:00.001+09:00

The European Union (EU) is proposing 10.8 million euros (13.8 million U.S. dollars) in additional grant aid to Laos from 2009 to 2013, the Lao newspaper Vientiane Times reported Tuesday.

The proposal was made at the 5th Joint Committee Meeting jointly opened by Lao Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Phongsavat Boupha and Director for Asia of the European Commission 's Directorate General for External Relations James Moran to discuss past and future cooperation.

According to the Vientiane-based European Commission delegation, the additional grant aid is a result of the ongoing European Commission (EC) cooperation programme to help Laos implement its five-year socio-economic development plan, with priority given to poverty reduction, the management of public finances, and trade- related assistance.

This means EU assistance to Laos this year will be the highest ever, and will significantly help the country combat challenges posed by the global economic crisis.

The EU had earlier announced that it would assist Laos by providing 33 million euros (42.24 million U.S. dollars) from 2007 to 2013, and would give additional aid if cooperation programmes were found to be effective.

EU assistance to Laos has been increasing in recent years. Its assistance from 2002 to 2006 was 18 million euros (23.04 million U. S. dollars) excluding assistance through non-governmental organisations and regional programmes.

Lao NA Chairman welcomes Vietnamese delegation

2009-03-11T09:19:00.000+09:00

Laos will support and cooperate with Vietnam to help it perform its role as the President of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and host to the AIPA Conference in 2010.

Lao NA Chairman Thongsinh Thammavong made this statement during a reception for a Vietnamese NA delegation, led by its Vice Chairwoman, Tong Thi Phong, in Vientiane on March 9.

Phong said that the visit represents the Vietnam NA’s commitment to fully implementing the cooperative agreements previously signed between the two countries’ NA Chairmen.

She congratulated the Lao people on their socio-economic achievements, particularly in the context of the current global economic downturn, posting a GDP growth rate of 7.9 percent in 2008.

Last year saw Laos’ success in hosting several international conferences, including the 17^th Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, she added.

from: english.vovnews.vn

Laos promises backing for Viet Nam’s ASEAN role

2009-03-11T09:17:00.000+09:00

VIENTIANE — Laos has pledged to co-operation with Viet Nam to help it fulfil its tasks as the president of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly and its hosting of the assembly conference next year.

Laos assembly chairman Thongsinh Thammavong made the commitment during a reception for a Vietnamese National Assembly delegation in Vientiane yesterday, saying that the visit represented the Vietnamese assembly’s determination to fully implementing co-operative agreements previously signed between the two countries’ assembly chairmen.

The head of the Vietnamese delegation, NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong congratulated the Laotians on their socio-economic achievements, particularly in the context of the global recession, posting a GDP growth rate of 7.9 per cent last year.

Last year was also notable for Laos’s success in hosting several international conferences, including the 17th Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, she said.

Also yesterday, the Vietnamese delegation met with Lao National Assembly Vice Chairman Pany Zathotou.

During discussions, the two sides pledged to implement a co-operative agreement, previously signed by the two countries’ national assembly chairmen, as well as increasing the frequency of high-ranking visits and intensifying the exchange of information regarding the legislative bodies’ operations.

They agreed to provide personnel training for the Lao national assembly agencies and complete all necessary preparations for the construction of a Lao national assembly building, to be funded by Viet Nam, later this year.

The two sides pledged to support bilateral co-operative commitments and create favourable conditions for the two countries to achieve US$1 billion in two-way trade next year.

Viet Nam plans to make a thorough examination of its investment projects in Laos, to draw up more suitable policies to govern them and, look to increase its investment in the country.

The two sides confirmed that they would continue to demonstrate their close co-operation at regional and international forums. — VNS

National Assembly delegation visits Laos

2009-03-11T09:14:00.000+09:00

VietNamNet Bridge – A visiting delegation of the National Assembly of Vietnam, headed by its Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong was received by Lao Vice President, Bounnhang Volachith and Prime Minister Buasone Bouphavanh in Vientiane on March 10.

Phong informed the hosts that Vietnam appreciates Laos’ socio-economic development, as well as its social stability and security.

She briefed the Lao leader on the content of talks attended by high-level delegations of the two countries’ parliaments and affirmed the Vietnamese NA’s commitment to fully supporting cooperation agreements reached by the two Governments.

The lawmaker pointed to a number of cooperation programmes between the two legislative bodies, focusing on the exchange of experiences between their committees and boosting coordination at regional and international forums.

The Lao leaders said that they valued cooperation agreements between the two parliaments that were reached during the talks.

They both stated that the Lao people wished to further expand their country’s traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam and expressed their belief that more Vietnamese enterprises should invest in Laos.

On the same day, the Vietnamese delegation met with the Vietnamese community in Vientiane.

On March 9, they visited the families of the late General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, Kaysone Phomvihane and late President, Nouhak Phoumsavanh.

VietNamNet/VNA

UNICEF in LAO PDR: Challenges in reducing maternal and newborn mortality

2009-03-11T09:12:00.000+09:00

Vientiane, 10 March 2009 – Strategies to improve standards of maternal and newborn health in one of South East Asia’s poorest countries were the focus of the national launch in Lao PDR last week of UNICEF’s 2009 State of the World’s Children report.

The discussion – hosted by the Lao Women’s Union as part of International Women’s Day celebrations – took the form of a televised discussion that brought together senior government officials, health experts, community representatives and leading international organizations.

“We know that mortality rates in particular are still an enormous issue in our country,” said Dr Somchit Akkhavong, Deputy Director of the Hygiene and Prevention Department of the Ministry of Health. However, she said the foundations for progress were being laid, including the establishment of 700 health clinics around the country, and stepped-up training for medical staff.

“It’s crucial that mothers know the importance of using these services, and that communities support and participate in the health of mothers and children,” added Dr Somchit.

Government data shows that on average, about three Lao women die every day due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, while 70 out of every 1,000 babies die in the first year of their lives. In the most isolated rural communities, up to 95% of women deliver children at home without access to healthcare facilities or skilled birth attendants.

Professor Dr Phonethep Pholensa, member of the Lao National Assembly and an expert on paediatric health, said new vision was needed to ensure rural women received the care they required. “We’ve still not tackled all of the problems at their roots,” said Professor Phonethep. “We have to mobilize resources and organizations at local levels.”

Chaired by the Vice President of the LWU, Mrs Bandith Pathoumvan, the discussion covered a range of topics, including the work of provincial health services and Save the Children Australia in the province of Sayaboury where – according to the State of the World’s Children 2009 - maternal mortality rates were reduced by nearly half between 1998 and 2003.

UNICEF representative Laila Ismail Khan pointed out that the report emphasized a multi-disciplinary approach. “In order to prevent maternal and neonatal deaths, we need to provide not just adequate pre- and post-natal care, but also enhanced nutrition, safe water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as a supportive social environment in which women’s rights are respected.”

A key recommendation from the report is provision of essential services through health systems that integrate home, community, outreach and facility-based care.

In Laos, the Ministry of Health together with the Centre for Maternal and Child Health is following this approach through the development of a package of maternal, newborn and child health care. This combines family planning; pregnancy, delivery and newborn care; breastfeeding and complementary feeding; immunization of children and mothers; integrated care for sick children; micronutrient supplementation; and use of insecticide-treated bed-nets and de-worming.

An edited version of the SOWC launch discussion is to be broadcast on the popular Lao Star Television channel.

About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

For more information, please contact:
Simon Ingram, Tel: + 856 20... singram@unicef.org
Tabongphet Phouthavong, Tel + 856 20 551 9682 tphouthavong@unicef.org

Laos - hill tribes : Akha, Khamu, Thai dam

2009-03-03T23:08:00.000+09:00

As always I hope you and yours are doing well.

This is the 4th and final blog on laos titled hill tribes. Currently I am in northern Vietnam on a 3 day motorcycle trek. Today is day one and if tomorrow and the next day are the same as today I should have a few great photos to share, anyway, onto the hill tribes.

The first hill tribe trek that I took left from Muangngoi on the Nam Ou river. First, let me mention that they are called hill tribes because they live on the “tops” of hills. We walked for a few hours with our guide before stopping in a village for lunch. From there it was about a four hour walk up to the Seang savang, a Khmu village. We arrived shortly before dusk all nice and sweaty after the climb uphill. When we arrived we left our bags at the chiefs house who wasn’t home and sat outside. Many of the “locals” came out to watch us. This was a “privative” village without electricity, toilets (not even outhouses) and water. The villagers had to carry water uphill for about 25 minutes from a creek.

Laos Akha November 19

Seang our guide who got lost a few times went back to check with some of the locals on where to go and he ended up getting caught carrying her pack Savang is also a village that doesn’t get many outsiders.
Well the chief arrived home accompanied by two guys at about 6pm. He was; let’s say a little drunk on rice whiskey, the local “home brew”. He was attending a meeting in the village where we had lunch. I have no idea how they made the journey uphill! That night our guide tried to find a chicken for our dinner. It wasn’t looking good until someone sold him a rooster. The dinner was good, chicken, soups, veggies and sticky rice. The sleeping arrangement wasn’t too bad either. The next day we got up early to take some photos before having breakfast and taking off for NamTup, a H’mong village where we had lunch. We didn’t meet the chief before we left because he was nursing a nasty hangover. When we arrived at NamTup there was a nurse there giving vaccines to the locals. We left NamTup and headed to Kwilkan, a Khmu village (I have no idea if I am spelling the names of the villages correctly) where we spent the second night. This village was more modern and had running water and toilets. There may have been a generator there for electricity but I don’t remember. Our guide was able to buy a duck off someone so we had roasted duck, soup, veggies and sticky rice. this village sees “a lot” of foreigners who do a two day trek. There were several French there who were on a package tour.

Laos Akha November 19

We left the next day to hike down to a village on the river where we took a boat back to Muang ngoi.

I started my next trip to a hill tribe village out of Phongsali we took a truck to hat sa and then a boat up river for about a half hour where we started our uphill walk to an Akha village. We wanted to spend some time here taking photos but as luck would have it we got “lost” on the way up. Luckily we ran into 3 akha women who took off running when they heard us. luckily our guide who spoke their language chased them down and calmed them down. These women all had packs on their back which they carried with their “heads”.

Laos Nam Tup November 13

These packs probably weighed 50 plus pounds, the women were barefoot and were also spinning yarn with their hands! The women walked about 3 hours from their village to pick fruit. Anyway, they helped point us in the right direction and we headed back uphill. we came to a fork in the trail and were lost again. Our guide went back down hill to find the women to ask for help. As luck would have it, a girl with the women was the daughter of a chief so we went to her village and stayed in her house.

We arrived at the chiefs house at dusk, too dark to take pictures. This village didn’t have toilets but it did have a water source nearby. Since our guide spoke the hill tribes’ language we were able to communicate with the locals. At about 6:30pm the chiefs mom, came home from the fields and was “sick”. our guide asked us if we had any medicine. we said what is the problem. our guide said that the woman was weak and dizzy. we said she was probably dehydrated and exhausted so we gave him some “energy” drinks and some “powerbars” to help her (if in fact she was exhausted).

Laos November 13

We sat around drinking tea while the women made our dinner and brought it along with the table to us. the women stayed in the kitchen while them the men, a boy and our group of three enjoyed our meals. before starting the meal the chief made a toast and we drank rice whiskey before the meal and during the meal for that matter. when we were finished one of the women took the table to the kitchen where the women could now eat. The men sat around smoking their water bongs filled with some type of tobacco or tree bark, drinking tea while the women “worked” in the kitchen until midnight or so.

We got up early the next day to start our walk to the next villages. the morning started with breakfast and yes a little more rice whiskey! The villagers were not accustomed to foreigners and when they saw the “big” cameras they ran for the hills. i wished we had more time to spend in the villages so we could have built some kind of report, got to know the villagers and also maybe got a few good shots.

Laos November 14

One thing I did learn is that you don’t want to have twins. In one village they would send the woman and the kids to the forest and if anyone survived after three months they could come back to the village. In another they just killed the mother and the kids. Now this sounds harsh and it is but thinking about it there is absolutely no way a woman could survive (read do all her work) if she had more than one baby to care for.

The next villages I visited were out of Muang khau. I did two day trips to different hill tribes including Akha and Thai damn. I know I loose some of you if I write more than 4 paragraphs so I will finish it up here with a holiday greeting - HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ONE AND ALL

Laos November 14

Source: Dave Donohue from Travel Blog

Recommended tours for Laos:

Active Travel Laos: Email: activetravellaos@yahoo.com, http://www.activetravellaos.com

Adventure tours in Laos: Bike Luang Prabang/Kayak Si Phan Don/Trek Luang Nam Tha

Vietnamese kick-boxers look to 3rd Asian Indoor Games

2009-03-03T22:57:00.000+09:00

Nobody knows when Muay Thai came to Vietnam but some senior martial art masters say it appeared in South Vietnam in the early 1950s.

In 1994-1995, HCM City sent kickboxers to some international Muay Thai tournaments, the SEA Games and ASIAD. At that time, Muay Thai was a performance sport.

In October 2004, the Southeast Asian Sports Federation agreed to add Muay Thai to the list of official sports for the 23rd SEA Games in Philippines in late 2005. Vietnam considered the establishment of a national kick-boxing team by taking some members from the national Pencak Silat, boxing, and traditional martial arts teams. However, such a team was not set up.

Muay Thai has become an official sport at the 24th SEA Games. It will be also an official sport at this year’s 3rd Asian Indoor Games and 25th SEA Games.

The HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has decided to have a special training period for its Muay Thai team as of July 2008. The team’s members were previously members of boxing and traditional martial arts teams.

The HCM City Muay Thai team is practicing at the Phu Tho Sports House, under the guidance of coach Giap Trung Thang and Cao Van Tai. Coach Thang won a bronze medal in Muay Thai at the World King Cup 1996 and a silver medal at ASIAD 1998. He is also an international referee of the Southeast Asian Muay Thai Federation.

The team will represent Vietnam at the World Muay Thai Championship 2009 in Pataya, Thailand this March.

POC, PSC set tough criteria for Laos SEAG

2009-03-03T22:55:00.000+09:00

POC, PSC set tough criteria for Laos SEAG

MANILA, Philippines - There’s no free ride to Laos.

The country’s top sports leaders met for two hours yesterday and agreed that even gold and silver medalists in the 2007 Thailand SEA Games will not be seeded to this year’s staging of the biennial event.

“They are only candidates -- not sure that they’re in,” said Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping after sitting down with his four commissioners and their counterparts from the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Angping said even those who landed in the top eight of their respective events in the Asian Games, and those who made it to the 2008 Beijing Olympics won’t get automatic slots.

“They are merely included in the national pool which will hold tryouts for the next three months. And by June, we will know who will undergo intensive training (here and abroad) heading to Laos,” he said.

Officials believe that winning the silver and the gold in Thailand or finishing in the top eight in the 2006 Doha Asian Games is no assurance that the very same athletes remain in peak form years after.

The strict criteria should significantly bring down the number of Filipino athletes going to the Laos SEAG in December as sports officials put premium on quality of performance leading to the gold.

“If we send only 10 athletes so be it. Remember we’re going there for the gold -- nothing less than the gold,” said Angping, adding that as of now they have no idea how many will make it.

“We were one in saying that this time we’re looking at performance. We are sending only the best,” said PSC commissioner Jose Mundo.

In 2007, the Philippines sent close to 600 athletes to Thailand, and won only 41 gold medals for sixth place (RP’s worst finish in the SEA Games) or a ratio of one gold for every 14 athletes in the lowest of regional meets.

But Steve Hontiveros of bowling, who represented the POC along with Col. Buddy Andrada of tennis and chef-de-mission Mario Tanchangco of sepak-takraw, said of the 91 silvers the Philippines won, 42 of them came in subjective sports.

The budget for the Laos SEAG was not tackled during the meeting where a monitoring committee to be led by Hontiveros and Mundo was also formed.

“We will monitor not only the athletes but the coaches and the trainers as well,” said Mundo. – Abac Cordero

Taekwondo: making breakthrough to top SEA

2009-03-03T22:51:00.000+09:00

Taekwondo 25th SEA Games,
VietNamNet Bridge – The national taekwondo team has invited the former world champion Kim Jae Sik (Korean), 28, to train its artists, wishing to surpass Thailand to take the lead in Southeast Aisa.

The Korean coach will start working in Vietnam as of February 15, with monthly pay of $2,700. He was the world champion in the men’s 62kg category in 2005. He has been away from this career for two years.

Previously the Vietnam Taekwondo Federation hired another Korean expert, Kim Seon Kyoo, former chief of the referee division of the Asia Taekwondo Federation, as its adviser at some tournaments.

In recent years, Vietnamese taekwondo always ranked behind Thailand at the SEA Games and the Olympics. This year, Vietnam aims to take three to four gold medals at the 25th SEA Games. At the 24th SEA Games, Vietnam had three gold, four silvers and six bronze medals.

After female artist Vo Hieu Ngan won a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics, Vietnam failed to repeat the record at 2004 Olympics and 2008 Olympics.

This year, the national taekwondo team will participate in three key international tournaments: the ASIAD Young Taekwondo, the Asia Indoor Games and the 25th SEA Games.

Some local significant taekwondo events will be held this year, namely the National Taekwondo Championship 2009 in April in Hanoi, the Taekwondo Cup for French Speaking Countries in May and the HCM City International Taekwondo Tournament in July.

VietNamNet/TP

Journey toward Laotian capital Vientiane

2009-03-03T22:44:00.001+09:00

Nick Claxton has never ventured outside of Europe before but a combination of too many years in London, a lack of proper responsibilities and an unhealthy admiration for Michael Palin now means he is spending a year travelling the globe. A terminally-disorganised 24-year-old taking on the world - solo. Here is his 29th blog entry:

Sunrise in Vang Vieng is supposed to be a bit special. Apparently, misty clouds still hover over the craggy mountains and turn bright reds and pinks as the early morning light catches it.

I never saw it, however. This backpacker haven's assorted bars and their late-night whisky bucket deals wrote off any meaningful activity before 11:00 at least.

Ignoring the tiresome possibility of alcoholism for a moment - should I be worried that most of my updates end with me sitting in a bar and having a beer?! - it must be said that I was hardly the exception in Vang Vieng.

Even though it wasn't high season, there were still enough backpackers following the 'banana pancake trail' through Laos to fill out at least one of the riverside bars at night. And then everyone's days are either spent in recovery or given over to more self-abuse by going tubing again.

But there's more to Vang Vieng than just alcohol, rubber rings, Friends bars and magic mushroom milkshakes, right?

Determined to find out, Naomi, Nik, Briony and I picked up a local map and decided to head out towards the promisingly-named Blue Lagoon.

Renting motorbikes for the day was a cinch (40,000 kip [£3]) and after filling up, we crossed the disused airfield (used by the CIA´s covert airline Air America during the Vietnam War) and headed out of town.

Having only learnt to drive a bike back in India, the 'challenging' quality of the roads and rickety bridges agitated me slightly - though I'm sure Briony clinging on behind me was more worried! But we all arrived in one piece at the base of the cliffs where in the shade lay a spring-fed lagoon. Even quieter than Vang Vieng, it was perfect for relaxing, swimming in the lagoon among the carp and playing on the rope swing.

Plus above us was the Golden Cave, which after a short while I clambered up to explore (10,000 kip (£1) entry fee). The makeshift bamboo ladder leads you straight up the mountainside for about ten or fifteen minutes before a plateau with the cave entrance. A short but slippery walk inside brought me to the Sleeping Golden Buddha statue, perched perilously close to a steep drop into blackness.

Gifts of incense left by earlier visitors still smouldered, though it was eerily cool and peaceful inside the cave. Before heading back down to the lagoon, I spent almost twenty minutes marvelling at the near-silence - broken only by quiet drips water or the leathery swoosh of bats.

We spent another night in Vang Vieng's backpacker-friendly bliss before continuing south to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Unsurprisingly, a capital city of just 200,000 people bears no comparison to some of south-east Asia's other bustling hubs and, like everywhere else in Laos, life in Vientiane runs at a seductive, slow pace that is just so easy to fall into.

Nothing seems urgent - and to be honest, we found there's not actually a lot to do in any case. Strolling around town and nosing around Vientiane's temples takes an afternoon or so, while also worth your time are a few monuments like the Pha That Luang, the national symbol of Laos.

But with the Lao National Museum closed for renovation, Vientiane's colonial charm was all that was left to enjoy.

Truly caught up in the lackadaisical Laotian lifestyle, we ventured gingerly from our quiet hostel whenever we gathered enough energy - either to or take dips in the pool of one of the larger hotels or just people-watch in cafes along the Mekong. Each evening, we'd find a place on the banks of the river and just enjoy the soft breeze, the good company and a beer as we watched the deep red sun setting dramatically over Thailand just across the water.

