The SEA Games Federation (SEAGF) has approved 390 events in 25 sports to be scheduled at next year's 25th SEA Games in Laos .

The SEAGF council met in Vientiane yesterday with leaders of federations from member nations to finalise events for the games, after two days of discussion.

Chairman of the SEA Games Federation Council meeting Dr Phouthong Sengakhom (third right) speaks to delegates from other members of the federation. –Photo Sangkhomsay

SEAGF Council Chairman Dr Phouthong Sengakhom said the meeting covered sports for competition and TV rights for next year's games, plans for the 50th anniversary of SEAGF, establishment of a SEAGF coordinating office, progress of preparations for the 2009 games, and potential host nations for the next games in 2011.

Dr Phouthong, who is also President of the Lao National Sports Committee and Lao National Olympic Committee, said the meeting had agreed that Laos would organise a ceremony to celebrate SEAGF's 50th anniversary in Vientiane in June next year.

At the meeting, Lao officials presented a progress report on preparations for the games including sporting venues, accommodation for athletes and officials, the media centre, and transport and traffic arrangements.

The games will run from December 9 and 18, with the opening ceremony to take place on December 13.

Dr Phouthong thanked SEAGF members for supporting Laos in hosting the games, as well as the governments of Vietnam and Thailand for supporting the construction of infrastructure for the games.

The 25 sports to be contested at the games are 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, shuttle**** and pencak silat.

Competition venues include 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; Chaoanouvong stadium in Anou village, Chanthabouly district; the Army stadium at Km 5 and the Vientiane Sports Department stadium in Beungkhayong village, Sisattanak district.