Recorded clips of the 25th SEA Games football match between Vietnam and Malaysia from Group A. It was the first match of the day at National Stadium Sports Complex Main Stadium in Vientiane, Laos.
The first 16 minutes of the game is not available but you didn’t miss much of anything since no one made a score yet.
Vietnam V Malaysia Football SEA Games part 1
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Vietnamese firm casts SEA Games medals
MarCom Chairman and General Director Nguyen Hien Luong said that the company surpassed experienced rivals from China and Thailand to win the medal-casting contract thanks to their careful research of Lao culture and history.
Luong said that his company spent eight months learning about Lao people and their lives so that its medal designs clearly reflect Laotian culture.
The front side of the 25th SEA Games medals depicts the Thatl Luong pagoda, a famous tourist site in Laos. Below the pagoda in English are the words “SEA Games 25th Laos”. The medals are decorated by Champa flowers and leaves, symbols of Laos.
The medal’s back side is a big, blossomed champa flower with five petals. In the center of the flower are Champa and Champi elephants, sacred animals for the 25th SEA Games.
VietNamNet/Tuoi Tre
Luong said that his company spent eight months learning about Lao people and their lives so that its medal designs clearly reflect Laotian culture.
The front side of the 25th SEA Games medals depicts the Thatl Luong pagoda, a famous tourist site in Laos. Below the pagoda in English are the words “SEA Games 25th Laos”. The medals are decorated by Champa flowers and leaves, symbols of Laos.
The medal’s back side is a big, blossomed champa flower with five petals. In the center of the flower are Champa and Champi elephants, sacred animals for the 25th SEA Games.
VietNamNet/Tuoi Tre
Saturday, December 5, 2009
25th SEA Games 2009 Opening/Closing Ceremony Rehearsal
We reported an earlier similar report of the 25th SEA Games Opening/Closing ceremony preview last month, and today’s report is another one. With the video below, you can observe a much more refined rehearsal, and what to expect when the Games ceremony opens.
Friday, December 4, 2009
ไทยหวังเก็บ 100 เหรียญทองครองเจ้าซีเกมส์
“เสธ.โต” พล.ร.อ.สุรวุฒิ มหารมณ์ ประธานคณะกรรมการเตรียมนักกีฬาไทย เปิดเผยถึงเป้าหมายของทีมไทย ในกีฬาซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 ที่เวียงจันทน์เกม สาธารณรัฐประชาธิปไตยประชาชนลาว ระหว่างวันที่ 9-18 ธ.ค. ว่า ความหวังสูงสุดของการแข่งขันกีฬาย่อมหนีไม่พ้นการครองเจ้าเหรียญทอง โดยเฉพาะชนิดกีฬาที่เป็นกีฬาสากล แต่จะต้องเป็นไปอย่างบริสุทธิ์ยุติธรรมด้วย ทั้งนี้ ภายหลังจากที่คณะกรรมการกีฬาแห่งประเทศไทย ได้เชิญสมาคมกีฬาทั้งหมดเข้าร่วมหารือถึงแผนงานและงบประมาณ พร้อมกับแนวทางการเตรียมทีมและความหวังของแต่ละสมาคมกีฬาแล้ว โดยเบื้องต้นพอจะสรุปเป้าหมายเหรียญทองของนักกีฬาไทยคร่าว ๆ ไว้ที่ประมาณ 100 เหรียญทองซึ่งจากการจบการแข่งขันกีฬาซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 24 ที่ จ.นครราชสีมา เมื่อวันที่ 6-15 ธันวาคม ที่ผ่านมาแล้ว ทัพนักกีฬาไทยครองตำแหน่งเจ้าเหรียญทอง ด้วยการทำได้ 183 เหรียญทอง 123 เหรียญเงิน 103 เหรียญทองแดง
ประธานคณะกรรมการเตรียมนักกีฬา กล่าวแสดงความเห็นเกี่ยวกับปัญหาของการพัฒนาวงการกีฬาไทยว่า การศึกษากับนักกีฬาถือว่า เป็นอุปสรรคอย่างหนึ่งของวงการกีฬาไทย ที่ยังไม่มีการวางแผนระบบที่ดีและชัดเจน แม้จะรู้ถึงปัญหามานานแล้วก็ตาม นักกีฬาของเราส่วนใหญ่ ต้องเรียนควบคู่ไปกับการฝึกซ้อม โดยที่ระบบยังไม่เอื้อ เช่น เรื่องการเดินทาง ที่ต้องใช้เวลามาก หรือไม่ก็ระบบการศึกษา และกิจกรรมที่ได้รับมอบหมาย ทำให้นักกีฬา ต้องทำหลายๆ อย่างพร้อมกัน จึงไม่เต็มที่ ต่างกับประเทศจีน ที่ประสบความสำเร็จมาก เพราะนักกีฬาฝึกซ้อมตลอดปี ไม่ต้องเรียน มีวินัย มีกรอบที่ชัดเจน