Maybe it was because I knew my time in south-east Asia was coming to an end, but I savoured this inactivity in Vientiane. For the previous few months, part of my brain had always been looking forward to where I was heading next. Each stop offered something slightly new and different to explore - which always made it easier to move on even if I loved where I was.

I could have stayed on Tioman Island forever, but the promise of discovering Kuala Lumpur dragged me away. Siem Reap and the Angkor temples possessed a magical charm, but my dark fascination with Cambodia's recent past pulled me to Phnom Penh. But now all that was left was returning to Bangkok - a vibrant, enthralling place for sure, but no longer a complete mystery to me.

In fact, the only new things Bangkok promised were goodbyes as our little group that had somehow been thrown together over the past few months was splitting up. Some were going home, others were carrying on their travels around Thailand and me… well, I was going to take a slight detour…

But that was all still to come. For now, we had another perfect south-east Asian sunset to enjoy - sitting in a bar, drinking a beer. Again.

Nicolas Claxton

Vietnamese marksmen target seven SEA Games gold medals

2009-02-17T22:54:00.000+09:00

Vietnamese marksmen target seven SEA Games gold medals
The national shooting team has set an ambitious goal to bag seven golds at the 25th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos later this year.

Shooters in the key rifle event will be trained by the outstanding coach from the Republic of Korea, Kim Kyung-Jae. Previously, they had been under coaches from Russia, Germany and China.

Commentators predict that the 28-year-old Korean coach will raise the bar of competitive shooting in Vietnam as he has been working in Seoul for three years on a US$4,000/month contract. As head of the Vietnamese national team, he will now earn US$1,700 per month.

There will be no change to the team’s budget from the State this year, but because of a great deal of investment in the teams’ diet, trainers will have to be strict about the number of shooters included in the pool.

This year’s team will include 37 shooters and seven coaches. They will meet in the National Sports and Physical Training Centre No. 1 on Feb. 15 to prepare for the year ahead and are divided into two groups, rifle and pistol.

According to General Secretary of the Vietnam Shooting Federation, Nguyen Duc Uynh, the Vietnamese crackshots will take part in the 33rd SEA Shooting Association Championship in Thailand where they will need 12 gold medals to defend their title.

Taekwondo: making breakthrough to top SEA

2009-02-17T22:51:00.000+09:00

VietNamNet Bridge – The national taekwondo team has invited the former world champion Kim Jae Sik (Korean), 28, to train its artists, wishing to surpass Thailand to take the lead in Southeast Aisa.

The Korean coach will start working in Vietnam as of February 15, with monthly pay of $2,700. He was the world champion in the men’s 62kg category in 2005. He has been away from this career for two years.

Previously the Vietnam Taekwondo Federation hired another Korean expert, Kim Seon Kyoo, former chief of the referee division of the Asia Taekwondo Federation, as its adviser at some tournaments.

In recent years, Vietnamese taekwondo always ranked behind Thailand at the SEA Games and the Olympics. This year, Vietnam aims to take three to four gold medals at the 25th SEA Games. At the 24th SEA Games, Vietnam had three gold, four silvers and six bronze medals.

After female artist Vo Hieu Ngan won a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics, Vietnam failed to repeat the record at 2004 Olympics and 2008 Olympics.

This year, the national taekwondo team will participate in three key international tournaments: the ASIAD Young Taekwondo, the Asia Indoor Games and the 25th SEA Games.

Some local significant taekwondo events will be held this year, namely the National Taekwondo Championship 2009 in April in Hanoi, the Taekwondo Cup for French Speaking Countries in May and the HCM City International Taekwondo Tournament in July.

VietNamNet/TP

VN shooters target 7 SEA Games golds

2009-02-17T22:50:00.000+09:00

VN shooters target 7 SEA Games golds

(13-02-2009)

HA NOI — The national shooting team has set their sights on snatching seven golds at the 25th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos later this year.

Shooters in key rifle event will be trained by renowned South Korea coach, Kim Kyung-jae.

Viet Nam shooters have been trained by foreign experts from Russia, Germany and China in the past. But this is their first ever South Korean coach.

Experts predict that Kim will raise the bar of competitive shooting in Viet Nam.

Twenty eight-year-old Kim has been coaching in Seoul for three years on a US$4,000 per month salary. Kim will now earn $1,700 per month as head of the national team, but is expected to gain invaluable experience.

Nguyen Manh Tuong, who won gold medals in the men’s free pistol and air pistol events at the Thailand SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, is also a star member of the pistol team.

Budgeting

There will be no change to the national team’s budget from the State this year. But because the athletes’ diet regime has been greatly invested in, trainers have to be strict about the number of shooters on the team.

This year’s team will include 37 shooters and seven coaches. They will meet in the Ha Noi-based National Sports Training Centre No 1 on Sunday to prepare for the year ahead.

Shooters are divided into two teams, rifle and pistol.

The national team will shrink from 37 to 25 athletes throughout training and competitions.

Nguyen Duc Uynh, general secretary of Viet Nam Shooting Federation said the federation will create the best conditions to help the national shooting complete their task at the SEA Games, as well as build a line-up of young talented marksmen.

National shooters will also take part in the 33rd Southeast Asian Shooting Association Championship in Thailand where they will need 12 gold medals to defend their title. — VNS
from: http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=01SPO130209

Candidates for SEA Games known in 90 days

2009-02-17T22:47:00.000+09:00

Candidates for SEA Games known in 90 days

By Emil C. Noguera, Correspondent

The composition of the Philippine delegation to the 2009 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos will be known in the next three months as the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) formally ratified the guidelines in selecting athletes for the biennial event.

PSC chairman Harry Angping said athletes will be selected based on the criteria set by the agency he heads and POC officials during the joint meeting Monday at the agency’s boardroom.

“We are sending the best among the best. We will be going there [in Laos] for the gold medal,” said Angping.

Candidate athletes are those who won gold and silver medal in the 2007 Thailand Games; athletes who finished in the Top 8 in the 2006 Doha Asian Games provided he or she is the highest or the second highest Southeast Asian athlete; the 15 athletes who competed in the 2008 Bejing Olympics; and athletes who landed first or second in the continental tournaments participated in by China, Japan and South Korea.

“They are just candidates. They will go into try outs in the next three months. After that, we will have a performance grading to choose athletes that will undergo rigid training for [the] SEA Games,” stressed Angping.

Submission of the list of candidates by the various national sports associations has been set on February 28.

“By June, we will know how many athletes we will be sending to Laos and we should be stringent in the selection process,” Angping said in Filipino.

Final lineup will be determined a month before the biennial meet.

Angping also named PSC commissioner Joey Mundo and POC secretary general Steve Hontiveros to lead the monitoring committee, which will oversee the training of athletes and coaches while PSC commissioner Akiko Thomson will handle the women and youth teams
from:http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/feb/17/yehey/sports/20090217spo1.html

POC, PSC set tough criteria for Laos SEAG

2009-02-17T22:46:00.000+09:00

POC, PSC set tough criteria for Laos SEAG

MANILA, Philippines - There’s no free ride to Laos.

The country’s top sports leaders met for two hours yesterday and agreed that even gold and silver medalists in the 2007 Thailand SEA Games will not be seeded to this year’s staging of the biennial event.

“They are only candidates -- not sure that they’re in,” said Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping after sitting down with his four commissioners and their counterparts from the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Angping said even those who landed in the top eight of their respective events in the Asian Games, and those who made it to the 2008 Beijing Olympics won’t get automatic slots.

“They are merely included in the national pool which will hold tryouts for the next three months. And by June, we will know who will undergo intensive training (here and abroad) heading to Laos,” he said.

Officials believe that winning the silver and the gold in Thailand or finishing in the top eight in the 2006 Doha Asian Games is no assurance that the very same athletes remain in peak form years after.

The strict criteria should significantly bring down the number of Filipino athletes going to the Laos SEAG in December as sports officials put premium on quality of performance leading to the gold.

“If we send only 10 athletes so be it. Remember we’re going there for the gold -- nothing less than the gold,” said Angping, adding that as of now they have no idea how many will make it.

“We were one in saying that this time we’re looking at performance. We are sending only the best,” said PSC commissioner Jose Mundo.

In 2007, the Philippines sent close to 600 athletes to Thailand, and won only 41 gold medals for sixth place (RP’s worst finish in the SEA Games) or a ratio of one gold for every 14 athletes in the lowest of regional meets.

But Steve Hontiveros of bowling, who represented the POC along with Col. Buddy Andrada of tennis and chef-de-mission Mario Tanchangco of sepak-takraw, said of the 91 silvers the Philippines won, 42 of them came in subjective sports.

The budget for the Laos SEAG was not tackled during the meeting where a monitoring committee to be led by Hontiveros and Mundo was also formed.

“We will monitor not only the athletes but the coaches and the trainers as well,” said Mundo. – Abac Cordero

RP boxing officials begin plans for London Olympic gold bid

2009-02-17T22:44:00.000+09:00

RP boxing officials begin plans for London Olympic gold bid

MANILA, Philippines – The new leadership in the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) is asking the entire nation to be patient as they chart the course for a possible first Olympic gold medal the in 2012 London Games.

“Our quest for the first Olympic gold will be a long journey that will have its ups and downs, heartaches and we’ll be at our lowest point. But we can reach our vision if we all unite," said ABAP president Ricky Vargas, who replaced Manny Lopez.

Vargas said he would like to see Filipino boxing supporters and sports leaders to veer away from the usual ‘gold or nothing’ approach and instead join ABAP in trekking a long and hard journey that may lead to Olympic success in London.

“We have put too much emphasis on the ‘gold or nothing’ approach but we failed to realize that to achieve the gold, we have to create a road which is a good program," said Vargas.

Boxing was once the country’s source of gold medals in international tournaments but the sport suffered heartaches one after the other during the 2007 Thailand Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Only one gold medal was won in the 2007 SEA Games after the old ABAP leadership ordered six of the seven male boxers who reached the gold-medal round to concede their matches to Thai rivals in protest of what they deemed as biased officiating.

The Philippines had a disastrous campaign in the Beijing Olympics as only Harry Tañamor survived the qualifying events but absorbed a first round defeat against unknown Manyo Planque of Ghana.

Vargas also made known that ABAP will continue its grassroots development hoping to find new talents from the provinces.

He said that ABAP is ready to give potential young boxers, age 15 to 18, the right training and support needed since they will be tasked to carry the drive for the gold in the London Olympics. “Boxing, just like basketball, has many talents and I want to see new faces competing in the Olympic qualifying tournaments for the London Games."

The Laos SEA Games is the country’s stepping stone to realize that Olympic gold dream and ABAP plans to send the best new and veteran boxers to compete in the December Games.

Vargas added that he would fight for the inclusion of the young boxers to the Philippine team in the Laos SEA Games, which is not possible based on the Philippine Olympic Committee’s approved criteria that members assured of a spot are those who have won either a gold or silver medal in the 2007 Thailand edition.

“The POC should give NSAs some leeway in the selection for us to give our up-and-coming athletes the chance to compete. Otherwise we will find ourselves sending rehashed boxers to the London Olympics," said Vargas. – GMANews.TV

Vietnamese kick-boxers look to 3rd Asian Indoor Games

2009-02-17T22:11:00.000+09:00

ietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam aims to win several medals in Muay Thai at the upcoming Asian Indoor Games 2009.

Nobody knows when Muay Thai came to Vietnam but some senior martial art masters say it appeared in South Vietnam in the early 1950s.

In 1994-1995, HCM City sent kickboxers to some international Muay Thai tournaments, the SEA Games and ASIAD. At that time, Muay Thai was a performance sport.

In October 2004, the Southeast Asian Sports Federation agreed to add Muay Thai to the list of official sports for the 23^rd SEA Games in Philippines in late 2005. Vietnam considered the establishment of a national kick-boxing team by taking some members from the national Pencak Silat, boxing, and traditional martial arts teams. However, such a team was not set up.

Muay Thai has become an official sport at the 24^th SEA Games. It will be also an official sport at this year’s 3^rd Asian Indoor Games and 25^th SEA Games.

The HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has decided to have a special training period for its Muay Thai team as of July 2008. The team’s members were previously members of boxing and traditional martial arts teams.

The HCM City Muay Thai team is practicing at the Phu Tho Sports House, under the guidance of coach Giap Trung Thang and Cao Van Tai. Coach Thang won a bronze medal in Muay Thai at the World King Cup 1996 and a silver medal at ASIAD 1998. He is also an international referee of the Southeast Asian Muay Thai Federation.

The team will represent Vietnam at the World Muay Thai Championship 2009 in Pataya, Thailand this March.

The HCM City Muay Thai team was established three years ago and has participated in many international events. Currently eight kick-boxers are participating in a two-month training course in Bangkok (Thailand).

HCM City plans to send some Muay Thai referees to international referee training courses.

In Southeast Asia, Thailand is number one in Muay Thai. This sport has also developed in Singapore, the Philippines, Laos and Cambodia. However, Vietnam still has a chance to take medals at Asian Indoor Games and SEA Games.

At the 3^rd Asian Indoor Games, Muay Thai competition will be organised at the Rach Mieu Sports House, Phu Nhuan district, HCM City from October 26 to November 3, 2009 with 11 weight categories (8 male, 3 female artists). Each match will include four 2-minute rounds, 1-minute break between rounds.

VietNamNet/TP

from:http://english.vietnamnet.vn/sports/2009/02/829220/

Asean U-16 womens soccer tournament to be held in Myanmar

2009-02-17T22:06:00.000+09:00

Asean U-16 womens soccer tournament to be held in Myanmar

YANGON (Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) U-16 women's soccer tournament will be held in Yangon, Myanmar in October, local media reported on Tuesday.

The ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) held a meeting, attended by Myanmar Football Federation (MFF) chairman U Zaw Zaw, in Indonesia on Monday and decided the ASEAN U-16 women's soccer tournament to be hosted by Myanmar, the Forever sports journal said.

The AFF meeting made confirmation to hold the tournaments and trainings in 2009 and chose the host countries to feature them, it said, adding that the meeting also decided to hold the ASEAN U-19 men's soccer tournament from Aug. 5 to 15 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Myanmar national women's soccer team, which ranked 3rd in ASEAN, 9th in Asia and 43rd in the world in December 2008, grabbed bronze medal in the 24th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand in December 2007. Myanmar was defeated by Vietnam women's soccer team 2-1 in the semifinals and beat Laos 5-0 in the third-place play off.

Myanmar hosted for the first time the 2007 ASEAN Championship women's soccer tournament, participated by eight national women's soccer teams from Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, at the Thuwunna Youth Training Center here in September 2007 and Myanmar were crowned in the tournament after beating Thailand 5-2 in the penalty shootouts in the final.

Myanmar also triumphed in the first ASEAN Championship tournament in Vietnam in October 2004 by defeating hosts in the final with penalty shootouts.

However, Myanmar lost to Vietnam in the final of the 23rd SEA Games in Manila, the Philippines, in 2005. Enditem

Asean U-16 womens soccer tournament to be held in Myanmar

2009-02-17T22:04:00.001+09:00

Asean U-16 womens soccer tournament to be held in Myanmar

By Thet Khaing

MYANMAR plays a key role in plans by New Delhi and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to strengthen economic ties because it is the only ASEAN member to share a border with India, a conference in the Indian capital was told last month.

Myanmar also has the potential to benefit from a forthcoming free trade agreement between ASEAN and India, which will create a market of more than 1.5 billion people, the “Delhi Dialogue I” conference was told on January 21.

The ASEAN secretary general, Mr Surin Pitsuwan, told the conference that the free trade agreement would be ready for signing by the two sides at a summit due to be held in Thailand in April.

He said every ASEAN member would benefit from the agreement, which has been under negotiation since 2004.

This was because ASEAN exported “more to India than India to us,” Mr Surin said, adding that trade volume between India and ASEAN last fiscal year was US$37 billion, of which ASEAN exports accounted for more than $24 billion.

ASEAN hoped that trade volume would reach $50 billion by 2010, Mr Surin said, adding that he believed the figure was “not too ambitious, taking into consideration the positive impact of the FTA and the economic downturn everywhere else except us; we are better prepared.”

Another factor was the size of the market, he said, noting that India and ASEAN had a total population of 1.7 billion and a combined GDP of $2.4 trillion.

India has been placing emphasis on increasing economic ties with ASEAN for developing infrastructure and to meet its energy needs.

India and Myanmar are working to establish a new trading route across the Kaladan River, under the terms of an agreement reached last April.

The $132 million deal provides for upgrading port facilities at the Rakhine State capital, Sittwe, where the Kaladan River enters the Bay of Bengal, as well as building a 117-kilometre highway from Kalewa in Sagaing Division to the Indian border.

The Indian government is funding the project, which is expected to take five years to complete.

“The Kaladan project, the trilateral India-Myanmar-Thailand transport link and the Delhi-Hanoi rail link are three very important projects which will facilitate inter-connectivity between Southeast Asia and onward to West Asia and beyond,” India’s External Affairs Minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee told the conference.

Mr Mukherjee said India’s energy needs and ASEAN’s energy reserves were factors that could help to promote closer ties.

“Simultaneous attainment of energy security, market rationalisation and environmental preservation in Asia requires the best ‘energy mix’ for each country,” Mr Mukherjee said

“India’s own energy linkages with the ASEAN member states have enormous potential for our relationship to get even deeper,” he said.

However, business experts say more time and interaction between the two sides are needed to reap the full potential of the economic and political ties between India and ASEAN.

The chairman of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar, welcomed the FTA, saying it was a good arrangement by the two sides in light of the global economic slowdown.

“The agreement will strengthen the market, exports and investment flows, in a sense you create an island which has lesser dependence on the volatility in the West,” Mr Chandrasekhar said.

However, Mr Krishan Kumar Modi, the chairman of Modi Enterprises, a big Indian conglomerate, said the FTA might not meet expectations for an increase in trade between India and ASEAN because New Delhi had little influence over where exporters should be doing business.

The conference was jointly organised by the FICCI and the Singapore-based Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
from:http://www.mmtimes.com/no458/n007.htm

Ironman Edge Treadmill

2009-02-16T00:29:00.000+09:00

Ironman Edge Treadmill
Ironman Edge TreadmillProduct Description
Boasting the perfect combination of innovation, performance, and design, the Ironman Edge treadmill offers an ideal way to stay in shape without leaving the home. The Edge is equipped with a quiet 2.5-horsepower continuous-duty motor and a large 20-by-56-inch running surface. As a result, you have plenty of room to run regardless of your height. The built-in console, meanwhile, features four independent readouts to track your incline, pulse, time, distance, calories, speed, pace, and body fat, with several intuitive, easily identifiable buttons along the sides. And it's a breeze to design an effective workout routine thanks to the 15 built-in programs, which include 13 preset programs and two heart rate programs. The treadmill even offers remote speed and incline controls in the handlebars, so you can set your own pace while jogging. The speed range varies from 0.6 to 10 miles per hour, while the incline range is 0 to 12 percent.

Users on a strict training regimen can turn to the built-in workout software, which monitors your body fat percentage to help you stay on track with your fitness goals. In addition, the Edge is built for safety, with EKG pulse grips for monitoring your heart rate and a tethered safety magnet clip that stops the unit in case of a fall. Other features include a two-speed cooling fan to keep you cool and motivated, a two-ply heavy-duty treadmill belt, designated foot platforms for added safety while getting on and off the treadmill, performance-designed rollers and machined pulleys, and a fold-up frame with a two-stage shock system for easy raising and lowering.

The Edge's built-in console includes 4 independent readouts.

The oversized 18.5-inch cushioned footpads keep you comfortable and secure.

The Edge measures 34.8 by 71.7 by 63.8 inches (W x H x D), offers a 300-pound capacity, and carries the following warranties: lifetime on the frame, 10 years on the motor, two years on parts, and one year on labor.

Specifications:

Quiet and powerful 2.5 horsepower continuous duty commercial grade motor
15 programs include 13 preset and 2 heart rate programs
Four independent readouts showing incline, pulse, time, distance, calories, speed, pace, and body fat
Integrated body fat monitoring system monitors your progress
Remote handlebar mounted speed and incline controls
EKG pulse grips
Large 20- by 56-inch running surface gives you maximum running room even for taller users
Two-ply heavy-duty treadmill belt
Two-speed console mounted fan keeps you cool and motivated
Designated foot platforms for additional safety while getting on and off the treadmill
Performance designed rollers and machined pulleys
Tethered safety magnet clip stops the unit in case of fall and provides a safeguard against unsupervised child use
Fold-up design with a 2-stage shock easily lowers the deck slowly from the fold-up position for added safety
Speed range: 0.6 to 10 miles per hour
Incline range: 0 to 12%
110v plug-in required
Weight limit: 300 pounds
Assembled dimensions: 71.7 inches long by 34.8 inches wide by 63.8 inches tall
Folded dimensions: 46.1 inches long by 34.8 inches wide 63.8 inches tall

Manufacturer's Warranty
Frame - lifetime, motor - 10 years, parts - 2 years, labor - 1 year

About Ironman Fitness
Engineered for endurance, strength, speed, stamina, and performance, Ironman Fitness is continually striving to define the fitness industry. Their collection features top-of-the-line treadmills, stationary cycles, elliptical trainers, weight benches, and single- and multi-station exercise machines. The features on Ironman's fitness equipment introduced over the years have become the standards of today. With superior components, multiple patents, and award-winning products, Ironman's fitness products have consistently exceeded the expectation of customers and are the heart of a true champion.

