Luang Prabang, Champassak not to host SEA Games events
Luang Prabang and Champassak provinces will not host 25th SEA Games events as originally planned, according to an agreement signed by Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh last month.
The government has given approval for the games to be held in Vientiane , but not in other locations, according to the Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC).
The committee had previously planned to hold the women's football event in Luang Prabang province and some of the men's football events in Champassak province.
The committee confirmed all facilities and arrangements for the games, to be held in December 2009, would be ready on time and on budget.
The LNSC is building a sports complex in Vientiane to house the games. It comprises an indoor stadium, tennis courts, a swimming pool, shooting field, golf course and football stadium.
The opening and closing ceremonies will take place at the football stadium, which will have more than 25,000 seats.
The committee is upgrading the existing national football stadium to accommodate the football and track-and-field events.
The SEA Games will comprise swimming, diving, wrestling, track-and-field, badminton, rugby, boxing, football, futsal, golf, judo, karatedo, petanque, sepak takraw, billiards, snooker, target shooting, muay Lao, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, boat racing, shuttle****, wushu, pencak silat, volleyball and beach volleyball events.
Champassak province will host the eighth National Games in December, while Luang Prabang province will host the ninth National Games in 2011.
Champassak is upgrading and expanding the provincial football stadium to a capacity of more than 15,000 seats ahead of the National Games.
The LNSC changed its original plan to hold SEA Games events in Savannakhet province, which has a 20,000 capacity football stadium, to allow Champassak province to host some events.
it might be good for vientiane risidents to watch the Game in Vientiane, I think the LNSC has made a right decision for not holding SEAGAME in other locations. because this is the first Seagame and First biggest international sport event for us, Probably the gov considered as to the safety of sportmen .