จากการที่จีนมีประชากรมาก จึงวางระบบไม่ให้ชีวิตนักกีฬายาวมาก แค่ 25-26 ปีก็พอแล้ว และหลังจากที่หันหลังให้กับทีมชาติจึงมุ่งหน้ากลับไปศึกษาเล่าเรียนซึ่งจะ สามารถจบปริญญาตรี ราวอายุ 35-36 ปี ก็ยังไม่สายจนเกินไป เพราะมีแผนรองรับในส่วนนี้ ส่วนประเทศที่พัฒนาแล้วอย่าง สหรัฐ มีระบบอีกแบบหนึ่ง คือ เมื่อเข้าเก็บตัวในศูนย์ฝึกนักกีฬา มีมหาวิทยาลัย หรือโรงเรียนอยู่ข้างๆ ในรูปแบบของคอมเพล็กซ์ ดังนั้น เราจึงต้องเร่งหาระบบจัดการที่เหมาะสมกับเราเองให้มากที่สุด หากต้องการพัฒนาไปไกลกว่านี้
เสธ.โต กล่าวทิ้งท้ายว่า จากการประเมินทั้ง 25 ชนิดกีฬาแล้ว ทัพนักกีฬาของไทยจะคว้ามาได้ 100 ทอง เมื่อหักตัวแปร อื่น ๆ 15 เปอร์เซ็นต์แล้ว ในกีฬาซีเกมส์ ครั้งนี้ มั่นใจว่า นักกีฬาไทยจะได้ครองเจ้าซีเกมส์อีกสมัยอย่างแน่นอน แต่การประเมินดังกล่าวคงทำวันเดียวไม่เสร็จเพราะต้องลงลึกในรายละเอียดว่า แต่ละสมาคมมีผลงานพัฒนาขึ้นหรือไม่อย่างไร จำนวนเหรียญทองไม่สามารถชี้วัดความสำเร็จได้เสมอไป
ส่วน บิ๊กต้อม ธนา ไชยประสิทธิ์ หัวหน้าคณะนักกีฬาไทย บอกว่า สรุปยอดรวมนักกีฬาอยู่ที่ 544 คน โดยชุดแรกทีม ฟุตบอลชายได้เดินทางไปเมื่อ วันที่ 29 พ.ย. เพื่อเตรียมตัวลงแข่งนัดแรก 2 ธ.ค. จากนั้น จะเป็นฟุตบอลหญิง 1 ธ.ค. และ โปโลน้ำ 2 ธ.ค. ส่วนชุดใหญ่จะเดินทาง 7 ธ.ค. สำหรับกรณีของคาราเต้โด ที่มีการตัดตัวนักกีฬากะทันหันจะติดตามเรื่องนี้อีกครั้ง เพราะมีผลกระทบกับนักกีฬาโดยตรง
"คาดว่าในซีเกมส์ครั้งที่ 25 ที่มีการชิงชัย 370 เหรียญทอง จาก 25 ชนิดกีฬา นักกีฬาไทยจะทำได้รวม 99 เหรียญทอง ประกอบด้วย แบดมินตัน 2 ทอง, ตะกร้อ 5 ทอง, มวยปล้ำ 2 ทอง, เทเบิลเทนนิส 1 ทอง, เทควันโด 3 ทอง, จักรยาน 2 ทอง, กอล์ฟ 4 ทอง, กรีฑา 17 ทอง, เปตอง 5 ทอง, วูซู 2 ทอง, ฟุตบอล 2 ทอง, บิลเลียด-สนุกเกอร์ 2 ทอง, ยูโด 4 ทอง, ปันจักสีลัต 3 ทอง, วอลเลย์บอล 2 ทอง, มวยไทย 5 ทอง, มวยสากลสมัครเล่น 6 ทอง, ยิงธนู 2 ทอง, ฟินสวิมมิ่ง 2 ทอง, คาราเต้โด 2 ทอง, เทนนิส 5 ทอง, ว่ายน้ำ 2 ทอง, ยกน้ำหนัก 5 ทอง, ยิงปืน 14 ทอง "
ณ เวลานี้แฟนๆ กีฬาชาวไทยคงต้องนับถอยหลังเพื่อก้าวสู่การแข่งขันซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 25 รวมทั้งร่วมเชียร์และเป็นกำลังใจให้กับทัพนักกีฬาไทยในการแข่งขันครั้งนี้เพื่อเก็บเหรียญทองมาฝากแฟนๆกีฬาชาวไทยเพื่อต้อนรับปีใหม่ 2553
more:http://www.sportinter.com/front/worldSportById.php?newsId=188&sportId=5
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Lao-ITECC stadium ready for games to begin
The indoor stadium at Lao- ITECC will host the sepak takraw, wushu and pencak silat events during the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane next month. The stadium comprises two floors on which the SEA Games Organising Committee has modified two rings especially for the wushu and pencak silat events. Each arena has seating for 400 spectators and offices for event officials. The sepak takraw and wushu events will take place on the first floor of the stadium, while pencak silat contests will be held on the upper floor which is still undergoing renovations.SEA Games Construction Project Manager Khiengkham Phouthchanhthavong said 750 million kip was spent on improving the indoor stadium and arenas. Mr Khiengkham said the three arenas will be of international standard and have excellent facilities for athletes, officials and spectators. The national pencak silat and wushu teams are currently training at the National Sports Training Centre in Sikeut village, Naxaithong district. The wushu team won one silver and two bronze medals at the last SEA Games in Thailand in 2007, while the pencak silat team won a bronze medal. Pencak silat events will consist of weight divisions ranging from 45 to 80kg for males and 45 to 65kg for females. The Lao Pencak Silat Federation has sent the national team to train in Hanoi, Vietnam, until the end of this month.