About Treadmills
Walking is still considered one of the most beneficial cardiovascular exercises for people of all ages, body types, and fitness levels. As a fundamental form of aerobic training, walking has numerous physical benefits for the heart, lungs, and circulatory system, while also increasing muscle tone and burning fat calories. Treadmills provide a convenient way to regularly exercise in all weather conditions in the comfort and safety of your own home.

From beginners just starting an exercise regimen to advanced athletes looking to maintain their fitness level, anyone interested in getting and staying in shape can benefit greatly from regular use of a treadmill. Treadmills allow you to determine the pace, distance, and complexity of the workout based on your needs, all while watching television, talking on the telephone, or reading a magazine. Much easier on sensitive joints like the knees and hips, treadmill walking and running surfaces are typically long, padded platforms that allow ample room for a long stride and comfortable, low-impact walk or jog without the harsh contact of a concrete surface.

While many different types, styles, and price ranges of treadmills exist, many of them offer unique features like a fold-up design for easy storage, an electronic display monitor showing speed, distance, workout time, incline level, and burned calories, and EKG grip pulses to monitor the heart rate while exercising. Regardless of the simple to complex features you may choose, treadmills offer an array of aerobic exercise opportunities that will provide long-lasting beneficial cardiovascular results without a commute to the gym or a jog in the rain.

Product Description
The IRONMAN Edge treadmill offers the perfect combination of innovation, performance and design. The console features an intuitive layout with large, easily identifiable buttons, 2-speed cooling fan, and an integrated body fat monitoring system to keep you updated on your progress. The quiet 2.5 HP motor powers the large 20 x 56 running surface that folds-up for easy storage. EKG pulse grips and remote handlebar mounted speed and incline controls are right where you need them to provide a comfortable, safe and effective workout. Sleek, contemporary styling completes this value packed treadmill. Exceed your expectations with the IRONMAN Edge.

Laos reveals the official mascot for the 25th Sea Games 2009

2009-02-13T07:56:00.000+09:00

These are the official mascots to be used for the the 25th SEA Games in Laos or " Vientiane Games 2009 ". Two white elephants which symbolized Laos once "the kingdom of million elephants" were chosen as it is believed they bring good fortune and prosperity. The names of the elephants Mr. Champee and Ms. Champa represent the national flower of Laos.

ภาษาลาวขำ ๆ

2009-02-13T07:51:00.000+09:00

ภาษาลาวขำ ๆ

ท = ไทย ล = ลาว

สถานที่
ท : ห้อง คลอด ล : ห้องประสูติ
ท : ห้องผ่าตัด ล. ห้องปาด
ท : ห้องไอซียู ล : ห้องมรสุม (เพราะว่าถ้าเจอมรสุมแล้วอาจไม่รอด)
ท : นางผดุง ครรภ์ ล : นางประสูติ
ท : ปั๊มป์เชล ล : ปั๊มป์หอย
ท : ตึกกองบัญชาการทหารสูงสุด ล : ตึกกองบัญชาการทหารสูงลิ่ว
ท : ห้ามยื่นแขนออกนอกรถ ล : ห้ามเด่แขนออกนอกรถ
ท : แอร์โฮสเตส ล : นางบำเรอกำปันเหาะ
ท : ร้านถ่ายรูป ล : ร้านแหกตา (- -''
ท : เวลาเค้าจะถ่ายรูปหมู่กัน ล : มาแหกตาสามัคคีกันเถอะ
ท : ไฟ แดง ล : ไฟอำนาจ
ท : ไฟเขียว ล : ไฟอิสระ
ท : บริษัท PEPSI ล : บริสัด น้ำหวานลาว จำกัด (ที่นี่ไม่มีโค้ก)
ท : รถไฟ ล : ห้องแถว ไหล

หรือจะ เป็นภาพยนตร์ก็มีนะคะ
ท : Superman ล : บักอึดถลาลม
ท : Face Off ล : หน้าข้อยอยู่ปู๊น หน้าเปิ้นอยู่นี่
ท : Speed ล : เบรกบ่อยู่
ท : สองสิงห์ชิงบัลลังก์ ล : สองสิงห์ชิงตั่งนั่ง
ท : รักจริงๆ ให้ดิ้นตาย ล : ฮักคักคัก ชักแงกแงก
ท : โลกทั้งใบให้นายคนเดียว ล : โลกโม้ดม้วยให้โต๋ผู้ เดียว
ท : หนูน้อย พเนจร ล :บักหำน่อย ตุรัดตุเหร่
ท : ไททานิค ล : ชู้รักเรือ ล่ม
ท : ศรราม ออกอัลบั้ม อย่างนี้ต้องตีก้น ล : ศ่อนฮาม ออกแผงอย่างนี่ต้องตีดากกกกก
ท : จู ราสสิคปาร์ค ล : กะปอมพยล
ท : เชือด เชือด นิ่ม นิ่ม ล : ปาด ปาด เนิบ เนิบ

มาดูนักกีฬากันบ้าง ปล่อย ตัวนักวิ่ง100 เมตร
ท : เข้า ที่ ล : เข้า ซ่อง
ท : ระวัง ล :โก่งดาก
ท : ไป ล : แล่น
ท : โค้งอันตราย ล :โค่งเป็นตาย่าน
ท : กลับหลังหัน ล : ปลิ้นปึ๊บ

ท : หลอด ฟลูออเรสเซนต์ ล : ข้าวหลามแจ้ง
ท : ถุงยางอนามัย ล : ถุงก๊อบแก๊บ
ท : ซื้อตั๋ว ล : ซื้อปี้
ท : ช้อน ล : บ่วง
ท : พูดคุย ล : โอ้โลม
ท : ติดต่อ ล : พัวพัน
ท : กระดาษ ล : เจี้ย
ท : ผู้สนับสนุน ล : ซุกยู้
ท : น้ำ 1 แก้ว ล : เรียกว่า 1 จอก
ท : ก๋วยเตี๋ยว 1 ชาม ล : เรียกว่า 1 ถ้วย (ไม่งั้นเค้าจะเอาใส่กาละมังมาให้ ชาม = กาละมัง)
ท : ปตท. ล : เรียกว่า ชฟร. หรือ เชื้อไฟลาว
ท : ถ่ายเอกสาร / ถ่ายสำเนา ล : อัดเอกสาร
ท : ผ้าเย็น ล : ผ้า อนามัย * เหอๆๆ
ท : Johny Walker ล : บักจอนย่าง * เฮ้ย (วันนี้ไปดื่มบัก จอนย่างกัน เฮ้ย....)

Vientiane 2009 ภาพสวยๆจากเมืองเวียงจันทร์ ประเทศลาว

2009-01-31T10:02:00.000+09:00

SEA Games in Laos on the verge of cancellation

2009-01-31T09:58:00.000+09:00

This is another reason why I did not jump to the conclusion when I first heard the news of their generosity. I did not believe their offer is impeccable without any expectation for profit sharing. Thailand needs stability in Laos for their own gain, so they would do what they can to maintain friendly relation not that they care crap about us.

Sadly, Laos is not capable of hosting all the games due to its financial hardship so almost half of the sports events are to be eliminated; as a result, some other bidding countries are quite unhappy about it especially their athletes who without a doubt expect to perform their best, must now have to wait for another Asian Games. We Laotians should be grateful for all the considerate supports from those countries because without their compromises, there would only be a dream for Laos. As I had said in my other posts, if this event would generate revenues for locals and state then I am all for it as long as is not in the expense of our people. Nonetheless, I personally don’t think that Laos is ready for this showcase given the fact that we are still deprived so much. But if the Laotian governments believe the benefits would outweigh the defects, then I wish them luck. It is the most crucial event in our history and the majority of Laotians probably second this milestone consensus.

Other potential benefits are the opportunity to show the world our geographical location, our unique culture, the beauty of our tradition and the experience in hosting the game itself is equally important. The building of infrastructures would be another incentive, so Laos can learn from it and in the foreseeable future, we can reduce heavy dependency on foreigners. When we are poor, we negotiate from a weak position and the government would not tell us any forced concessions behind the scene

National stadium and sport facilities for SEA GAMES 2009

2009-01-31T09:49:00.000+09:00

Laos, for the first time in the history, will host the biggest event for the Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane 2009. Check out some of the photos below for the main stadium and other sport facilities to be used for SEA GAMES 2009. All of these photos are taken in October 2008.

25th SEA Games sports complex almost 100% finished !

2009-01-31T09:47:00.000+09:00

First check of SEA Games complex set for April

Photo: The SEA Games main stadium as it looked last month, with construction now about 80 percent complete.

All facilities at the 25th SEA Games sports complex are now more than 80 percent complete, site manager Kiengkham Phoutchanhthavongsa said yesterday.

“We are confident that construction of all venues at the site will be finished by the end of March. We are now putting the finishing touches to the facilities at each venue, installing furniture and building roads around the complex,” he said.

“When construction is finished, there will be three months of checks of the facilities at all venues in the complex to make sure everything is functioning properly. The schedule of tests runs from April to June, after which we will hand over the complex to the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee.”

The 125-hectare sports complex is located in Dongsanghine village, Xaythany district, Vientiane , and houses the main stadium with a seating capacity of 20,000, which will be used for the football and track and field events and for the opening and closing ceremonies.

Other venues at the site comprise two indoor stadiums, each with a seating capacity of 3,000, an indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, and a shooting range.

Construction began on October 28, 2007, under a contract with the China Yunnan Construction Engineering Group Corporation. The cost of construction is more than US$80 million and has been arranged through a joint cooperation project between the Lao government and the China Development Bank.

The upgrading of other facilities, including indoor and football stadiums to be used for competition and training, is also in progress.

Meanwhile, work has finished on a new sports training centre on an 11-hectare site in Sikeud village, Naxaithong district.

The centre cost more than 35 billion kip (US$4 million) to build, financed by grant aid from the government of Vietnam . An opening ceremony will be held on January 18.

The centre comprises an office, sleeping quarters for athletes, a running track and playing field, a football pitch, a gymnasium and other facilities for sporting events. Up to 200 athletes will be able to train there every day.

Construction is also in progress on the athletes' village, which is located on a 42,000sqm site at the Dongdok campus, National University of Laos. It is scheduled for completion in August.

ไทยทุ่มช่วย เวียงจันทน์เกมส์

2009-01-31T09:40:00.000+09:00

นายวรวุฒิ โรจนพานิช กรรมการผู้จัดการบริษัทอาร์เอสบีเอส จำกัด เปิดเผยว่า หลังจากบริษัทอาร์เอสบีเอส จำกัด ได้ลงนามบันทึกช่วยจำในความร่วมมือและให้การสนับสนุนการแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 ที่จะมีขึ้นในระหว่างวันที่ 3-12 ธ.ค. ปี 2009 ที่สาธารณรัฐประชาธิปไตยประชาชนลาว กับบริษัท เพชรจำปา จำกัด ที่ได้รับมอบหมายจากรัฐบาลให้มาดำเนินการไปแล้วใน 3 ด้านหลัก ได้แก่ เรื่องการถ่ายทอดสดการแข่งขัน พิธีเปิดปิดการแข่งขัน และระบบสิทธิประโยชน์เต็มรูปแบบ จากนี้ไปบริษัทอาร์เอสบีเอส ก็จะได้รับไปดำเนินการให้ ทุกอย่างออกมาสมบูรณ์แบบที่สุด โดยในส่วนของพิธีเปิดปิดก็จะได้ดึงทีมงานของ “ศุภักษร” นายศุภวัฒน์ จงศิริ ที่เคยจัดพิธีเปิดปิดกีฬาซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 18 ที่ จ.เชียงใหม่ และมีประสบการณ์ในการแข่งขันกีฬามากมายเข้ามาช่วยงาน

กรรมการผู้จัดการบริษัทอาร์เอสบีเอส จำกัด กล่าวต่อว่า ในส่วนของทีมฟุตบอลลาว ในฐานะที่จะต้องเล่นในบ้าน ได้รับทราบจากนายวรวีร์ มะกูดี เลขาธิการสมาคมฟุตบอลแห่งประเทศไทยฯ และบอร์ดบริหารสหพันธ์ฟุตบอลนานาชาติ หรือฟีฟ่าว่า ได้มีการพูดคุยกับท้าวคำมุ่ย แก้วมณี ที่เป็นทั้งอุปนายกสมาคมฟุตบอลของลาว ประธานบริษัท เพชรจำปา จำกัด และกรรมการบริหารคณะกรรมการโอลิมปิกของลาว ว่าทางลาวจะได้ร่วมมือกับสมาคมฟุตบอลแห่งประเทศไทยฯ ในการเก็บตัวฝึกซ้อมของทีมลูกหนังลาว ซึ่งในเบื้องต้นทีมลาวมีเป้าหมายที่จะผ่านเข้าไปสู่รอบรองชนะเลิศ หรือ 4 ทีมสุดท้ายในการเล่นในบ้านตัวเองให้ได้ หรือถ้าไปถึงรอบชิงชนะเลิศได้ก็จะเป็นการดี

ขณะที่ ท้าวคำมุ่ยเปิดเผยว่า สำหรับการแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 ในปี 2009 ของลาวนั้น ในเบื้องต้นชื่อของการแข่งขันจะใช้ว่า “เวียงจันทน์เกมส์” ส่วนในเรื่องของการถ่ายทอดสดการชิงชัย เท่าที่ได้พูดคุยกับทางบริษัทอาร์เอสบีเอส จำกัด ก็จะใช้งบประมาณราว 5 ล้านเหรียญสหรัฐฯ โดยจะเน้นถ่ายทอด 12 กีฬาหลักๆ ไม่ว่าจะเป็น กรีฑา ว่ายน้ำ แบดมินตัน บิลเลียด-สนุ้กเกอร์ มวยสากลสมัครเล่น ฟุตบอล มวยไทย ตะกร้อ เทเบิลเทนนิส เทควันโด เปตอง และวูซู แต่อาจจะเพิ่มเติม เป็น 18 ชนิดกีฬาได้ ขึ้นอยู่กับสถานการณ์ต่างๆ ขึ้นอยู่กับการพิจารณาอีกครั้ง

ท้าวคำมุ่ยกล่าวต่อว่า สำหรับในเรื่องการเตรียมนักกีฬาของลาว ทางรัฐบาลลาวเน้นที่จะส่งนักกีฬาไปเก็บตัวฝึกซ้อมที่จีน ซึ่งขณะนี้มีส่งไปแล้ว โดยเน้นที่กีฬาต่อสู้ อย่างวูซู คาราเต้โด และเทควันโด และบางกีฬาก็จะมีการนำโค้ชต่างชาติมาฝึกซ้อมที่ลาวด้วย รวมไปถึงเปตอง ก็เป็นความหวังเนื่องจากเรามีนักกีฬาเด่นๆ หลายคน ในฐานะที่เป็นเจ้าภาพ ทางภาครัฐอยากที่จะได้ 25 เหรียญทองตามจำนวนครั้งของกีฬาซีเกมส์ แต่ตนเห็นว่าถ้ามีติดมืออย่างน้อย 15 เหรียญทองก็น่าจะพอใจได้ เพราะคู่แข่งชาติต่างๆมีความแข็งแกร่ง โดยในซีเกมส์แต่ละครั้ง นักกีฬาที่ได้เหรียญทอง จะได้รับเงินรางวัลตอบแทน 2 แสนบาท แต่ในซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 เชื่อว่าจะได้รางวัลตอบแทนมากกว่าเดิมแน่นอน

“ยอมรับว่ากดดันเหมือนกันกับการเป็นเจ้าภาพกีฬาซีเกมส์ครั้งแรก แต่ก็จะพยายามทำอย่างเต็มที่ โดยในช่วงเดือน เม.ย. ปี 2008 เราจะมีการจัดกีฬาแห่งชาติ ถึงเวลานั้นคงจะได้ทดสอบระบบต่างๆที่เกี่ยวข้องกับกีฬาซีเกมส์” ท้าวคำมุ่ยกล่าวในตอนท้าย

ที่มา ไทรัฐ

ช้างคู่"จำปี-จำปา"นำโชคซีเกมส์ลาว

2009-01-31T09:39:00.000+09:00

กีฬาซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 เปิดประวัติศาสตร์หน้าใหม่ ใช้มาสคอตพร้อมกัน 2 ตัว “จำปี-จำปา” ช้างเผือกงานิล อาร์เอสบีเอส รับหน้าเสื่อช่วยเหลือด้านสิทธิประโยชน์ การถ่ายทอดสด และแสงสีเสียงในพิธีปิด-เปิด

ท้าวคำมุ่ย แก้วมะนี กรรมการบริหารคณะกรรมการโอลิมปิกลาว เผยเตรียมบรรจุ 23-25 ชนิดกีฬา กระจายแข่ง 3 เมืองหลัก เวียงจันทน์, สะหวันนะเขต และหลวงพระบาง หวังรายได้เข้าประเทศไม่น้อยกว่า 700 ล้านบาท ได้จีน และญี่ปุ่น ช่วยงบสร้าง และปรับปรุงสนามแข่งขัน

คมกฤช นภาลัย ผู้สื่อข่าว "คม ชัด ลึก" รายงานจากโรงแรมดอน จัน พาเลซ นครเวียงจันทน์ ประเทศลาว เมื่อวันที่ 9 กุมภาพันธ์ ที่ผ่านมา ดร.พูทอง แสงอาคม รัฐมนตรีประธานคณะกรรมการกีฬาแห่งชาติ และประธานคณะกรรมการโอลิมปิกลาว ร่วมลงนามในสัญญาความช่วยเหลือในการจัดการแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 ที่ลาว จะเป็นเจ้าภาพ ในปี 2552 กับบริษัท อาร์เอสบีเอส จำกัด มี “บิ๊กวอ” วรวุฒิ โรจนพานิช กรรมการผู้จัดการใหญ่ โดยมี ท้าวคำมุ่ย แก้วมะนี กรรมการบริหารคณะกรรมการโอลิมปิกลาว พร้อมด้วย “บิ๊กสัน” สันติภาพ เตชะวณิช และ “บังยี” วรวีร์ มะกูดี ที่ปรึกษาบริษัท ร่วมเป็นสักขีพยาน

ท้าวคำมุ่ย เปิดเผยว่า การเป็นเจ้าภาพกีฬาซีเกมส์ครั้งนี้ของลาว เตรียมเรื่องสถานที่แข่งขันเอาไว้ทั้งที่ก่อสร้างสนามใหม่ คือ สนามกีฬาซีเกมส์ 2009 โดยรัฐบาลจีนให้ความช่วยเหลืองบประมาณราว 100 ล้านดอลลาร์สหรัฐ (ประมาณ 3,500 ล้านบาท) บนเนื้อที่ประมาณ 460 เอเคอร์ (11,500 ไร่) ขณะเดียวกันในส่วนของสนามกีฬาแห่งชาติเดิม ทางรัฐบาลญี่ปุ่นให้ความช่วยเหลือในการปรับปรุง ซึ่งรวมไปถึงอาคารสนามกีฬาของเดิมทั้งหมดด้วย

ท้าวคำมุ่ย กล่าวต่อไปว่า ซีเกมส์หนนี้ ถือเป็นหนแรกที่รัฐบาลลาวจะใช้การตลาดมานำ ในการหาเงินมาสนับสนุนจัดการแข่งขัน โดยมอบหมายให้บริษัท เพ็ดจำปา จำกัด ดำเนินการ ซึ่งตนในฐานะประธานบริษัท ได้เลือก บริษัท อาร์เอสบีเอส จำกัด ที่ถือว่ามีประสบการณ์ในด้านการตลาด สิทธิประโยชน์ การถ่ายทอดสด และแสงสีเสียงที่จะใช้ในพิธีเปิด-ปิด เข้ามาช่วยเหลือในครั้งนี้ ซึ่งคาดว่าในช่วงการแข่งขันวันที่ 3-12 ธันวาคม 2552 น่าจะมีนักท่องเที่ยวราว 60,000 คน และรายได้เข้าประมาณไม่น้อยกว่า 20 ล้านดอลลาร์สหรัฐ (ประมาณ 700 ล้านบาท)

