Monday, February 15, 2010

25th Southeast Asian Games Information

The 25th Southeast Asian Games is scheduled to be held in Vientiane, Laos, in 2009. It will also be SEA Games 50th year since its inception. This will be the first time the country has ever held a Southeast Asian Games. Laos, the host country, is hoping to grab at least 25 of the 390 gold medals at stake. Two white elephants which symbolized Laos once "the kingdom of million elephants" (Lan Xang) were chosen as the Official Mascots.

The names of the elephants are Ms. Champee and Mr. Champa represent the national flower of Laos.

The founding seven members were Thailand, Philippines, Malaya (now Malaysia), Laos, South Vietnam (now Vietnam), Burma (now Myanmar), and Cambodia. The Southeast Asian Games Federation numbers grew over time and Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam and Timor-Leste joined the ranks.

Vietnam has agreed to help out in the staging and organization of sports and footing the bill on a new $19 million Games Village. Thailand has offered exchange lesson for Laos's officials for more pointers in SEA Games preparation, which is worth some $2.9 million. Singapore are to provide teachers and technicians, and organization such as the Yuuwakai Association of Japan has agreed to donate US$100,000 for the new Karatedo training center in Laos, while China has agreed to chalk up the main cost for the new Laos National Stadium.

It is estimated a total US$85 million worth of aid has been handed by various nations. With the outpouring of international help, it is reported that the progress of Laos preparation for the SEA Games have been encouraging.

During the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane , to run from December 9-18, action will be broadcast live on 14 television channels in six countries.

A meeting took place in Vientiane yesterday to discuss TV broadcasting fees and copyright. Television networks that have agreed in principle to broadcast the SEA Games live are Brunei Radio and Television, Lao National Radio and Lao National Television, Lao Star Channel, Forever Group Co. Ltd (FRTB4-Myanmar), Media Corp TV Singapore Pte. Ltd, National Broadcasting Service of Thailand (NBT), TPBS, Channel 7, Channel 5, VTC Digital-Vietnam, VTV, TOT Co. Ltd., and CAT Telecom Co. Ltd.

The Phetchampa Advertising Company (PAC) is representing the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee (LAOSOC) and hosted the TV broadcasting rights meeting on duties and copyright for broadcasting in six Asean countries. Vice President of the Lao National Olympic Committee, Mr Chanpheng Silattana, representatives from LAOSOC and from Asean countries attended the meeting.

PAC Director, Mr Khammoui Keomany, said he was looking forward to cooperating with LAOSOC and the Lao people to successfully selling TV broadcasting rights for the games. Laos will use about 16 mobile broadcasting vans to cover all sports venues and will employ more than 144 people to work in production.

The budget for the management of TV broadcasting is about 34 billion kip (US$4 million).On the same day, LAOSOC officials reported progress on the sports complex and many other venues that are yet to be completed.

In addition to this, there is set to be coverage of specific events by individual magazines, such as PoolAsia for all the aquatic events. Venues include the main sports complex, indoor stadiums at the National University of Laos, the Chao-Anou football stadium, the Lao-ITECC arena and the Bungkha-nhong indoor stadium.