A SEA Games ring at Lao-ITECC.
The 21 male and four female fighters are training in Vietnam under the guidance of Indonesian and Vietnamese trainers. Eleven male and five female wushu fighters in various weight divisions are currently training at the National Sports Training Centre under the guidance of Mr Cui Jian Gong from China.
The Lao Judo Federation hosted the East Asia Judo Championships at the indoor stadium in August to test judo athletes and event organisers in the lead-up to the games.
Source: Vientiane Times
http://www.laoseagames2009.com/v1/newsx2009xnovx25b.asp
Sunday, November 22, 2009
348 volunteers trained for the SEA Games
To ensure a high standard of service from the transport Committee, 348 volunteers have been trained to work during the SEA Games as Liaison Officers (LO) and volunteers Officers (VO). The volunteers will work in different areas of transport management including parking, public transport and air transport and vehicle management committees. They will also contribute to administrative functions in the secretariat and financial management committees. The train course, which started on 9 November at the National University’s Dongdok Campus, banking institutions, financial colleges, Lattana colleges and other colleges and institutions in Vientiane Capital.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Lattanamany Khounnivong, Head of the Public works and Transport Ministry’s Office and Chairman of the transport committee for the 25th SEA Games, spoke about important role of volunteers in the success of the SEA Game, which will be held at Vientiane in December Mr Lattanamany urged all volunteers who took part in the course to take their volunteer role seriously and to serve guests attending the SEA Games responsibly. The training course will conclude on 12 November.
form: http://www.laoseagames2009.com/v1/newsx2009xnovx19a.asp
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Lattanamany Khounnivong, Head of the Public works and Transport Ministry’s Office and Chairman of the transport committee for the 25th SEA Games, spoke about important role of volunteers in the success of the SEA Game, which will be held at Vientiane in December Mr Lattanamany urged all volunteers who took part in the course to take their volunteer role seriously and to serve guests attending the SEA Games responsibly. The training course will conclude on 12 November.
form: http://www.laoseagames2009.com/v1/newsx2009xnovx19a.asp
SEA Games flag raising test held at SEA Games Village
A ceremony to test the raising of the flags of the 10 ASEAN countries and Timor Leste was held on 12 November at the SEA Games Village (Dongdok). Among the high ranking leaders at the ceremony were Standing Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the 25th SEA Games organizing committee Somsavat Lengsavad, Dr. Phouthong Sengakom, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, Chairman of the Lao national Sports Committee and vice Chairman of the 25th SEA Games organizing committee also a number of senior officials. This demonstration event tested all parts of the ceremony including the role of the master of ceremonies.
The opening and closing address of SEA Games Village major, the flag raising by the heads of all delegations and the flag raising by the officers from the Ministry of National Defense. The demonstration gift and souvenirs presentation to the head of all delegation was also held at the practice event.
A second demonstration will be held on 26 November in order to ensure the quality and readiness of the ceremony.
Source: LAOSOC Team
The opening and closing address of SEA Games Village major, the flag raising by the heads of all delegations and the flag raising by the officers from the Ministry of National Defense. The demonstration gift and souvenirs presentation to the head of all delegation was also held at the practice event.
A second demonstration will be held on 26 November in order to ensure the quality and readiness of the ceremony.
Source: LAOSOC Team
Monday, October 19, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
U-23 football event not just for 22-year-olds
Many people wonder why Thailand and Vietnam are sending U-19 players to the pre-SEA Games football tournament that will kick off in Vientiane on Friday, even though the invitation is for U-23 players.
General Secretary of the Lao Football Federation, Mr Soulivanh Xeunvilay, gave Vientiane Times an answer to this question yesterday, saying it was a strategic move by regionally popular teams to keep their main players under wraps.