ทั้งนี้ ในส่วนของชนิดกีฬาที่จะบรรจุในการแข่งขันซีเกมส์หนนี้ ท้าวคำมุ่ย กล่าวว่า จากประมาณการน่าจะอยู่ที่ 22-25 ชนิดกีฬา ได้แก่ กรีฑา, ฟุตบอล, วอลเลย์บอล, ตะกร้อ, แบดมินตัน, บิลเลียด-สนุกเกอร์, มวยสากลสมัครเล่น, มวยเตะ (มวยไทย), เทเบิลเทนนิส, เทควันโด, เทนนิส, ยิงธนู, โบว์ลิ่ง, แคนู-คยัค, กอล์ฟ, ยูโด, คาราเต้-โด, เปตอง, ยิงปืน, มวยปล้ำ, วูซู และกระโดดน้ำ-ว่ายน้ำ ทั้งนี้อาจต้องเพิ่ม ปันจักสีลัต ให้ชาติมุสลิม ส่วนกีฬาที่ไม่น่าจะมีโอกาสบรรจุคงเป็น บาสเกตบอล, จักรยาน และยกน้ำหนัก นอกจากนี้ยังมีกีฬาสาธิตคือ หมากข่าง (ลูกข่าง) ซึ่งครั้งหนึ่งเคยเป็นกีฬาสาธิตในซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 17 ที่ประเทศสิงคโปร์ โดยจะกระจายแข่งขันในเวียงจันทน์เป็นส่วนใหญ่ ขณะที่ฟุตบอลรอบแรก อาจมีแข่งขันที่สะหวันนะเขต รวมไปถึงกรีฑา อาจไปแข่งขันที่หลวงพระบาง

“สำหรับสัตว์นำโชค หรือมาสคอต รัฐบาลลาวตกลงใจที่จะเลือกใช้ช้างเผือกงานิล ทั้งช้างพัง และช้างพลาย ใช้ชื่อว่า “จำปี-จำปา” ซึ่งจะเป็นหนแรกของกีฬาซีเกมส์ที่มีมาสคอตพร้อมกัน 2 ตัว ส่วนเอมเบลม ใช้เลข 25 ซึ่งเขียนออกมาให้เหมือนตัวแอล อันหมายถึงประเทศลาวได้ด้วย สำหรับพริตโตแกรม (สัญลักษณ์กีฬา) จะใช้อักษรลาวโบราณ” ท้าวคำมุ่ย กล่าวในตอนท้าย

ที่มา คมชัดลึก

เอฟบีทีทุ่มกว่า 30ล. หนุนซีเกมส์ที่ลาว

2009-01-31T09:38:00.000+09:00

เอฟบีที เซ็นสัญญาสนับสนุน ซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 ที่ลาว โดย มอบชุดแข่ง ชุดฝึกซ้อม ของนักกีฬาทีมชาติลาว อุปกรณ์กีฬามาตรฐานสากล พร้อมเสื้อผ้า สำหรับคณะกรรมการจัดการแข่งขัน อาสาสมัคร และเจ้าหน้าที่ รวมมูลค่ากว่า 30 ล้านบาท ขณะที่ คณะกรรมการจัดการแข่งขันเตรียมพนักงานต้อนรับและเจ้าหน้าที่กว่า 25,000 ชีวิต เพื่อให้ ซีเกมส์ครั้งแรกที่ลาวเป็นเจ้าภาพ ประสบความสำเร็จด้วยดี

นาย สมพู พงษ์สา รองประธานกรรมการกีฬา สปป. ลาว และรองประธานคณะกรรมการ จัดการแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 เป็นประธานพิธี ลงนามสัญญาสนับสนุนกีฬาซีเกมส์ ที่โรงแรมโนโวเทล เวียงจันทร์ ประเทศลาว เมื่อวันที่ 25 ธ.ค. ที่ผ่านมา

การเซ็นสัญญาครั้งนี้มี นายกมล โชคไพบูลย์กิจ ประธานบริษัท เอฟบีที และ นายมนต์ชัย โชคไพบูลย์กิจ กรรมการผู้จัดการบริษัท เอฟบีที ร่วมเซ็นสัญญากับ นายคำมุ่ย แก้วมณี ประธานบริษัท เพชรจำปา แอ๊ดเวอร์ไทซิ่ง จำกัด ผู้แทนจัดสรรการตลาดกีฬาซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 และ กันยา แก้วมณี กรรมการบริษัท เพชรจำปา แอ๊ดเวอร์ไทซิ่ง จำกัด

นายกมล เปิดเผยว่า "การสนับสนุนของเอฟบีที นั้น ประกอบด้วย ชุดแข่งขันและฝึกซ้อมของนักกีฬาทีมชาติลาว อุปกรณ์กีฬามาตรฐานสากล เพื่อใช้แข่งขัน และเสื้อผ้าสำหรับคณะกรรมการจัดการแข่งขันฯ อาสาสมัคร เจ้าหน้าที่จัดการแข่งขันทั้งหมด รวมเป็นเงินมูลค่ากว่า 30 ล้านบาท ซึ่งทางคณะกรรมการจัดการแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 ได้จัดเตรียมพนักงานต้อนรับและเจ้าหน้าที่กว่า 25,000 ชีวิต

"เพื่อที่จะทำให้ซีเกมส์ครั้งแรกที่ลาวเป็นเจ้าภาพ ซึ่งจะจัดขึ้นในเดือนธันวาคม ปี 2552 ประสบความสำเร็จ เอฟบีที ในฐานะบริษัทฯ คนไทย เมืองพี่เมืองน้องของลาวจะสนับสนุน และใช้ประสบการณ์ จัดการแข่งขัน เพื่อช่วยให้การกีฬาของภูมิภาคมีการพัฒนาไปอย่างต่อเนื่อง และจะสร้างสรรค์สิ่งดีให้วงการกีฬาต่อๆ ไป" นายกมล กล่าว

ที่มา http://www.siamsport.co.th/Sport_Other/081226_079.html

จังหวัดมุกดาหาร เตรียมปรับปรุงสนามกีฬาจังหวัดรองรับการแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ ปี 2009

2009-01-31T09:37:00.000+09:00

ในโอกาสที่สาธารณรัฐประชาธิปไตยประชาชนลาว จะได้เป็นเจ้าภาพจัดการแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ ปี 2009 ในฐานะประเทศเพื่อนบ้าน จังหวัดมุกดาหาร ได้เตรียมพัฒนาและปรับปรุงสนามกีฬาประเภทต่าง ๆ เพื่อรองรับการเป็นสนามซ้อมให้กับนักกีฬาทั้งจากประเทศไทยและประเทศเพื่อน บ้าน

นายประจักษ์จิตต์ อภิวาท รองผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัดมุกดาหาร กล่าวว่า ในปี ค.ศ.2009 หรือปี พ.ศ. 2552 สาธารณรัฐประชาธิปไตยประชาชนลาว จะได้เป็นเจ้าภาพจัดการแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ ปี 2009 โดยมีสนามแข่งกีฬาบางประเภทอยู่ที่แขวงสะหวันนะเขต สาธารณรัฐประชาธิปไตยประชาชนลาว ซึ่งเป็นประเทศเพื่อนบ้านที่ติดกับจังหวัดมุกดาหาร ดังนั้น เพื่อเป็นการเตรียมความพร้อมในด้านการอำนวยความสะดวกให้กับนักกีฬาที่จะเดิน ทางร่วมซ้อมและแข่งขัน จังหวัดมุกดาหาร จึงได้วางแนวทางในการพัฒนาด้านการกีฬา ด้วยการปรับปรุงสนามกีฬาประเภทต่าง ๆ ไว้ให้พร้อม เพื่อรองรับการเป็นสนามซ้อมให้กับนักกีฬาทั้งจากประเทศไทยและประเทศเพื่อน บ้าน ในการแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ ปี 2009 ที่กำลังจะมาถึง

รอง ผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัดมุกดาหาร กล่าวเพิ่มเติมอีกว่า ไม่เพียงแต่จะพัฒนาและปรับปรุงสนามกีฬาเท่านั้น ใน ด้านแหล่งท่องเที่ยวและสภาพตัวเมืองมุกดาหารโดยรอบ ก็จะมีการพัฒนาด้วยเช่นกัน เพื่อรองรับทั้งนักกีฬาที่จะเดินทางมาแข่งขัน รวมไปถึงรองรับคณะผู้ติดตามและนักท่องเที่ยวที่จะมาชมการแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ ด้วยเช่นกัน.

ลาวเห็นชอบแบบร่างเบื้องต้น ปรับปรุงโรงยิมฯ"บึงขยอง"

2009-01-31T09:35:00.000+09:00

นายเฉลิมชัย บุญรักษ์ รองผู้ว่าการ กกท.ฝ่ายกีฬาเป็นเลิศและวิทยาศาสตร์การกีฬา เปิดเผยถึงการเดินทางไปประสานงานการให้ความช่วยเหลือสาธารณรัฐประชาธิปไตย ประชาชนลาวในการเป็นเจ้าภาพจัดการแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 เกี่ยวกับการซ่อมแซมปรับปรุงสนามแข่งขันและสนามฝึกซ้อม เมื่อวันที่ 7-10 พฤศจิกายน 2551 ที่ผ่านมาว่า

โดยทางการกีฬาแห่งประเทศไทยได้นำแบบร่างเบื้องต้นในการปรับปรุงอาคารและก่อ สร้าง โรงยิมอเนกประสงค์ ณ บริเวณบึงขยอง สาธารณรัฐประชาธิปไตยประชาชนลาว เข้าร่วมประชุมกับ รัฐมนตรีประจำสำนักงานนายกรัฐมนตรีสาธารณรัฐประชาธิปไตยประชาชนลาวและประธาน คณะกรรมการโอลิมปิคแห่งชาติลาว โดยที่ประชุมมีมติเห็นชอบตามแบบร่างและให้ปรับผังบริเวณ Master Plan เพื่อไม่ให้มีผลกระทบต่อการถมดินลงไปในบึงขยองมากเกินไป ส่วนขนาดและพื้นที่ใช้สอยยังคงเดิม

ทั้งนี้ สาธารณรัฐประชาธิปไตยประชาชนลาว จะเป็นผู้อำนวยความสะดวกและยกเว้นภาษีอากรของวัสดุที่ใช้ในการก่อสร้าง และขอให้ประเทศไทยแจ้งรายการต่างๆล่วงหน้า เพื่อจะได้อำนวยความสะดวกให้อย่างรวดเร็ว ซึ่งเรื่องดังกล่าว ตนได้ทำเรื่องเสนอรัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงการท่องเที่ยวและกีฬา เพื่อรับทราบเรียบร้อยแล้ว.
ที่มา : หนังสือพิมพ์แนวหน้า

ลาวจัด25ชนิดกีฬา "เวียงจันทน์เกมส์"ชิง390เหรียญทอง

2009-01-31T09:34:00.000+09:00

ดร.พูทอง แสงอาคม รัฐมนตรีประจำสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรีของลาว ในฐานะประธานคณะกรรมการโอลิมปิกแห่งชาติลาว เป็นประธานการประชุมใหญ่สหพันธ์กีฬาซีเกมส์ ที่โรงแรมดอนจันทน์ นครหลวงเวียงจันทน์ สาธารณรัฐประชาธิปไตยประชาชนลาว เมื่อวันที่ 13 พฤศจิกายนที่ผ่านมา

ภายหลังการประชุม ศ.เจริญ วรรธนะสิน ในฐานะมนตรีซีเกมส์ เปิดเผยว่า ที่ประชุมได้ให้การรับรองชนิดกีฬาและจำนวนอีเว้นท์ ที่จะมีการชิงชัยในกีฬาซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 ในเดือน ธ.ค.ปีหน้า ทั้งหมด 25 ชนิดกีฬา ชิงชัยรวม 390 เหรียญทอง ประกอบด้วย กรีฑา, ว่ายน้ำ, แบดมินตัน, บิลเลียด/สนุกเอร์, มวยสากลสมัครเล่น, ฟุตบอล, กอล์ฟ, ยูโด, คาราเต้, เซปักตะกร้อ, ยิงปืน, เทเบิลเทนนิส, เทนนิส, วอลเลย์บอล, มวยปล้ำ, วูซู, เทควันโด, มวยไทย, เปตอง, ปันจักสีลัต, ฟินสวิมมิ่ง, ชัตเติ้ลค็อก, จักรยาน, ยกน้ำหนัก และ ยิงธนู

ศ.เจริญ กล่าวต่อว่า ในส่วนของการขายลิขสิทธิ์ถ่ายทอดสดทางโทรทัศน์นั้น ที่ประชุมเห็นชอบในหลักการและอนุญาตให้ลาวดำเนินการได้ แต่เจ้าภาพจะต้องให้ บริษัท เพชรจำปา แอดเวอไทซิ่ง จำกัด ในฐานะผู้แทนที่จะมาเซ็นต์สัญญากับสหพันธ์กีฬาซีเกมส์ มาตกลงในรายละเอียดกับคณะทำงานของสหพันธ์ฯ ก่อน ซึ่งทางสหพันธ์ฯ ได้แต่งตั้งให้ ดร.ชินภัทร ภูมิรัตน เป็นประธานคณะทำงานในชุดนี้
ที่มา : หนังสือพิมพ์แนวหน้า

ลาวพร้อมเป็นเจ้าภาพซีเกมส์ ใช้2เมืองใหญ่เป็นสนามแข่งขัน

2009-01-31T09:32:00.000+09:00

ความเคลื่อนไหวในการจัดการแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ครั้งที่ 25 ที่สาธารณรัฐประชาธิปไตยประชาชนลาวในระหว่างวันที่ 3 - 12 ธันวาคมปี 2552 ล่าสุดนั้น นายคำมุ่ย แก้วมะนี ประธานบริหารบริษัทเพชรจำปาแอดเวอร์ไทซึ่งจำกัดซึ่งเป็นบริษัทด้านการสื่อ สารและประชาสัมพันธ์ที่ได้รับลิขสิทธิในด้านการตลาดจากคณะกรรมการโอลิมปิก ของลาวให้ดำเนินการในเรื่องการตลาดและการถ่ายทอดสดการแข่งขันทางโทรทัศน์ใน ประเทศและประเทศเพื่อนบ้านโดยเฉพาะประเทศไทยได้เผยถึงความคืบหน้าในการ เตรียมการจัดการแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ครั้งที่ 25 ว่า

รัฐบาลลาวได้ใช้สนามแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ครั้งที่ 25 รวม 2 เมืองคือนครเวียงจันทร์ทางด้านเหนือและนครสุวรรณเขตทางตอนใต้ของประเทศโดย ลาวจะจัดการแข่งขันกีฬาในขั้นต้น22 ชนิดกีฬาซึ่งประกอบด้วยกรีฑา,ว่ายน้ำ,ยิงปืน,ยิงธนู,วอลเลย์บอลซี่งจะรวมวอ ลเล่ย์บอลชายหาดด้วย,เทนนิส,เทเบิ้ลเทนนิส,คาราเต้โด,เทควันโด,วูซู,มวยปล้ำ ,เปตอง,ฟุตบอล,มวยสากลสมัครเล่น,มวยไทย,เรือพาย,ตะกร้อ,บิลเลียดกับ สนุกเกอร์,แบดมินตัน,โบว์ลิ่ง,กอล์ฟและยูโด ส่วนการเพิ่มชนิดกีฬาให้มากกว่านี้อาจจะเพิ่มได้ 3 ชนิดกีฬาซึ่งต้องแล้วแต่มติที่ประชุมของมนตรีสหพันธ์กีฬาซีเกมส์ นอกจากนี้อาจจะมีกีฬาสาธิต 1 ชนิดได้แก่กีฬาลูกข่าง

รัฐบาลลาวได้ลงมือก่อสร้างสนามกีฬาแห่งชาติแห่งใหม่ในชื่อว่าสนามกีฬา ซีเกมส์ 2009 ในกรุงเวียงจันทร์ ตั้งแต่ต้นปี 2550 นี้และมีกำหนดแล้วเสร็จในเดือนมิถุนายนปี2552 โดยได้รับการสนับสนุนจากรัฐบาลจีนเป็นเงิน 100 ล้านดอลล่าร์หรือ 3,400 ล้านบาทในบริเวณชานกรุงเวียงจันทร์เป็นเนื้อที่เขตป่าเสื่อมโทรมซึ่งจะใช้ เนื้อที่กว่า 300 ไร่สร้างเป็นสนามกีฬาหลัก และหลังจากนั้นรัฐบาลจีนจะให้การสนับสนุนงบประมาณในการพัฒนาที่ดินอีกกว่า 20,000 ไร่เป็นเขตเศรษฐกิจแห่งใหม่ด้วย ทั้งนี้สนามกีฬาแห่งชาติของลาวจะประกอบด้วยสนามกีฬากลางที่ใช้ในพิธีเปิดและ ปิดจุคนดูได้ 20,000 ที่นั่ง,สนามวอร์ม,อินดอร์สเตเดียม 2 หลัง,สระว่ายน้ำ,สนามเทนนิส,สนามยิงปืน ส่วนสนามกีฬาแห่งชาติเดิมนั้นทางรัฐบาลญี่ปุ่นจะให้การสนับสนุนการปรับปรุง สนามกีฬาที่อยู่ในสภาพทรุดโทรมโดยให้เป็นสนามแข่งขันฟุตบอลอีกสนามหนึ่ง สำหรับหมู่บ้านนักกีฬานั้นลาวไม่ได้จัดสร้างแต่จะให้นักกีฬาต่างชาติพักใน โรงแรมระดับ 4 ดาวที่มีอยู่ในกรุงเวียงจันทร์และเมืองสุวรรณเขตเป็นจำนวนมากพอสมควร รัฐบาลลาวคาดว่าจะมีนักท่องเที่ยวจากประเทศไทยและเวียดนามเดินทางไปชมการ แข่งขันไม่น้อยกว่า 50,000 คนซึ่งจะทำให้ประเทศลาวมีเงินตราต่างประเทศสะพัดในช่วงที่มีการจัดการแข่ง ขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ครั้งที่ 25 ไม่น้อยกว่า1,000 ล้านบาท
ที่มา หนังสือพิมพ์ แนวหน้า

การจัดการแข่งขัน SEA Games

2009-01-31T09:29:00.000+09:00

1 กีฬาแหลมทอง 1959 (พ.ศ. 2502), กรุงเทพมหานคร, ประเทศไทย

2 กีฬาแหลมทอง 1961 (พ.ศ. 2504), ร่างกุ้ง, ประเทศพม่า

- กีฬาแหลมทอง 1963 (พ.ศ. 2506), ประเทศกัมพูชา

3 กีฬาแหลมทอง 1965 (พ.ศ. 2508), กัวลาลัมเปอร์, ประเทศมาเลเซีย

4 กีฬาแหลมทอง 1967 (พ.ศ. 2510), กรุงเทพมหานคร, ประเทศไทย

5 กีฬาแหลมทอง 1969 (พ.ศ. 2512), ร่างกุ้ง, ประเทศพม่า

6 กีฬาแหลมทอง 1971 (พ.ศ. 2514), กัวลาลัมเปอร์, ประเทศมาเลเซีย

7 กีฬาแหลมทอง 1973 (พ.ศ. 2516), ประเทศสิงคโปร์

8 กีฬาแหลมทอง 1975 (พ.ศ. 2518), กรุงเทพมหานคร, ประเทศไทย

9 กีฬาซีเกมส์ 1977 (พ.ศ. 2520), กัวลาลัมเปอร์, ประเทศมาเลเซีย

10 กีฬาซีเกมส์ 1979 (พ.ศ. 2522), จาการ์ตา, ประเทศอินโดนีเซีย

11 กีฬาซีเกมส์ 1981 (พ.ศ. 2524), มะนิลา, ประเทศฟิลิปปินส์

12 กีฬาซีเกมส์ 1983 (พ.ศ. 2526), ประเทศสิงคโปร์

13 กีฬาซีเกมส์ 1985 (พ.ศ. 2528), กรุงเทพมหานคร, ประเทศไทย

14 กีฬาซีเกมส์ 1987 (พ.ศ. 2530), จาการ์ตา, ประเทศอินโดนีเซีย

15 กีฬาซีเกมส์ 1989 (พ.ศ. 2532), กัวลาลัมเปอร์, ประเทศมาเลเซีย

16 กีฬาซีเกมส์ 1991 (พ.ศ. 2534), มะนิลา, ประเทศฟิลิปปินส์

17 กีฬาซีเกมส์ 1993 (พ.ศ. 2536), ประเทศสิงคโปร์

18 กีฬาซีเกมส์ 1995 (พ.ศ. 2538), จังหวัดเชียงใหม่, ประเทศไทย

19 กีฬาซีเกมส์ 1997 (พ.ศ. 2540), จาการ์ตา, ประเทศอินโดนีเซีย

20 กีฬาซีเกมส์ 1999 (พ.ศ. 2542), บันดาร์เสรีเบกาวัน, ประเทศบรูไน

21 กีฬาซีเกมส์ 2001 (พ.ศ. 2544), กัวลาลัมเปอร์, ประเทศมาเลเซีย

22 กีฬาซีเกมส์ 2003 (พ.ศ. 2546), ฮานอย, โฮจินมินซิตี้, ประเทศเวียดนาม

23 กีฬาซีเกมส์ 2005 (พ.ศ. 2548), ประเทศฟิลิปปินส์ (หลายเมือง โดยมีมะนิลาเป็นศูนย์กลาง)

24 กีฬาซีเกมส์ 2007 (พ.ศ. 2550), จังหวัดนครราชสีมา, ประเทศไทย

25 กีฬาซีเกมส์ 2009 (พ.ศ. 2552), เวียงจันทน์, ประเทศลาว

26 กีฬาซีเกมส์ 2011 (พ.ศ. 2554), ประเทศอินโดนีเซีย

27 กีฬาซีเกมส์ 2013 (พ.ศ. 2556), ประเทศสิงคโปร์

ไทยช่วยลาวเต็มที่ จัดซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25

2009-01-31T09:25:00.000+09:00

ไทยช่วยลาวเต็มที่ จัดซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25

ลาว 29 ม.ค.-นอกจากประเทศไทยให้ความช่วยเหลือลาว ในการเป็นเจ้าภาพซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 ด้วยการก่อสร้างอาคารกีฬาให้แล้ว ยังให้ความช่วยเหลือด้านอื่นอีก

เมื่อวันที่ 23 มกราคมที่ผ่านมา นายอภิสิทธิ์ เวชชาชีวะ นายกรัฐมนตรี ร่วมกับนายบัวสอน บุบผาวัน นายกรัฐมนตรีของลาว เป็นประธานวางศิลาฤกษ์การก่อสร้างอาคารกีฬาอเนกประสงค์มิตรภาพลาว-ไทย ที่บริเวณริมบึงขยองของลาว ที่ไทยสนับสนุนลาวในการเป็นเจ้าภาพซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 โดยรัฐบาลไทยอนุมัติงบประมาณทั้งสิ้น 85 ล้านบาท เป็นการปรับปรุงอาคารกีฬาบนพื้นที่ 25 ไร่ ในวงเงิน 80 ล้านบาท และงบพัฒนาบุคลากรรวมทั้งวางระบบจัดการแข่งขันอีก 5 ล้านบาท

พล.ร.อ.สุรวุฒิ มหารมย์ ประธานคณะทำงานให้ความช่วยเหลือลาวเตรียมจัดการแข่งขัน "เวียงจันทน์เกมส์" ระหว่างวันที่ 9-18 ธ.ค.นี้ เปิดเผยว่า นอกจากสร้างอาคารกีฬาให้แล้ว ไทยยังให้การช่วยเหลือลาว ในการพัฒนาบุคลากรเพื่อรองรับการแข่งขัน โดยประสานกับสหพันธ์กีฬาของลาว ซึ่งต้องทำหน้าที่ทั้งการเตรียมนักกีฬาเข้าแข่งขัน พัฒนาผู้ฝึกสอน ผู้ตัดสิน และดำเนินการจัดการแข่งขัน

ทั้งนี้ ไทยจะให้สมาคมกีฬาของไทยทั้ง 23 สมาคม จาก 25 ชนิดกีฬาที่ลาวจัดแข่งขัน ได้ทำงานประสานกันระหว่างสมาคมต่อสมาคมของไทย-ลาว เพื่อติดตามความคืบหน้าการทำงานได้ต่อเนื่อง ยกเว้น 2 ชนิดกีฬาที่เหลือ คือ ชัตเติลค็อก และฟินสวิมมิ่ง ที่ไทยไม่มีสมาคมกีฬามารับรอง จึงเสนอให้ลาวประสานกับเวียดนาม ซึ่งเป็นผู้เชี่ยวชาญกีฬาชนิดนี้ ให้การสนับสนุนแทน จากความช่วยเหลือของไทยซึ่งมีประสบการณ์จัดการแข่งขันกีฬาในระดับนานาชาติ มากมาย เชื่อว่า ซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 "เวียงจันทน์เกมส์" จะสร้างความประทับใจ และเป็นไปตามมาตรฐานสากล.-สำนักข่าวไทยอัพเดตเมื่อ 2009-01-29 13:50:19

ที่มา : สำนักข่าวไทย

ลาวเปิดตัวแล้ว จัดซีเกมส์ 2009

2009-01-31T09:24:00.000+09:00

ลาวและไทยเพิ่มความสัมพันธ์ที่แน่นแฟ้นไปอีกขั้น เมื่อประสานมือช่วยกันจัดการแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 ที่จะมีขึ้นในปี 2009 ที่สาธารณรัฐประชาธิปไตยประชาชนลาว โดยผู้สื่อข่าวรายงานว่า บริษัท เพชรจำปา แอดเวอร์ไทซิ่ง จำกัด ของลาว ได้เปิดแถลงข่าวและลงนามในบันทึกช่วยจำความร่วมมือและให้การสนับสนุนในการ จัดการแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 แก่บริษัท อาร์เอสบีเอส จำกัด ของไทย ที่โรงแรมดอนจันพาเลซ นครเวียงจันทน์ ของลาว ไปเมื่อวันที่ 9 ก.พ.ที่ผ่านมา โดยมี ดร.พูทอง แสงอาคม รัฐมนตรีประธานคณะกรรมการกีฬาแห่งชาติ และประธานโอลิมปิกแห่งชาติลาว เป็นประธานในงาน พร้อมด้วยท้าวคำมุ้ย แก้วมณี ประธานกรรมการบริษัท เพชรจำปา แอดเวอร์ไทซิ่ง จำกัด และอุปนายกสมาคมฟุตบอลของลาว และนายวรวุฒิ โรจนพานิช กรรมการผู้จัดการบริษัทอาร์เอสบีเอส จำกัด ร่วมในงานครั้งนี้

ท้าวคำมุ้ยเปิดเผยถึงความร่วมมือกันในครั้งนี้ว่า เป็นมติของรัฐบาลลาว ที่ได้มอบหมายให้บริษัทเพชรจำปาฯ ได้เข้ามาสรรหาทุนในการจัดการแข่งขันครั้งนี้ เพื่อเป็นการลดค่าใช้จ่ายของทางภาครัฐ โดยก่อนหน้านี้เรื่องการตลาดไม่เคยที่จะนำมาใช้ในการจัดงานใดๆของลาวมาก่อน แต่ครั้งนี้ถือเป็นครั้งแรกที่เราจะนำหลักการตลาดเข้ามาลองใช้ดูบ้าง และเห็นว่าบริษัทอาร์เอสบีเอส จำกัด มีประสบการณ์ในการที่จะเข้ามาช่วยในการจัดการแข่งขันได้เข้ามาดูเรื่องการ ตลาดได้ รวมไปถึงก่อนหน้านี้ทางผู้บริหารของบริษัทอาร์เอสบีเอส จำกัด ได้ให้ความช่วยเหลือในเรื่องของลิขสิทธิ์การถ่ายทอดสดฟุตบอลโลก เมื่อปี 2006 ให้แฟนกีฬาของลาวได้รับชม เราจึงได้เลือกบริษัทนี้เข้ามาช่วยงาน โดยได้มอบหมายให้ดูในเรื่องของการถ่ายทอดสด พิธีเปิดปิด แสงสีเสียงให้สมจริง และเรื่องของสิทธิประโยชน์ทั้งระบบ

นอกจากนี้ท้าวคำมุ้ยยังกล่าวอีกว่า สำหรับการแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 ของลาวนั้น ในเบื้องต้นจะมีการแข่งขันกันในระหว่างวันที่ 3-12 ธ.ค.2009 หลังวันชาติลาว คือวันที่ 2 ธ.ค. 1 วัน และชนิดกีฬาที่วางไว้จะมีการชิงชัย 22 ชนิดกีฬา ได้แก่ กรีฑา, กีฬาทางน้ำ (ว่ายน้ำ, กระโดดน้ำ), แบดมินตัน, บิลเลียด, มวยสากลสมัครเล่น, ฟุตบอล, มวยไทย, ตะกร้อ, เทเบิลเทนนิส, เทควันโด, เทนนิส, วอลเลย์บอล, ยิงธนู, โบว์ลิ่ง, แคนู-คยัค, กอล์ฟ, ยูโด, คาราเต้โด, เปตอง, ยิงปืน, มวยปล้ำ และวูซู โดยอาจจะมีกีฬาลูกข่าง กีฬาพื้นบ้านของลาว เป็นกีฬาสาธิต โดยใช้ 2 เมืองหลัก เวียงจันทน์ และสะหวันนะเขต เป็นสนามชิงชัย โดยชนิดกีฬาที่ไม่ได้กำหนดในเบื้องต้นที่สำคัญๆ ก็มีบาสเกตบอล, จักรยาน, ยกน้ำหนัก และปันจักสีลัต ซึ่งคาดว่าน่าจะมีการร้องขอจากชาติสมาชิกเพิ่มเติม แต่อย่างไรก็ตาม ก็ไม่น่าจะเกินอีก 3 ชนิดแน่นอน ซึ่งในส่วนของจักรยาน ถ้ามีการจัดก็อาจนำไปจัดที่หลวงพระบางก็เป็นได้

ทั้งนี้ ในส่วนของมาสคอตสัตว์นำโชคเราก็ได้มีการเตรียมไว้เรียบร้อยแล้ว โดยจะเป็นช้างเผือกงานิล 2 เชือกมีทั้งตัวผู้และตัวเมีย ชื่อจำปากับจำปี ซึ่งถือเป็นครั้งแรกของกีฬาซีเกมส์ก็ว่าได้ที่มีสัตว์นำโชคเป็นคู่ ในขณะที่เรื่องของความคาดหวังในเรื่องรายได้ เชื่อว่าน่าจะมีเงินสะพัดในช่วงการแข่งขันไม่น้อยกว่า 20 ล้านเหรียญสหรัฐฯ สำหรับหมู่บ้านนักกีฬาในซีเกมส์ที่ลาวคงไม่มี แต่น่าจะให้นักกีฬาพักในโรงแรม 1 ประเทศจะให้พักโรงแรมเดียวไปเลย

ผู้สื่อข่าวรายงานอีกว่า สำหรับการก่อสร้างสนามกีฬาหลักเมนสเตเดียมแห่งใหม่ ซึ่งทางเจ้าภาพลาวได้กำหนดก่อสร้างที่กิโลเมตรที่ 16 นอกนครเวียงจันทน์ ขณะนี้ได้มีการปรับพื้นที่มาตั้งแต่เดือน ม.ค.ที่ผ่านมา จากป่าเสื่อมโทรม ให้พร้อมที่จะทำการก่อสร้างได้ บนเนื้อที่ 460 เอเคอร์ โดยจะมีการก่อสร้างเป็นสปอร์ตคอมเพล็กซ์ลึกจากถนนเข้าไป 1 กิโลเมตร เพื่อทำเมนสเตเดียมจุผู้ชม 20,000 คน, โรงยิมเนเซียมอินดอร์ 2 หลัง จุผู้ชมหลังละ 3,000 คน, สนามเทนนิสเซ็นเตอร์คอร์ท 1 คอร์ท และสนามเทนนิส 6 คอร์ท, สระว่ายน้ำจุผู้ชม 2,000 คน, สนามยิงปืน โดยมีรัฐบาลจีนให้ความช่วยเหลืองบประมาณในการก่อสร้างทั้งหมด 100 ล้านเหรียญสหรัฐฯ โดยในวันที่ 13 ก.พ.นี้ จะเริ่มการก่อสร้าง ใช้เวลาประมาณ 2 ปีครึ่ง และจะแล้วเสร็จช่วงกลางปี 2009 ทันแข่งขันในช่วงปลายปี

ที่มา ไทรัฐ

ลาวพาสื่อไทยดูความพร้อม จับมืออาร์เอสบีเอสลุยซีเกมส์2009

2009-01-31T09:22:00.000+09:00

มหกรรมกีฬาของชนชาวเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ (อาเซียน) หรือที่เรียกกันติดหู ซีเกมส์ ซึ่งมีชาติสมาชิกทั้งหมด 11 ประเทศล่าสุด ประกอบไปด้วย ไทย อินโดนีเซีย มาเลเซีย สิงคโปร์ เวียดนาม ฟิลิปปินส์ พม่า บรูไน กัมพูชา ลาว และติมอร์ตะวันออก (น้องใหม่ล่าสุด) ผ่านการจัดมาแล้วทั้งหมดถึง 23 ครั้ง และในอีกไม่กี่เดือนข้างหน้า ซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 24 ไทยจะเป็นเจ้าภาพอีกครั้ง ระหว่างวันที่ 6-15 ธ.ค.นี้ ที่จังหวัดนครราชสีมา ส่วนในครั้งที่ 25 ปีค.ศ.2009 ลาวประเทศบ้านพี่เมืองน้องกับไทยจะรับช่วงต่อ ซึ่งถือเป็นครั้งแรกในประวัติศาสตร์ของ กีฬาซีเกมส์ ที่ ลาว จะจัดการแข่งขัน ในระหว่าง 3-12 ธ.ค. 2009 หลังวันที่ 2 ธ.ค. วันชาติลาวแค่ 1 วัน ชาติสมาชิกในอาเซียนแทบไม่เชื่อว่าวันนี้ของ ลาว จะกล้ารับเป็นเจ้าภาพ ทั้งๆ ที่ประเทศสภาพเศรษฐกิจและการเงินค่อนข้างลำบาก แต่ ลาว ก็แสดงศักยภาพให้เพื่อนบ้านในภูมิภาคได้เห็นว่า นี่ไม่ใช่ราคาคุย!!! ที่สำคัญ รัฐบาลลาว ได้กระโดดเข้ามาอุ้มอย่างเต็มตัว แถมได้ประเทศยักษ์ใหญ่ในเอเชีย จีน เข้ามาช่วยเหลืองบฯในการก่อสร้าง เมนสเตเดี้ยม และศูนย์กีฬาด้วยงบประมาณสูงถึง 100 ล้านเหรียญสหรัฐ ซึ่งนั่นน่าจะเป็นเครื่องการันตีให้กับ ลาว ได้เป็นอย่างดี!!! ล่าสุดคณะกรรมการโอลิมปิกลาว ที่ได้มอบสิทธิในการดำเนินการจัดให้กับบริษัท เพชรจำปา ที่มี นายคำมุ้ย แก้วมณี นั่งเก่าอี้ประธานกรรมการบริหาร เชิญสื่อมวลชนไทยมาดูความคืบหน้า โดย นายคำมุ้ย ได้เล่าให้ฟังว่า ขณะนี้ในส่วนของ เมนสเตเดี้ยม ความจุกว่า 20,000 ที่นั่ง โรงยิมเนเซี่ยม อินดอร์ 2 หลัง, เทนนิสเซนเตอร์ คอร์ต 1 คอร์ต และ คอร์ตเล็กอีก 6 คอร์ต ภายในเนื้อที่ถึง 15,000 ไร่ ที่อยู่นอกเมืองเวียงจันทน์ออกไป 16 กิโลเมตร กำลังอยู่ในระหว่างการปรับพื้นที่ คาดว่าจะแล้วเสร็จก่อนการแข่งขัน 6 เดือน ในขณะที่สนามที่แข่งขันกีฬาประเภทอื่นๆ ไม่น่าจะมีปัญหาอะไร เพียงแต่ตบแต่งและปรับปรุงให้ดีขึ้นกว่าเดิมเท่านั้นเอง ส่วนเรื่องของ หมู่บ้านนักกีฬา ทางลาวไม่มีจะใช้วิธีให้นักกีฬาพักตามโรงแรมต่างๆ ซึ่งก็เหมือนกับบางประเทศที่เคยทำลักษณะนี้มาแล้ว แต่สิ่งที่ ลาว ไม่สันทัดก็คือเรื่องของ สิทธิประโยชน์ การถ่ายทอดสด รวมถึงพิธีเปิด-ปิดนั้น ทาง เพชรจำปา ผู้ได้รับลิขสิทธิ์ตรงนี้จากรัฐบาล ก็ได้จับมือกับทางบริษัทในเมืองไทยคือ บริษัท อาร์เอสบีเอส ที่มี นายวรวุฒิ โรจนพานิช เป็นกรรมการผู้จัดการเข้ามารับผิดชอบ ซึ่งคงสร้างความน่าเชื่อถือให้ลาวมากขึ้น เพราะมีประสบการณ์ด้านนี้ ส่วนการจัดการแข่งขัน ถึงแม้การเป็นเจ้าภาพครั้งนี้จะจัดเพียง 24 กีฬา ได้แก่กรีฑา, กีฬาทางน้ำ, แบดมินตั้น, บิลเลียด, มวยสากลสมัครเล่น, ฟุตบอล, มวยไทย, ตะกร้อ, เทเบิ้ลเทนนิส, เทควันโด, เทนนิส, วอลเลย์บอล, ยิงธนู, โบว์ลิ่ง, แคนู-คยัค, กอล์ฟ, ยูโด, คาราเต้โด, เปตอง, ยิงปืน, มวยปล้ำ, วูซู และกีฬาลูกข่าง รวมถึงกีฬาพื้นบ้านอีก 1 ชนิด ไม่ได้มากมายเหมือนประเทศอื่นๆ ที่เคยจัดมาก็ตาม และจะจัดแข่งขันใน 2 เมืองหลัก คือ เวียงจันทร์ และ สะหวันนะเขต พร้อมมีสัตว์นำโชค (มาสคอต) ช้างเผือกงานิล คู่ ตัวผู้ จำปา ตัวเมีย จำปี รอต้อนรับ แต่ก็เชื่อว่าคงจะเป็น เกมส์ ที่สมบูรณ์แบบ และน่าจะสร้างความประทับใจให้กับชาติสมาชิก หน้า 13

อ่านข่าวทั้งหมดของ ข่าวสด ได้ที่นี่

ซีเกมส์ 2009

2009-01-31T09:19:00.000+09:00

ซีเกมส์ 2009 เป็นการแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 ซึ่งจะจัดขึ้นที่เวียงจันทน์ ประเทศลาว ระหว่างวันที่ 3-12 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2552 ตัวนำโชคเป็นช้างเผือก งานิล 2 เชือก ตัวผู้ ชื่อ "จำปา" และ ตัวเมีย ชื่อ "จำปี" สัญลักษณ์การแข่งขันเป็นรูป พระธาตุหลวง ซึ่งเป็นสัญลักษณ์สำคัญของชาติ ส่วนสัญลักษณ์นำเอาอักษรลาวโบราณมาจัดทำ

การแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ครั้งนี้ลาวได้รับความช่วยเหลือจากประเทศเพื่อนบ้าน เช่น ประเทศจีนให้เงินสนับสนุนถึง 100 ล้านดอลลาร์สหรัฐ หรือประมาณ 3,600 ล้านบาท เพื่อก่อสร้างสนามกีฬาแห่งชาติแห่งใหม่บนเนื้อที่กว่า 300 ไร่บนป่าเสื่อมโทรมในกรุงเวียงจันทน์^[1] และประเทศลาวได้แสดงความจำนงขอความช่วยเหลือจากประเทศไทย 3 ประเด็น คือ จัดส่งผู้ฝึกสอนช่วยฝึกซ้อมนักกีฬาลาว รับการสนับสนุนอุปกรณ์กีฬาภายหลังจากที่ไทยใช้จัดการแข่งขันซีเกมส์ 2007 และต้องการให้ไทยช่วยเหลือปรับปรุงซ่อมแซมสนามแข่งขันบางสนาม ทั้งนี้เนื่องจากไทยมีประสบการณ์จัดซีเกมส์มาหลายครั้ง และต้องการสานสัมพันธ์ไทย-ลาวให้แน่นแฟ้นยิ่งขึ้น^[2]

อย่างไรก็ตาม ในกรณีที่ประเทศลาวไม่สามารถจัดการแข่งขันได้ ประเทศสิงคโปร์ จะรับหน้าที่เป็นเจ้าภาพแทน ซึ่งแต่เดิมนั้นสิงคโปร์จะต้องเป็นเจ้าภาพการแข่งขันในปี 2007 แต่จำเป็นต้องถอนตัวเนื่องจากศูนย์กีฬาที่จะใช้ทำการแข่งขันนั้นสร้างเสร็จไม่ทัน

Miss SEA Games 2009 are waiting for you in Laos !

2008-12-29T09:51:00.001+09:00

The final selection of 100 Ms SEA Games representatives will take
place on Friday at the National Culture Hall in Vientiane.

More than 200 girls have applied to the contest, but only 100 will be
chosen for the role.

Eleven country placard bearers will be selected from the 100
representatives to take part in the stadium parade that precedes the
games, which will be held next December in Vientiane.

The 100 selected participants will introduce themselves to the public
for the first time at Patuxay Monument at the start of the countdown
to the SEA Games, which will begin on New Year's Eve.

Organising sub-committee member, Mr Sopha Inthavong, said nationwide
applications opened at the end of July, and the three-part selection
process would culminate in the announcement this Friday.

Applicants were required to be Lao citizens, aged between 18 and 25,
and have a pleasant personality and good manners.

Participants also had to be single and be communicative, intelligent,
knowledgeable, talented and able to speak English.

Before the candidates were presented yesterday to the organising
committee at the National Culture Hall, they received training in
social etiquette and ceremonial presentation. Mr Sopha, who is also
one of the trainers, said training would continue after the selection
process.

“After their selection, the 100 Ms SEA Games representatives will
return to the National Culture Hall stage, where they will practise
how to nop (perform the traditional greeting), stand and act in a
socially appropriate manner,” Mr Sopha said.

He said those who were selected would also learn how to speak English
and take part in various activities, such as visiting important sites
in Vientiane like That Luang and the Hor Phra Keo museum.

They will be trained by staff who will give them suggestions on the
wearing of traditional clothes and tennis dress, before their public
presentation on December 31.

They will also learn how to dance to a selection of songs and rhythm,
and be guided in their choice of clothes.

An 18-year-old participant in the contest, Ms Soudaphone Tilakhoun,
who attends Pakpasak Technical School , said she was persuaded by her
friend to apply. She is hopeful of being selected in the group of 100
on Friday.

“ Laos will host the SEA Games for the first time, and I wanted to
play a part in serving the nation,” she said. “As a Lao girl I want to
give other people an insight into Lao culture, both in Laos and
overseas.”

Another participant, Ms Bouasavanh Phanthamit, 18, from Luang Prabang,
who studies at Rattana Business Administration College , said she too
wanted to serve her country while building her confidence.

“Actually I'm shy and never thought I could take part in the selection
process, but I've discovered I'm confident enough to go through with
it,” she said.

By Vientiane Times

Miss SEA Games 2009 are waiting for you in Laos !

2008-12-29T09:51:00.000+09:00

Japan injects 400 million yen to build martial arts center in Laos

2008-12-29T09:14:00.000+09:00

The Japanese government will provide 37 billion kip (400 million yen) to the Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC) to assist in the construction of a martial arts centre in Vientiane .

The funding agreement was signed by LNSC Vice President, Mr Somphou Phongsa, and Japanese International Affairs Department Manager, Mr Yukinobu Morikawa, in Vientiane on Tuesday.

The sports committee will use the Lao-Japan Budo Centre to hold the karatedo and judo events at the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane next year. Budo is a Japanese term describing martial arts.

The centre will provide a first-rate training facility for the martial arts of karatedo, judo and aikido. The sports committee will also use the centre to host table tennis and sepak takraw tournaments and other entertainment events.

The Japanese Kanto Construction Company and Sanpo International Corporation will begin construction of the centre at the end of this month and will complete the facility by October next year. The Azusa Sekkei Company will serve as consultants during the construction.

Mr Morikawa said the construction companies were experienced working in Laos , having built hospitals in Songkhone district of Savannakhet province, Kaenthao district in Xayaboury province, Houn district in Oudomxay and Sing district in Luang Namtha province.

He said the companies would work closely with LNSC, the Japanese Embassy to Laos , and Japan 's International Cooperation Agency to ensure construction of the centre ran smoothly and efficiently. The centre will be the first such facility in Laos and officials hope that it will enable Lao martial arts athletes to win medals at next year's SEA Games.

Lao and Thai officials discuss SEA Games 2009 preparations

2008-12-29T09:12:00.000+09:00

Officials from the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee and Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sport met on Wednesday in Vientiane to discuss preparations for the 2009 SEA Games. –Photo Sisay

The Lao SEA Games Organising Committee (LAOSOC) met with delegates from the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports in Vientiane on Wednesday to discuss progress on preparations for the 25th SEA Games.

The meeting was chaired by Lao National Sports Committee Vice President, Mr Somphou Phongsa, and the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports' Permanent Secretary Dr Sasithara Pichaichannarong.

The two sides discussed preparations for the games including the compilation of competition technical teams, construction of training and competition facilities, traffic and transport arrangements, volunteer organisers, television broadcasting and accommodation for athletes and officials.

Thai officials reported on the progress of an indoor stadium upgrade which the Thai government is providing 43 billion kip (179 million baht) funding for. The stadium in Beungkhayong village, Sisattanak district of Vientiane will host the shuttlecock and muay events during the games.

The facility is on track for completion in October next year, the meeting was told.

Mr Somphou, on behalf of LAOSOC, thanked the Thai government for its support in upgrading the Beungkhayong indoor stadium and other preparations for the event, which will be held in December 2009.

“In preparing for the games we have also received generous support from other neighbouring countries including Vietnam and China ,” he said.

Last month a meeting of the SEA Games Federation decreed the event would consist of 390 events across the 25 sports of athletics, aquatic sports (swimming, diving and water polo), archery, badminton, billiards and snooker, boxing, cycling, football, golf, judo, karatedo, sepak takraw, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and soft tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, wushu, muay, fin swimming, petanque, shuttlecock and pencak silat.

Competition venues are the national sports complex at Km 16 in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district; Don Chan Palace; Booyoung and Olympasia indoor stadiums at the National University of Laos; Lao International Trade Exhibition and Convention Centre; Chao-anouvong stadium in Anou village, Chanthabouly district; the Army stadium at Km 5 and the Vientiane Sports Department in Beungkhayong village, Sisattanak district.

Laos officially invites teams to SEA Games 2009

2008-11-18T07:16:00.000+09:00

Photo: Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad ( left ), who is also Chairman of the 2009 SEA Games Organising Committee, presents an invitation to the games to the head of the Vietnamese delegation to the SEAGF Council Meeting, Mr Nguyen Danh Thai. Mr Thai accepted the invitation on behalf of all Vietnamese competitors in the games.

Invitations to athletes and delegates to attend the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane next year have been given to all members of the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF).

The official invitations were handed over at a ceremony last week in Vientiane as Asean nations' sports heads attended the SEAGF Council Meeting from November 11 to 13

The invitations were presented by Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, who is also Chairman of the 25th SEA Games Organising Committee, and received by a representative from each country.

It is the custom for each SEA Games host nation to issue a formal invitation to inform each participating country the games will take place on the stated date.

Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad expressed his thanks to all SEAGF members for their support for Laos in hosting the 25th SEA Games and said he looked forward to seeing athletes and delegates from each country attending the games.

During the presentation of the invitations, Mr Somsavat told SEAGF sports heads that construction of facilities for the games was going well.

The complex to be used for competitions and training for several sports events and for the opening and closing ceremonies will be complete by March 2009, while other facilities will also be finished on time. The 25th SEA Games will be ready for the opening date in December 2009.

Mr Somsavat congratulated SEAGF sports heads on the successful meeting of council members in Vientiane .

The SEA Games organising committee confirmed the main stadium, located at Km 16 in Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district, is currently 70 percent complete.

Construction of other facilities is nearing completion. The athletes' village is about 15 percent complete, but is expected to be finished by next August.

Photos: The athletes' village at National University of Laos.

The athletes' village is on a 42,000sqm site at the Dongdok campus, National University of Laos. The village comprises 10 buildings and other auxiliary facilities. Eight four-storey buildings with international standard facilities will contain 1,000 rooms and accommodate 4,000 athletes. A single-storey building will house a canteen and a three-storey building will contain multi-purpose management offices.

Travellers discovered gigantic river cave in Laos !

2008-11-07T13:45:00.000+09:00

A cave explorer stands before an imposing stalagmitemade of mineral depositsnear an entrance to the Xe Bang Fai River cave in central Laos. An expedition in February 2008, co-led by veteran caver John Pollack, comprehensively mapped and photographed the 5.9-mile (9.5-kilometer) length of the little-known cavern for the first time. The spelunking team encountered some of the largest rooms and most impressive structures of any river cave on Earth, Pollack said.A river cave is any cave with an active water source flowing through it.Everything about the cave is bigfrom its towering entrances to its phobia-inducing spiders, which can be 10 inches (25 centimeters) across, Pollack added."It's also extremely well decorated with spectacular formations," Pollack said.

FIVB holds successful coaches’ course in Laos

2008-11-07T13:39:00.000+09:00

The FIVB International Coaching Course in Laos was a great success !Lausanne, October 16, 2008 – A successful FIVB International Coaching Course has recently been completed in Laos. FIVB sent two instructors, Course Director Peter Nonnenbroich of Germany and Thai Jakusuwan Tocharoen of the Thailand Development Centre, to work on the course that ran through October 1-13. The course attracted strong interest from up and coming coaches in Laos. The coaches received valuable lessons on how to instruct players and how to form a team. The Laos Volleyball Federation is working very hard to restructure its operations and the FIVB hopes the Federation will benefit from running more courses in the future.

Lao companies needed to produce SEA Games 2009 merchandise

2008-11-07T13:37:00.000+09:00

Local companies are being sought to produce merchandise for sale during the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games to be held in Laos next year. Companies wanting to produce merchandise branded with the SEA Games logos must first seek permission from Phetchampa Advertising Company, otherwise they will be in breach of copyright. Eight foreign companies have already been granted these rights, but no Lao companies have expressed an interest in using the official SEA Games' logos. Phetchampa Advertising is contracted by the government to organise sponsorship and marketing for the SEA Games and they can license companies to use the logos for a fee. Company Director, Mr Khammoui Keomany, said the company was outsourcing the production of merchandise so it did not have to be involved in manufacturing or distribution. Local companies had proposed manufacturing goods and selling them to Phetchampa Advertising for distribution, but the company is not interested in this. “Granting permission for companies to use the logos, for a small fee, allows the event to generate income without us having to become involved in the production process,” he said. “It is the responsibility of the company rather than the committee for any issues with product quality. We are not responsible for controlling the scale of production, so if the companies have surplus merchandise after the event it will not have any effect on our company.” Those who have registered have enough experience to evaluate the market and how much merchandise they can sell, he said. Mr Khammoui is also a member of the SEA Games Organising Committee. He said the fee for companies to use the logo was not too high and was not deterring local businesses. Instead, he attributed their lack of interest to insufficient marketing experience. “We are working hard to convince local and foreign businessmen and companies to be sponsors, in order to promote the SEA Games to the outside world,” he said. Mr Khammoui said there would be a large market for SEA Games merchandise because local people, tourists and athletes from the 10 participating countries would be interested in buying souvenirs at the event. Businesses which have already been granted rights to use the logos include companies from Malaysia , Singapore and Thailand. By Phonesavanh Sangsomboun Vientianetimes

Bamboo Palace by Christopher Kremmer

2008-09-14T08:59:00.000+09:00

Bamboo Palace by Christopher Kremmer

Discovering the Lost Dynasty of Laos

Bamboo Palace begins as a travelogue. turns into a mystery and ultimately redefines a nation's history, as Christopher Kremmer journeys through Laos to uncover one of Indochina's darkest secrets.

For decades, the inscrutable leaders of the Lao People's Democratic Republic have deflected questions about the fate of the Lao royal family, traditional rulers of the 600-year-old Kingdom of the Million Elephants and the White Parasol, deposed by leftist guerillas in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Now, the author of the international bestseller The Carpet Wars cuts through the bamboo curtain to reveal the shocking truth.

A timely reminder of the consequences of ill-conceived war, Bamboo Palace takes readers from the jungles of Southeast Asia to the northwestern United States, where the author tracks down the last known survivor of the royal death camp. The former prisoner's testimony provides the definitive chilling climax.

An intriguing and at times disturbing portrait of a poor, landlocked country in the grip of tyranny, Bamboo Palace, is also and extraordinary story of human enduranc

History of Laos

2008-09-14T08:54:00.000+09:00

History of Laos History of Laos

By M.L. Manich Jumsai

Information were collected from various sources during the days the author spent in Laos from 1957 to 1960. There existed only very scarce valuable manuscripts, either taken away by foreign collectors or destroyed by wars continuously raging in this country.

Laos inter-relationship with its neighbouring countries constitutes its history. Thais and Lao came from one same origin, later broke up to map out their own history under different names.

The author presented the history of Laos from earliest times right down to the present day as one branch of the bigger Thai race.

Lao Roots by Fleur Brofos Asmussen

2008-09-14T08:48:00.000+09:00

Lao Roots by Fleur Brofos Asmussen

Fragments of a Nordic-Lao Family Saga

Lao Roots. In 1990 the author travelled to Laos to find her relatives still living there. For years she and her sister had sought the descendants of their grandmother, Sao Boun Ma. These Laotian relatives were finally found in Vientiane. The search revealed a complex and fantastic story. The Norwegian grandfather, Peter Hauff, who died in 1951, left a long account of his experiences as a trader in Indo-China (1890-1928) with a number of hitherto unknown photographs of Laos and Cambodia/Vietnam. Nowhere did he mention the Laotian mother of one of his daughters, and the Vietnamese mother of the other. Shortly after his son drowned and the premature death in Laos of his equally fantastic Swiss business partner, Hans Faesh, the energetic Peter Hauff left for Europe in 1905 with his two daughters. He married a woman probably not of his choice, and returned to Vietnam to continue trading. He eventually settled in France, and died there, never having seen again his Sao Boun Ma whom he described in a note shortly before his death as "the honest and faithful".

Loas in a nutshell

2008-09-12T14:32:00.000+09:00

Hello everybody! I feel like i have so much to catch up on from the last few days! Ah- so this will be really summarized. So alana and I decided to get into Loas via what they call a "slow-boat" which takes 2 days as opposed to a "fast-boat" which takes only 6 hours. We wanted to take the fast boat but when we learned that you have to wear full-on crash helmets, that fatalities are common, and that they may be banned soon, we opted with the slowboat. We didn't arrange our Loas Visas ahead of time so we went with a group, that way we get our visas in 10 mins instead of 3 days.

So the day we leave we wake up early cuase the van is picking us up early (6.30am) and all goes smoothly. We pick up everyone else then we make a stop that we thought was our visas, so alana and i had commented to each other repetitively "Wow that was such a simple process, i sure hope all the other countries are the same!" Little did we know that was the pre-visa paper work...the really visa adventure was yet to come! This is what happened point form (just remember to add panic into the mix becuase at the begining we were told we only had 10 mins until the boat left, we were also exhausted becuase we slept terribly that night becuase we didn't have an alarm so we kept waking up and we didn't have any time for breakfast, and we were lugging ALL our luggage, oh and it was raining and i don't have any rain gear):

-pick up the other people

- drive for 2 hrs

- stop to fill our pre-visa forms

-get a bagged lunch, back into van

-drove down to water

-stamped out of Thailand, exchanged money to US dollar to pay for Visa

-crammed into "long-tail" boats

-crossed river in "no-mans-land" aka buffer land

-jumped our of boat (alana lost her sandal, but we got it back)

-dumped our luggage outside in the rain

-gave our passports over to some officer

-waited in the massive crowd for our name to be called so we can push through everyone to pay for our visa

- wait in another line to check into loas

- run back down and gather luggage and run up hill

-stop and show visa agian to some guy

-walk along street to sign sheet for boats, exhange Baht (Thai money) to Kip (Loa money), and buy pillows becuase boats are uncomfortable

- pile a bunch of us and our bags into a truck tuk-tuk, give them our passports

- get our near water, get passport, then climb down a long, steep, muddy bank, balance on a skinny, wabbly plank into boat. Alana dropped her lunch into the water but luckly some other guy dove in a got it lol

-yay we're on the boat, and finally seated after about half hour or shuffling!

The first day of the boat ride wasn't nice beucase we were soooo grimy from sweating then being stuck in this dusty boat plus it was raining out so we'de get wet every now and agian. The boat was not what we were expecting. when we booked our tickets we were told there would prolly be 20 people on it becuase its a slow time of year. NO WAY was it like that! I would guess they squished on 100 people. There were no extra seats, people already covered the floor, so they brought out extra chairs to fill the isle. Anyways, we made it. We spent the night in Pak Beng, a little hill side village which was gorgeous! We had an awsome room that was really clean (except for all the bugs ie. the one that flew up alanas shorts lol). I never thought i'de see a view like that in my life! The next day on the boat we were much better prepared...we carried on only what was neccessary! The ride was amazing! The sun was shining and the boat was nicer than the first one. Alana and i each had a whole bench to ourselves so we had some room. The river winds between huge mountians covered in jungle foliage. Occasionally you see a few bamboo huts or a gold temple higher in the mountians that shines in the sun. No description or picture could ever captivate the beauty along the Mekong River!

This takes up so where we are long new...Luang Praabang. and once agian i love it here! It is so relaxed and lay back. i think it would be impossible for anyone here to have even a small amount of stress. Today we took a tuktuk truck up to a waterfall. We didn't know what to expect so it was a shocker to see that we stepped into paradise! i honestly didn't think places that this existed naturally!!!!!! The waterfall was huge and landed around caves. The waterfall poured down into many pools that we could swim in. The water was torquise blue (more torquise then were we were in mexico!) and was refreshingly cool. Bamboo and palm trees lined the edges and there were little areas that looked like bubbling hot tubs (though they weren't cause they were cool like the rest of the water). Hiking part way up the falls, there was an old huge abandonded (what looks like a) resturant. It was 3 levels and had a woven roof out of leaves and a beautiful wooden pattern along all the walls...agian, i didn't things like this acually existed! We stayed there untill we had to meet our driver agian. When i have more time (my tummy is pretty hungry now!) i will try and post some of our pictures of it so you can get a glimpse of this paradise. it might be my favourite place on earth!

Tomarrow we are flying Siem Reip in Cambodia. We were planning on hitting one more place in Loas ,then go over to Hanoi in Vietnam but flight times, prices, and Visas are making that more difficult so we had to change our plans. We feel like we actually saw quite alot of Loas beucase of the long boat ride through it. It seemed that everything was working agianst us for Vietnam (prehaps for the best) so we decided to skip down to Cambodia. We're leaving tomarrow morning at 9 am. There is ALOT to see in Cambodia so we're VERY excited! Hopefully we'll be able to blog some more in Cambodia. Here is a bit perimitive ex. theres only 3 ATMS in all of Cambodia! Needless to say that its hard to get internet here (as we learned today from our travel agent- we were just about to book our flight tickets and the internet went down for several hours lol). Well i hope to keep you all posted and remember to post things on my blog to keep my updated! Luv u all

Loas gets more international help for SEA Games

2008-09-12T14:29:00.000+09:00

Laos will be hosting its first ever SEA Games next year, and they are getting help and aid from other nations such as Olympic Council of Asia, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Vietnam, China and South Korea to facilitate the progress

It is reported the outpouring of help have speed up the logistics and facilities up to 60 per cent being complete. Despite Laos staging lesser games during the biennial event; from 43 to 25, the eleven participating Souteast Asian nations are taking the games seriously

So far more than $100 million has been provided by the international help. There’s a $100 million aid from China to build a stadium, Thailand’s granting a $2.9 million for officials training, Singapore to provide teachers and technicians to Vietnam $19 million games village

At this rate, the impovorished communist country will be ready and set to host the game comes December 2009

the loas toldier the ultimate price to pay

2008-09-12T14:28:00.000+09:00

iam at the howland county library in warren ohio lastnight i stopped at st.vincent de.paul catholic church in vienna and pitched my tent in a field behind the church the this morning got up went to mass and talked with the catholic priest he gave me 50 dollars to go from here its 82 west to 46 south to 30 west to 42 south into cincinnati its been a peaceful ride the last couple days but these people have the same attitude as the retired old yankees that go to florida in the winter and drive slow i havent done much but ride the last couple days 82 west is a dangerous bicycle road no shoulders and at times alot of traffic with alot of retired old people driveing but other then the stress of watching haveing to pay attention to whats going on behind me its been peaceful

Southern Loas

2008-09-12T14:27:00.000+09:00

Sadly today is our last day in Loas, tomorrow we are flying to Cambodia to begin our Intrepid tour.

After Vang Vieng we did a kayak trip to Vientine. It turned out to be more sitting squished in a little bus than kayaking but was still good fun. Gary & I shared a kayak and managed to be the first to capsize in the first rapid. As it is the rainy season the rapids were a good size and the river was flowing nicely. We had about 3 good sized rapids and managed to fall in twice. It was nice to cool off even if the water was a nice brown colour.

We stayed in Vientiane (the capital) for three nights near the Nam Phu fountain. We spent one morning looking around the city and went to the Patuxai - Vientiane's Arc de Triomphe. We climbed to the top and had great views of the city. We had a relaxing afternoon and spent the second day doing a cooking course.

From Vientiane we caught the early morning flight (up at 4am) to Pakse. From the airport we headed straight to the bus station and pulled

Pataxai
Vientiane's Arc de Triomphe replica.

in just as our bus to Don Khong (4000 Islands) was pulling out. The bus stopped and the driver organised things we got on and off we went - not 100% sure we were heading to the right place. Eventually we arrived after catching the "vehicle ferry" to the island. In the afternoon we cycled about 32km around the whole island which was impressive considering the bikes we were using.

We took a boat trip to Don Det and Don Khon. We cycled around Don Khon to see the Tat Somphamit waterfalls. Unfortunately we were unable to swim as there is currently too much water in the river. If we had more time this would have been a great place to spend a few days relaxing...maybe next time. We also visited Khon Phapheng Falls which are the largest (by volume) falls in Southeast Asia.

Today we headed back to Pakse and are catching a flight tomorrow morning to Cambodia to begin our intrepid tour.

Veves & Loas by Raymond S. Harmon

2008-09-12T14:25:00.000+09:00

“First I shot various bits of footage off the screen of Maya Derens Divine Horsemen. Then I took the footage I shot and edited it down to the pieces I wanted and created a series of composite images out of the variables I had chosen. What you are seeing are sometimes dozens of layers of images pushed on top of each other. The movement is created by the difference between the composited forms.” -Raymond S. Harmon
—
Found @ http://www.youtube.com/user/raymondsharmon

Vietnamese businessman to donate 14 million dollars for SEA Games

2008-09-10T23:26:00.000+09:00

Hanoi - A Vietnamese real estate and forest products magnate said Wednesday he will pledge 14 million dollars to Laos to help the country host the 2009 SEA Games, the biannual Southeast Asian sports competition. Doan Nguyen Duc, chairman of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group, said he and a Laotian deputy prime minister will sign the sponsorship agreement in Vientiane Saturday.

Duc said the money would be used to build an athletes' housing complex in Vientiane. After the games are over, the complex will become a dormitory for the National University of Laos.

"I decided to sponsor Laos because Hoang Anh Gia Lai has business operations there, and the Laotian government has supported my company a lot," Duc said.

Duc said his group owns a wood processing factory in Laos which consumes between 10,000 and 20,000 cubic metres of timber annually. It also has 15,000 hectares of rubber tree plantations in the heavily forested country.

Duc said his company planned to begin mining iron and copper ore in Laos in the near future.

Earlier this year, Duc became the first private aircraft owner in Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 when he purchased a used Beechcraft King Air 350 for 7 million dollars.

Duc is the chairman of the Hoang Anh Gia Lai Football Club, one of Vietnam's most successful teams, and has been negotiating to purchase a stake of 20 per cent in the British soccer club Arsenal.

The Hoang Anh Gia Lai conglomerate has branched out from its original base in rubber plantations in Vietnam's central highlands to include interests in real estate, hotels, and other industries. In an interview in May, Duc said he expects profits of more than 150 million dollars this year.

Wat Phou, one of the world heritage site in Laos

2008-09-10T22:34:00.000+09:00

Wat Phou, one of the world heritage site in Laos

Wat Phou (Vat Phu) is a ruined Khmer temple complex in southern Laos. It is located at the base of mount Phu Kao, some 6 km from the Mekong river in Champassak province. There was a temple on the site as early as the 5th century, but the surviving structures date from the 11th to 13th centuries. The temple has a unique structure, in which the elements lead to a shrine where a linga was bathed in water from a mountain spring. The site later became a centre of Theravada Buddhist worship, which it remains today.

History
Wat Phou was initially associated with the city of Shrestapura, which lay on the bank of the Mekong directly east of mount Lingaparvata (now called Phu Kao). By the latter part of the 5th century the city was already the capital of a kingdom which texts and inscriptions connect with both Chenla and Champa, and the first structure on the mountain was constructed around this time. The mountain gained spiritual importance from the linga-shaped protuberance on its summit; the mountain itself was therefore considered the home of Shiva, and the river as representing the ocean or the Ganges River. The temple was naturally dedicated to Shiva, while the water from the spring which emerges directly behind the temple was considered sacred.

Wat Phou was a part of the Khmer empire, centred on Angkor to the southwest, at least as early as the reign of Yashovarman I in the early 10th century. Shrestapura was superseded by a new city in the Angkorian period, located directly south of the temple. In the later period, the original buildings were replaced, re-using some of the stone blocks; the temple now seen was built primarily during the Koh Ker and Baphuon periods of the 11th century. Minor changes were made during the following two centuries, before the temple, like most in the empire, was converted to Theravada Buddhist use. This continued after the area came under control of the Lao, and a festival is held on the site each February. Little restoration work has been done, other than the restoration of boundary posts along the path. Wat Phou was designated a World Heritage Site in 2001.

The site
Like most Khmer temples, Wat Phou is orientated towards the east. although the axis actually faces eight degrees south of due east, being determined primarily by the orientation of the mountain and the river. Including the barays it stretches 1.4 km east from the source of the spring, at the base of a cliff 100 m up the hill. 6 km east of the temple, on the west bank of the Mekong, lay the city, while a road south from the temple itself led to other temples and ultimately to the city of Angkor.

Approached from the city (of which little remains), the first part of the temple reached is a series of barays. Only one now contains water, the 600 by 200 m middle baray which lies directly along the temples’s axis; there were further reservoirs north and south of this, and a further pair on each side of the causeway between the middle baray and the palaces.

The two palaces stand on a terrace on either side of the axis. They are known as the north and south palaces or, without any evidence, the men’s and women’s palaces (the term “palace” is also a mere convention — their purpose is unknown). Each consisted of a rectangular courtyard with a corridor and entrance on the side towards the axis, and false doors at the east and west ends. The courtyards of both buildings have laterite walls; the walls of the northern palace’s corridor are also laterite, while those of the southern palace are sandstone. The northern building is now in better condition. The palaces are notable chiefly for their pediments and lintels, which are in the early Angkor Wat style.

The next terrace has a small shrine to Nandin (Shiva’s mount) to the south, in poor condition. The road connecting Wat Phou to Angkor ran south from this temple. Continuing west, successive staircases lead up further terraces; between them stands a dvarapala which has come to be worshipped as king Kammatha, mythical builder of the temple. On the narrow next terrace are the remains of six small shrines destroyed by treasure-hunters.

The path culminates in seven sandstone tiers which rise to the upper terrace and central sanctuary. The sanctuary is in two parts. The front section, of sandstone, is now occupied by four Buddha images, while the brick rear part, which formerly contained the central linga, is empty. The entire roof is missing, although a makeshift covering has been added to the front. Water from the spring which emerges from the cliff about 60 m southwest of the sanctuary was channeled along stone aqueducts into the rear chamber, continuously bathing the linga. The sanctuary is later than the north and south palaces, belonging to the Baphuon period of the later 11th century. The east side has three doorways: from south to north, their pediments show Krishna defeating the naga Kaliya; Indra riding Airavata; and Vishnu riding Garuda. The east wall bears dvarapalas and devatas. Entrances to the south and north bear have inner and outer lintels, including one to the south of Krishna ripping Kamsa apart.

Other features of the area are a library, in poor condition, south of the sanctuary, and a relief of the Hindu trinity to the northwest. There are other carvings further north: a Buddha’s footprint on the cliff-face, and boulders shaped to resemble elephants and a crocodile. The crocodile stone has acquired some notoriety as being possibly the site of an annual human sacrifice described in a 6th century Chinese text the identification is lent some plausibility by the similarity of the crocodile’s dimensions to those of a human.

Laos Travel Facts

2008-09-10T22:32:00.000+09:00

Getting Here
Laos can be reached by land, air and river from the neighboring countries of Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia and China. To enter the country, visitors need a passport with at least six months validity. There is regular air service to Laos on Thai International, Viet Nam Airlines, Lao Airlines, China Southern and Bangkok Airways. The busiest entry-exit point is the Friendship Bridge, which connects Vientiane to Nong Khai, Thailand. Another popular overland border crossing is Houeisai that links Northern Thailand’s Chiang Rai province to northwestern Laos at the center of the famed Golden Triangle.

Visas and Border Formalities
30-day visas are available from Lao Embassies and consulates abroad. Alternatively, 30-day visa on arrival may be obtained by passport holders at the following 11 international border crossings: Botene in Luang Namtha (Laos-China), Houeisai in Bokeo (Laos-Thailand), Na Meo in Houaphan (Laos-Viet Nam), Namkhan in Xieng Khouang (Laos-Viet Nam), Nam Phao in Bolikhamxai (Laos-Vietnam), Thakhaek in Khammouane (Laos-Thailand), Na Phao in Khammouane (Laos-Viet Nam), Dene Savan (Laos-Viet Nam) and Dan Savanh (Laos-Thailand) in Savannakhet and Vang Tao in Champassak (Laos-Thailand). If you have already have a visa you may enter Laos from Cambodia at Veun Kham. Visa extensions are possible and best handled by one of the many tour companies in Vientiane , Luang Prabang or Pakse.
With the enactment of the ASEAN Tourism Agreement, ASEAN nations are moving towards establishing a visa-free tourism zone for ASEAN nationals by the end of 2005. If you are a citizen of an ASEAN country, check with the Lao Embassy in your country whether or not you require a visa to enter Laos.

Climate
Laos generally enjoys a mild tropical climate, but it can get quite chilly in the cool season. Temperatures range from 10 ? 40 degrees Celsius in the Mekong Valley , and may dip below zero in the mountains and on the Xieng Khouang and Bolaven Plateaus. There are three distinct seasons: cool from November-February; hot from March-May and the rainy season which lasts from June -October. Most people find the best time to visit from October-February, however the low season offers lush green landscapes in the rainy season and the colorful Lao New Year’s festival in April.

Geography
Laos‘ main geographic features are low mountains, the Xieng Khouang and Bolavens plateau and the Mekong River valley. Of the country’s 237,000 square kilometers, about 70% of the country is mountainous, with the highest peak, Phou Bia reaching just over 2,800 meters.

Language
The national language is Lao as it is spoken in Vientiane , but English is commonly used in major tourist centers. Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai are widely understood. French, German, Russian and a number of other European languages are also spoken by many educated Lao as many students received university training in Eastern Europe during the 1970’s-1990’s. In addition, there are over 220 indigenous languages spoken by Laos’ 47 different ethnic groups, part of the country’s cultural heritage that makes it so interesting.

Money
The official currency of the Lao PDR is the Lao Kip. Major travelers checks can be cashed at banks. Credit cards are accepted in major hotels and a limited number of upscale shopping establishments. At present, it is not possible to withdraw currency from your account at home using an ATM in Laos.

Post and Internet Access
There are post offices in all provincial capitals where letters and parcels may be sent to your home country. At Vientiane ’s main post office there is a post restante service. Both DHL and FedEx have offices in Vientiane. Internet access is available in all major tourism centers and all but the most remote population centers.

Phone and Fax Services
International Direct Dial is widely available and you can send and receive faxes from all post offices and many private businesses. You can also purchase a local SIM card for your mobile phone.

Electricity
24-hour electricity is now available in all major population centers and many district capitals. Laos uses 220 volt AC.

Business Hours
Government offices are open from 8:30-12:00 and from 1pm to about 4:30 on Monday through Friday. Private businesses are generally open later, especially restaurants and entertainment places. Except for restaurants, most businesses are closed on Sunday.

Traveling with Children
Laos is a safe, quiet country with a lot to explore for both adults and children. Lao people love kids, and if you bring yours along the attention and curiosity they arouse will open up many opportunities for you to interact and make friends with your hosts.

Health
Laos has only basic health care and you should check with your physician regarding which vaccinations and health precautions you should get before coming. The World Health Organization recommends the following vaccinations for SE Asia ; diphtheria and tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella, polio and typhoid. If you are taking any special medications, be sure to bring along an adequate supply to last the length of your trip. Precautionary measures like eating only well cooked food, drinking bottled water, staying hydrated, avoiding being bitten by mosquitoes and wearing protective clothing will help prevent most common ailments.

Laos Vientiane Wat Sisaket

2008-09-10T22:30:00.000+09:00

Wat Sisaket or Vat Sisaket as they spell it in Laos is the oldest surviving temple in Vientiane, the King Anouvong got them started on it in 1818, in 1828 when the Thais invaded Vientiane they didn't destroy this temple due to it looking like a Thai temple, in 1924 and 1930 the French restored the temple.

I should mention that the nasty evil Laos xenophobes charge dirty foreigners 5,000kip to get in and Laos people 2,000kip, although if you pay in baht it is 10baht, quite often in Vientiane it is best to ask the price in kip and baht as you quite often get better deals paying in different currencies, they also say it is a museum, a museum of what I have no idea, the main building in the middle of the compound you are not allowed to take photos in, only has a Buddha shrine in it but the walls do have some nicely painted murals on, trouble is the Lao guy that was guarding it wouldn't leave so I couldn't get any pictures of the inside

Laos Travel: The Tourists Are Invading

2008-09-10T22:27:00.000+09:00

Travelers love to brag about their off-the-beaten-path adventures, but finding a corner of the earth that hasn't succumb to tourism is getting harder all the time. Now you can tack Luang Prabang, Laos right up there with Oman and Bangladesh.

The International Herald Tribune's Seth Mydans tells us that serene mornings along the Mekong are no longer; along with the peaceful pitter-pat of monks asking for alms is the din of camera-toting gawkers. Luang Prabang--a 700 year-old village and UNESCO heritage site since 1995--is slowly being turned into a "replica of itself," Mydans writes. The bars are open until midnight, and the quiet atmosphere that once defined the town is being bled out by a thirst for business.

It's another grim example of how tourism can change a place for the worse, drastically altering the quality of life for locals. And it presents a baffling paradox for travelers who are genuinely looking for a unique experience: How do you go without being part of the problem?

Transport plans in Laos for SEA Games 2009 unveiled

2008-09-08T21:50:00.000+09:00

More than 200 cars and 200 buses will be used to transport athletes and officials around Laos during the 2009 SEA Games.

More than 10,000 people, including about 4,500 athletes and delegates, are expected to visit Laos for the event next year.

SEA Games Transport Committee Head, Mr Lattanamany Khounnyvong, told Vientiane Times the committee had sent a draft transport plan to the SEA Games Organising Committee Secretariat.

The plan proposes the use of 200 cars and more than 200 buses during the games, which will take place in Vientiane and Champassak and Luang Prabang provinces.

Mr Lattanamany, who is also Ministry of Public Works and Transport Office Head, said the plan may be adjusted after being reviewed by the organising committee.

“We expect the draft plan will be approved by the end of this month and we hope to arrange contracts with private sector entities by the end of October,” he said.

The transport committee plans to have vehicles departing the athletes' accommodation in Dongdok village and going to the National Sports Stadium every 10 minutes during peak times of the event.

This service will operate every 20 minutes during off-peak times and will include special arrangements for large groups of athletes.

Mr Lattanamany said the transportation of athletes' luggage was a priority and the committee had sent official letters to overseas aviation companies requesting them to provide priority services when transporting athletes' equipment and belongings.

He said the number of services operating between provinces would be decided after participating countries confirmed the number of athletes and delegates attending.

Public vehicles will be banned from entering the stadium area to ease traffic congestion during the event.

“We are currently discussing parking arrangements for public vehicles,” Mr Lattanamany said.

Officials intend to arrange public transport services for people wishing to attend events.

Mr Lattanamany said the committee met on a weekly basis to update information and discuss appropriate preparation work.

25th sea games, Boxing Laos, Brunei, bus, Cambodia Vietnam, events Vientiane, indonesia singapore, Laotian Thailand, malaysia, myamar, philippines, taxi, transport, SEA GAMES

Sea Games 2009 in Laos uncertain

2008-09-08T21:47:00.000+09:00

Sea Games 2009 in Laos uncertain

The 25th Southeast Asian Games is scheduled to be held in Vientiane, Laos, in 2009. This will be the first time the country has ever held a Southeast Asian Games. However, there is an important condition for hosting the games: if Laos fails to meet the qualifications to hold this event, the games will be moved to Singapore.

Because of the limited sports facilities in Vientiane, the competition will comprise only 25 disciplines. This is already a very limited number of competitions compared to the 43 held last year in Nakhon Ratchasima, North-east Thailand. With the help of China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and the Olympic Council of Asia, there is good hope Laos will be able to host the 25th SEA games.

Unfortunately, a big disagreement arose between Thailand and Laos. What is the problem? Money, basically. Thailand initially vowed to support Laos in its first hosting of the SEA Games, offering use of its facilities for events which Laos has no capability of hosting. Thailand, however, withdrew its offer, prompting Laos to scamper for resources to be able establish the multi million facilities needed for the Games.

There is a distinguished reason for these actions. Laos is said to be seeking 75 percent of the television rights and for changes in crucial provisions in the current charter of the SEA Games federation. The host country also desires to create headquarters in Laos. This would leave all SEA Games members sharing whatever would be left from the 25 television revenues.

In order to solve this problem, a two day conference is planned to talk about the issue of the chapter change. It is important for the Lao government to handle these negatiations with care or else the SEA games of 2009 might go to Singapore. No doubt, the government realizes this fact and will reassure us soon that we can all look forward to a fantastic event in Vientiane in December 2009.

ซีเกมส์ 2009

2008-09-03T15:13:00.000+09:00

ซีเกมส์ 2009 เป็นการแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 ซึ่งจะจัดขึ้นที่เวียงจันทน์ ประเทศลาว ระหว่างวันที่ 3-12 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2552 ตัวนำโชคเป็นช้างเผือกงานิล 2 เชือก ตัวผู้ ชื่อ "จำปา" และ ตัวเมย ชื่อ "จำปี" สัญลักษณ์การแข่งขันเป็นรูป พระธาตุหลวง ซึ่งเป็นสัญลักษณ์สำคัญของชาติ ส่วนสัญลักษณ์นำเอาอักษรลาวโบราณมาจัดทำ
การ แข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ครั้งนี้ลาวได้รับความช่วยเหลือจากประเทศเพื่อนบ้าน เช่น ประเทศจีนให้เงินสนับสนุนถึง 100 ล้านดอลลาร์สหรัฐ หรือประมาณ 3,600 ล้านบาท เพื่อก่อสร้างสนามกีฬาแห่งชาติแห่งใหม่บนเนื้อที่กว่า 300 ไร่บนป่าเสื่อมโทรมในกรุงเวียงจันทน์[1] และประเทศลาวได้แสดงความจำนงขอความช่วยเหลือจากประเทศไทย 3 ประเด็น คือ จัดส่งผู้ฝึกสอนช่วยฝึกซ้อมนักกีฬาลาว รับการสนับสนุนอุปกรณ์กีฬาภายหลังจากที่ไทยใช้จัดการแข่งขันซีเกมส์ 2007 และต้องการให้ไทยช่วยเหลือปรับปรุงซ่อมแซมสนามแข่งขันบางสนาม ทั้งนี้เนื่องจากไทยมีประสบการณ์จัดซีเกมส์มาหลายครั้ง และต้องการสานสัมพันธ์ไทย-ลาวให้แน่นแฟ้นยิ่งขึ้น[2]
อย่างไรก็ตาม ในกรณีที่ประเทศลาวไม่สามารถจัดการแข่งขันได้ ประเทศสิงคโปร์ จะรับหน้าที่เป็นเจ้าภาพแทน ซึ่งแต่เดิมนั้นสิงคโปร์จะต้องเป็นเจ้าภาพการแข่งขันในปี 2007 แต่จำเป็นต้องถอนตัวเนื่องจากศูนย์กีฬาที่จะใช้ทำการแข่งขันนั้นสร้างเสร็จ ไม่ทัน

Southeast Asian Games

2008-09-03T15:12:00.000+09:00

Sports

Despite the limited sports facilities in Vientiane, only 25 disciplines will be in competition, compared to 43 held in Nakhon Ratchasima. Among the sports will be missing from competition are cycling, gymnastics, hockey, rowing and weightlifting.

Archery
Aquatics
Athletics
Badminton
Basketball
Billiards and Snooker¹
Bodybuilding¹
Boxing
Bowling
Football
Golf¹
Handball
Judo
Karatedo
Muay Thai²
Pencak Silat²
Pétanque²
Shooting
Shuttle cock kickingʰ
Table tennis
Taekwondo
Traditional boat race¹
Volleyball
Wrestling

Plastic seats for new SEA Games stadium in Laos proposed

2008-09-03T15:11:00.000+09:00

(KPL) The Saplast Vientiane Company, Vietnamese investor has hoped to produce plastic seats for equipping with in the new stadium for the host of 25th SEA Games.
According to Mr Huynhtan Phuoc, Director of Saplast Vientiane Company disclosed last week that our company sent a selling proposal of plastic seats and bins with a reasonable price to the Lao government.

He said that this proposal is a part of efforts to promote the domestic goods and also able to decrease the volume of imported goods especially plastic tools. One more reason if the Lao government adopted our proposal, the foreign currency would not flow out the country.

This company is currently the leading supplier plastic tools to local market, he said. All our products are high quality and international standard.
The company was established in Laos, January 2005 under bilateral cooperation between Vietnamese and Lao governments, with registered investment was around US$ 1.3 million.

Laos, Vietnam armed forces to further cooperation

2008-09-03T15:10:00.000+09:00

(KPL) – The people’s armies of Laos and Vietnam and agreed to continue their cooperation in training, searching and repatriating remains of Vietnamese soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Laos during the past wars.
During talks between General Le Van Dung, Director of the Vietnam People’s Army General Politics Department and his Laos guest, Major General Sengnouane Sayalath, in Hanoi on May 13, the host welcomed the Lao senior officer’s visit, which aims to boost mutual understanding between the two armies, according to the report of Vietnam news agency.
The visit, lasting from May 12-18, will also help contribute to consolidating and developing the special and traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, two States, two armies and two people, he said.
The same day, Major General Sengnouane Sayalat and his entourage paid a courtesy visit to State President Nguyen Minh Triet and Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh.

* home * Samakomlao * Tour Laos * Lao links * Luang Prabang * 25th Sea Games * Lao Football www.flickr.com A photo on Fli

2008-09-03T15:09:00.000+09:00

(KPL) Lao National Sport Committee last Friday organized a press conference on the preparation for Miss SEA Games Contest 2009. The games will be held on 9-18 December next year in Vientiane.

The press conference was chaired by Deputy President of Lao National Sport Committee, Mr Boualan Silipanya, and attended by concerned officials.

“This event aims to have Miss Sea Games, who will serve as sport and cultural ambassadors of the event,” Mr Boualan said.

Women, aged between 18 and 25, with the height of over 155cm, single, fluent in both Lao and English and healthy, can apply for the contest with the Secretariat of Miss Sea Games Contest at Lao National Sport Committee Office between 1 July and 15 September.

Seagames 2009 In Laos

2008-09-03T15:07:00.000+09:00

Laos is now preparing for the 25th South East Asian Game (SEA GAMES) which will be held in Laos
year 2009 or about 3 years from now. I want to know your idea what kind of animal or symbol you want
the mascot of 25th SEA Games to be like?
Since Laos use to be the land of million elephants, should our mascot be elephant? but elephants
already used in SEA Games in Chiang Mai last time. then... what will be our mascot for year 2009

Lao Karatedo team eyes two golds in SEA Games 2009

2008-07-10T13:15:00.000+09:00

Photo: Mr Vilayvong Boutdhakham ( third left ), Mr Phongsavath Boupha ( fourth left ), Mr Watanabe Toshiyuki ( fourth right ) and federation officials gather at the Youth Union on Monday. The Lao karatedo team is hoping for two gold medals at the 25 th SEA Games in Laos next year, after winning only one bronze medal at the 24 th SEA Games in Thailand last December. On Monday the Lao Karatedo Federation held a ceremony at the Lao Revolutionary Youth Union to present certificates and black belts (dan) to the federation president and officials. A representative of the Yuuwakai Association of Japan, Mr Watanabe Toshiyuki, presented certificates and black belts (5 dan, 4 dan and 3 dan) to President of the Lao Karatedo Federation and Deputy Security General of the Lao Revolutionary Youth Union, Mr Vilayvong Boutdhakham, and to the federation's vice presidents, secretary and trainers. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and consultant to the federation Phongsavath Boupha, national team members and members of the Vientiane Secondary School Karatedo Club also attended the ceremony. “We want to strengthen the hearts of the federation's president and officials to encourage them to continue to improving karatedo in Laos ,” Mr Phongsavath said. “We thank the Yuuwakai Association and hope Japan will continue to help us develop karatedo in Laos and that our two countries will enjoy friendly cooperation.” The karatedo team from Vientiane Secondary School gave a demonstration of their skills at the end of the ceremony. Consultant to the federation Sonesak N.Nhansana supervised an examination of karatedo fighters in several categories at the Lao Telecom Centre Shotokan Karatedo camp on Sunday. Seven candidates passed the examination and received a black belt and 3 kyu, 7 kyu and 8 kyu belts. They have been training in the sport since March this year. The camp will send a karatedo team to compete in the 8 th National Games in Champassak province in December and the camp's top fighters will join the national team at the 25 th SEA Games in Laos next year.

Lao Karatedo dreams high for 25th SEA GAMES 2009

2008-07-10T13:09:00.000+09:00

ore than 100 people watched as the Lao Karatedo Federation announced the formation of a new committee last Sunday at the International Cooperation and Training Centre in Vientiane. Minister to the Prime Minister's Office and President of the Lao National Sports Committee Dr Phouthong Seng-akhon adopted the measure aimed at improving the organisational structure of the karatedo executive board in April this year. The new committee conprises five consultants of whom two hold honorary positions. There are also 11 administrators. “The announcement of this new structure is part of the federation's development plans as required by the Lao National Sports Committee in preparation for the 25 th SEA Games, which Laos will host next year,” federation president Vilayvong Bouddakham said. At the same time, members of the outgoing executive committee and donors to the federation received certificates of honour and congratulations. Attendees then watched a karatedo demonstration led by federation advisor Phongsavath Boupha, in which more than 60 fighters took part. Mr Vilayvong and President of the Yuuwakai Association of Japan, Mr Watanabe Shinichi, signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of a karatedo practice centre and office. Mr Vilayvong said the US$100,000 grant aid from the Yuuwakai Association would provide the federation with better training facilities and encourage more people to take part in the sport. The association has been providing Japanese karatedo coaches for long term training programmes to help strengthen Lao players' skills. According to a press release from the federation, the government has set a target for athletes to win 25 gold medals in 25 th SEA Games, including two in karatedo. The federation plans to expand training for karatedo fighters nationwide in a bid to increase the number of players. “The Eighth National Games is taking place in Champassak province in December. This is good preparation for Lao athletes taking part in the SEA Games,” Vice President of the Lao National Sports Committee Somphou Vongsa said. According to 2007 federation figures, Laos has only about 100 karatedo fighters. This is much less than the estimated 25,000 in Vietnam, 10,000 in Myanmar, 3,000 in Cambodia and 100,000 in Thailand. The federation was first established in 1998 when it was called the Karatedo Association. The Lao National Sports Committee later changed the name to the Lao Karatedo Federation. Lao karatedo fighters have taken part in many international competitions, including the 22 nd SEA Games in Vietnam (no medal), 23 rd SEA Games in the Philippines (one bronze), the World Karatedo Championships in Germany in 2004 (one bronze) and a meet in Australia in 2006 (no medal). Karatedo fighters also attended the 13 th Asian universities competition in Vietnam in 2006 (two silver and 10 bronze medals) and the 24 th SEA Games in Thailand in 2007 (one bronze).

Laos urged to add more sports at SEA Games 2009

2008-07-10T13:08:00.000+09:00

JAKARTA: Four countries are urging host Laos to add several sports to the 25th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, which are scheduled to be held from Dec. 13 to 21 next year, according to Indonesia's sports chief.Rita Subowo, chairwoman of the National Sports Council (KONI), said Friday that Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand had met with representative from Laos to discuss the possibility including sports such as basketball, archery, canoeing, weightlifting and cycling. "However, Laos indicated it would not host those sports events due to lack of facilities and funds," Rita said. "Those sports would give Indonesia good medal chances," she said. Laos plans to stage 25 sports, much fewer than the 43 at the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand. Rita said the four countries would further discuss the issue in November in the hope of convincing Laos to add those sports. (ewd)

25th SEA Games Laos facilities funded by Vietnam

2008-07-10T13:05:00.000+09:00

View of Vientiane
A Vietnam funded hotel and office has began in Vientiane, Laos. This US$7 million, 11,000sq.m and six story building is being built for the upcoming 25th SEA Games in Laos next year
The project is being handles by Vietnam-Laos Electricity Joint Stock Co and it is essential the project built in the capital city of Laos, to be finished by November 2009 or the games would be move to Singapore due to games incompletion

Thailand to give Laos $2.9 m for SEA Games

2008-07-10T12:02:00.000+09:00

BANGKOK - THAILAND will give Laos 98 million baht (S$3.9 million) to help it organise the region's biggest sports event next year, a Thai government spokesman said. The Southeast Asian Games are scheduled to take place in Laos at the end of next year but the impoverished nation desperately needs funds to improve its infrastructure. 'The money will be given to help Laos organise the 25th SEA Games, to improve stadiums and train staff,' spokesman Weerinthira Nathongborcharas said in a statement. Laos, which has no experience in organising international sporting events, will host the bi-annual 25-sport games from December 3-12, 2009. Ms Weerinthira said Thailand will send referees to train Laotian personnel in 12 sporting events and offer further training courses in Bangkok in four other events. Thailand will also loan Laos sports equipment from the previous SEA Games, which took place in Thailand last December. Thailand joins China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and the Olympic Council of Asia in supporting the Laos event, which will take place mostly at the national stadium in the capital Vientaine. -- AFP

Improving road for 25th SEA Games in Laos 2009

2008-07-10T09:52:00.000+09:00

(KPL) The Government plans to improve a road access to the new SEA Stadium to support the upcoming 25th SEA Games to be hosted in 2009, Vientiane Capital.The distance of road would be improved which stretches from T-junction of Ban Saysavang to the SEA Games’ stadium, at KM16 (Road No 13 south) with an aim to provide convenient communication.Head of Road Improvement Project, Mr Noulath Latsapong said that the improvement of this road is aiming at expanding road to deal with traffic jams during the 25th SEA Games. This road is a total length of 4,500 metres and width of 22 metre. The road improvement is worth US$3.75 million, of which Government contributed 750,000 US dollar and the rest was a loan from Korean fund and it expected to be completed within 18 months.The technical officials of the project met each other on 13 June at the Department of Construction and Transport to discuss on removing other barriers out of the construction area.The Government has pledged to compensate local people who have affected from the construction.

Laos dropping major sports in SEA Games 2009

2008-07-05T15:55:00.000+09:00

KUALA LUMPUR: The initial 22 sports proposed by hosts Laos for the 25th SEA Games next year have come under fire from a number of countries, including Malaysia.
Laos have indicated that they might only stage about 25 sports, a far cry from the 43 medal sports and two demonstration sports in the programme of the biennial Games in Thailand last December.
Sports like shuttlecock, merely a traditional game played by ethnic groups in Asian countries like Vietnam, China, Laos, Cambodia, and fin swimming have been proposed, instead of weightlifting, snooker or basketball.
Shuttlecock, which resembles a hoop sepaktakraw match, uses feathers clustered together just like a shuttle used in badminton, but played with the feet.
The game is played in two basic forms – the artistic (points for the most difficult moves) and team (played with a net in the centre and two players on each side, juggling and smashing the shuttlecock with their feet).

SEA Games

2008-04-15T03:28:00.001+09:00

National Anthems of all the SEA Games Participants

SEA Games

2008-04-15T03:28:00.000+09:00

National Anthems of all the SEA Games Participants

Nakhon Ratchasima Province

2008-04-11T21:24:00.001+09:00

Nakhon Ratchasima (Thai: นครราชสีมา), often shortened to Korat or Khorat, is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (clockwise, from north) Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Buriram, Sa Kaeo, Prachinburi, Nakhon Nayok, Saraburi, Lopburi.

The capital of the province is the city of Nakhon Ratchasima, also called Korat or Khorat.

1. Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima
2. Khon Buri
3. Soeng Sang
4. Khong
5. Ban Lueam
6. Chakkarat
7. Chok Chai
8. Dan Khun Thot
9. Non Thai
10. Non Sung
11. Kham Sakaesaeng
12. Bua Yai
13. Prathai
14. Pak Thong Chai
15. Phimai
16. Huai Thalaeng
17. Chum Phuang
18. Sung Noen
19. Kham Thale So
20. Sikhio
21. Pak Chong
22. Nong Bun Mak
23. Kaeng Sanam Nang
24. Non Daeng
25. Wang Nam Khiao
26. Thepharak
27. Mueang Yang
28. Phra Thong Kham
29. Lam Thamenchai
30. Bua Lai
31. Sida
32. Chaloem Phra Kiat

Nakhon Ratchasima Province

2008-04-11T21:24:00.000+09:00

national stadium in Laos for 2009 Sea Games

2008-03-14T02:24:00.001+09:00

This new national stadium has been constructed at Km 16 in Xaythany district on Road 13 South of Vientiane city and is expected to be ready 3 months before the SEA Games start. The swimming pools, golf and tennis courts of world standard will be built near the Lao International Trade Exhibition and Convention Centre (ITECC).

The Lao national sport committee announced to organise some sports events in Vientiane, Luang prabang and Savannakhet provinces. The traditional boat racing, canoeing and other events will be held in Vientiane province. The first round of the men football competition will be held in Savannakhet because the new 15,000-seat stadium is completed. The new stadium in Luang prabang province will be used for women football competition.

Laos will send 136 athletes covering 13 sports in 23nd SEA GAMES!

2008-03-14T02:19:00.000+09:00

Paxason Newspaper: The upcoming 23nd SEA GAMES in the Philippines, Laos will send 136 athletes
participating in 13 kinds of sport namely:
1. Football
2. Wushu
3. Wrestling
4. PETANQUE
5. Boxing
6. Shooting
7. Tennis
8. Golf
9. TAEKWONDO
10. Running
11. Judo
12. Karate
13. MUAY

Out of these sports, Laos has high hope to get gold medal from only 3 sports: PETANQUE, Boxing and
taekwondo.

ASEAN Para Games History

2007-12-30T11:08:00.001+09:00

The 1st ASEAN Para Games, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on October 25, 2001 to October 30, 2001, was the initial major sports event of the ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF). The APSF was conceived in the special meeting of the National Paralympic Committees of the ASEAN countries during the 10th Malaysian Paralympiad and the ASEAN Cities Invitational.

The ASEAN Para Games, the “parallel” sports event for the disabled after every Southeast Asian Games, was patterned after the Paralympics and the FESPIC Games. The 2nd ASEAN Para games was held in Hanoi, Vietnam from December 19, 2003 to December 27, 2003. Timor Leste was formally included in the Games increasing its member countries to eleven. The 3rd ASEAN ParaGames was held in Manila, Philippines from December 14, 2005 to December 20, 2005. The 4th ASEAN Paragames will held in Nakorn Ratchasima, Thailand in January, 2008.

ASEAN Para Games History

2007-12-30T11:08:00.000+09:00

4th ASEAN ParaGames objectives

2007-12-30T11:03:00.001+09:00

4th ASEAN ParaGames objectives

• Promote friendship and solidarity among persons with disabilities in the Asean Region through sports

• Promote and develop sports for the differently abled

• Rehabilitate and integrate persons with disability into mainstream society through sports

The games, patterned after the Paralympics, includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputees, visual disabilities and those with cerebral palsy. Joining the action are delegations from Southeast Asian countries as well as top ASEAN athletes who've competed in the 9th FESPIC Games, held in Kuala Lumpur 2006. The previous 2005 ASEAN ParaGames was held in Manila, Philippines.

In the upcoming 4th ASEAN Para Games, 14 sports will be contested and 186 gold medals will be offered. They include archery, athletics, badminton, boccia, chess, fencing, goalball, judo, powerlifting, shooting, swimming, table tennis, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis. The ASEAN ParaGames is subject to the regulations of the ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF).

4th ASEAN ParaGames objectives

2007-12-30T11:03:00.000+09:00

4th ASEAN ParaGames objectives

• Promote friendship and solidarity among persons with disabilities in the Asean Region through sports

• Promote and develop sports for the differently abled

• Rehabilitate and integrate persons with disability into mainstream society through sports

4th ASEAN ParaGames

2007-12-30T11:00:00.001+09:00

The 4th ASEAN ParaGames is a biannual multi-sport event held after every Southeast Asian Games, for athletes with physical disabilities from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The games are hosted by the same country where the SEA Games takes place.

Nakhon Ratchasima province of Thailand will host the 4th ASEAN Para Games from 17 - 27 January 2008 under the theme concept: "FRIENDSHIP, EQUALITY, OPPORTUNITY"

4th ASEAN ParaGames

2007-12-30T11:00:00.000+09:00

Nakhon Ratchasima province of Thailand will host the 4th ASEAN Para Games from 17 - 27 January 2008 under the theme concept: "FRIENDSHIP, EQUALITY, OPPORTUNITY"

Lao Sung

2007-12-25T00:34:00.000+09:00

Lao Sung or more commonly Lao Soung are an ethnic group in East and Southeast Asia. Most Lao Soung live in China, Laos, and Vietnam. Small minorities live in Thailand and Burma. The ones in Laos, the actual Lao Soung, make up 9% of the Laotian population. The true Lao Soung aren't actually one single ethnic group but are made up of Hmong (the main group), Yao, Akha, Phu Noi and other people who live in the Laotian mountaintops. All these groups are related. Their main religions are animism, Buddhism, and Chinese folk religions. Some Lao Soung fought against the communist Pathet Lao government in 1975 to keep the Laotian monarchy in power. Many were moved from southern China and Laos to the U.S. and Australia in the 1960's, 70's, and 80's to escape the communist governments there.

Media of Laos

2007-12-25T00:32:00.000+09:00

All newspapers are published by the government, including two foreign language papers: the English-language Vientiane Times and the French-language Le Rénovateur. Additionally, the Khao San Pathet Lao, the country's official news agency, publishes English and French versions of its eponymous paper. Internet cafes, serving the tourist market, are now common in the major urban centres. However, the government strictly censors content and controls access.

Satellite television dishes, beaming content from Thailand, are common throughout Laos. Many Laotians access the outside world through Thai television programs.

Thai minister insists no foul play at SEA Games

2007-12-25T00:24:00.000+09:00

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand, Dec 15 - Thailand's sports minister has poured scorn on accusations of foul play by the hosts of the Southeast Asian Games, insisting the Kingdom's runaway success is down to hard work and fervent home support.

After a flood of complaints about biased judging, ranging from minor grumbles to official boycotts, Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit Yodmani said the Games were fair and Thailand's 174 gold medals were well-deserved.

"It's down to the morale of our athletes," Suvit told Reuters.

"They have the crowd behind them, they are in high spirits. They also have the support of the government and have worked hard on sports psychology and mental preparation. I believe this will show at the Olympics too."

Although unable to match Indonesia's staggering tally of 194 gold medals in Jakarta in 1997, Thailand have dominated the 2007 Games with over 100 golds more than second-placed Malaysia.

Indonesia's Sports Minister Adhyaksa Dault reportedly threatened to withdraw his team because of biased judging, telling the Thai-language Phujadkarn newspaper on Friday: "I want friendship from this SEA Games. It is not important if we win or lose, we didn't get the points we deserved."

Malaysia withdrew its team from the sepak takraw competition -- a regional sport best described as volleyball with the feet -- because of the hosts' insistence on using a "dangerous" new rubber ball instead of the traditional rattan variety.

Before the Dec. 6-15 Games started, 10-pin bowling powerhouse Indonesia were furious when the Thai team were allowed to practice behind closed doors on the freshly-oiled lanes when the other teams were locked out.

"COMIC SHOW"

The Philippines forfeited six of their seven men's medals matches in protest of the "comic show" they said had prevailed a day earlier when only one of their female boxers won gold. Thailand won 16 of the 17 boxing gold medals.

Suvit, who was appointed by the military after last year's bloodless coup in Thailand, said the judges were internationally recognised and had no reason to show favouritism to the hosts.

"Some sports are controversial because it's totally up to the judges as to who wins. It's not a case of Thai judges giving Thais gold medals," he said.

"As for us, we know it's been a fair Games. The referees and judges are from other countries and are of international standard. There are always complaints about judging. It's part of sport."

At the 2005 Games in the Philippines, then Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra took a swipe at the hosts for "lacking athletic spirit" and vowed to stage the Games fairly in 2007.

Despite the motto of "spirit, friendship and celebration", the biennial 11-nation gathering is often dogged by tit-for-tat spats, dubious judging and cries of foul play by the hosts.

Culture of Laos

2007-12-25T00:11:00.000+09:00

Theravada Buddhism is a dominant influence in Lao culture. It is reflected throughout the country from language to the temple and in art, literature, performing arts, etc. Many elements of Lao culture predate Buddhism, however. For example, Laotian music is dominated by its national instrument, the khaen, a type of bamboo pipe that has prehistoric origins. The khaen traditionally accompanied the singer in lam, the dominant style of folk music. Among the various lam styles, the lam saravane is probably the most popular.

The country has two World Heritage Sites: Luang Prabang and Wat Phou. The government is seeking the same status for the Plain of Jars.
Buddha Park, near Vientiane along the "Mighty Mekong"
Buddha Park, near Vientiane along the "Mighty Mekong"

The People's Republic of China has recently allowed its citizens to travel more freely to Laos[citation needed]. As such, Chinese tourists are expected to account for 25% of the total number of visitors to Laos (up from only a few percent) in 2006. Pressures to modernize tourist infrastructure, particularly to cater to package tourism, are expected to significantly impact Luang Prabang and other culturally important Laotian cities. The people of Laos are very kind and welcoming to all visitors.

Rice is the staple food and has cultural and religious significance. There are many traditions and rituals associated with rice production in different environments, and among many ethnic groups. For example, Khammu farmers in Luang Prabang plant the rice variety Khao Kam in small quantities near the hut in memory of dead parents, or at the edge of the rice field to indicate that parents are still alive