“The U-23 category doesn't mean only 22-year-old footballers can be on the team, but that players are not any older than 23. This gives teams the leeway to send players in a wide age range and keep their main players out of sight until the actual SEA Games,” he said.
Vietnam and Thailand recently made the decision not to send their under-23 squads to participate in the pre-SEA Games tournament, instead sending their U-19 teams.
The Football Association of Thailand said its under-23 team could not participate in the tournament because many players were committed to playing in the ongoing Thai Premier League. Vietnam explained their team was busy training for the SEA Games in December, and did not want to disrupt its preparations.
The Lao Football Federation, Lao National Television and the Crossfire Company are jointly hosting the Four Nations pre-games football tournament.
The tournament will see Lao, Malaysian, Thai and Vietnamese footballers play in Vientiane from October 2-6 with the aim of testing the broadcasting system and facilities at the new National Stadium.
The tournament is playing an important role in the 25th SEA Games by testing the football pitch, broadcasting system and other aspects related to the big event.
Tickets for these matches cost 40,000 kip for general admission and 80,000 kip for VIP seating. The money from ticket sales will be used to fund local football.
The tournament is set to take place at the new National Stadium at km16 in Dongxanghin village, Xaythany district. On October 2, Thailand will take on Malaysia , and Laos will play Vietnam.
October 4 will see Malaysia up against Vietnam , and Laos facing Thailand . The last day of the tournament will pit Laos against Malaysia , and Vietnam with Thailand .
Games will kick off at 4:30pm and 7pm. All matches will be broadcast live on Lao National Television.
Crossfire reported that many people wanted to buy tickets for the event but didn't know where they were sold. Tickets will be available at M-Point Mart and at roadside Tigo stands in Vientiane , as well as during the boat racing festival at Vat Chan village in Chanthabouly district.
Source : http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/Site_SeaGames/News/News_Archive/News_U_23.htm
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Athletes need more encouragement
Standing Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the SEA Games Organising Committee, Mr Somsavat Lengsavad, has urged all 25 sporting federations to further encourage athletes training for the SEA Games later this year.
“The games are rapidly approaching and encouragement for our athletes is lacking so I want all federations to boost their encouragement for those who will compete on behalf of our country,” he said at a recent meeting between the committee and federations.
He said all Lao athletes had sacrificed much in their dedication to compete for their country and could be discouraged by the lack of support from sporting officials.
He cited the example of some athletes who had returned home from training abroad because they had a sick family member but were disappointed by the lack of support from their respective federation.
“Such events leave our athletes with bad feelings and they feel there is no one to help them when they face a problem,” Mr Somsavat said.
He said if an athlete's relative fell ill federation officials should take care of that person and their family in a show of support for the athlete's dedication to their country.
Such problems may seem small and inconsequential and are easy to overlook, so the federations must take care to pay close attention to such details in the lead-up to the games, he said.
Mr Somsavat said all federations should regularly meet with their athletes to consult with them and find out if they are facing any problems.
He asked each federation to set up a team to oversee this aspect and solve any issues raised by athletes.
“Doing so will encourage athletes in their endeavours and allow them to fully concentrate on preparing for the games.”
The meeting also heard that athletes receive 45,000 kip per day for food plus 25,000 kip for additional expenses.
Mr Somsavat called for a 15,000 kip increase in the food allowance from October 1 as part of efforts to further encourage athletes.
“Each federation should discuss athletes' dietary requirements with nutritionists to ensure they are able to train and perform at their peak,” he said.
Source : http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/Site_SeaGames/News/News_Archive/News_Athletes.htm
“The games are rapidly approaching and encouragement for our athletes is lacking so I want all federations to boost their encouragement for those who will compete on behalf of our country,” he said at a recent meeting between the committee and federations.
He said all Lao athletes had sacrificed much in their dedication to compete for their country and could be discouraged by the lack of support from sporting officials.
He cited the example of some athletes who had returned home from training abroad because they had a sick family member but were disappointed by the lack of support from their respective federation.
“Such events leave our athletes with bad feelings and they feel there is no one to help them when they face a problem,” Mr Somsavat said.
He said if an athlete's relative fell ill federation officials should take care of that person and their family in a show of support for the athlete's dedication to their country.
Such problems may seem small and inconsequential and are easy to overlook, so the federations must take care to pay close attention to such details in the lead-up to the games, he said.
Mr Somsavat said all federations should regularly meet with their athletes to consult with them and find out if they are facing any problems.
He asked each federation to set up a team to oversee this aspect and solve any issues raised by athletes.
“Doing so will encourage athletes in their endeavours and allow them to fully concentrate on preparing for the games.”
The meeting also heard that athletes receive 45,000 kip per day for food plus 25,000 kip for additional expenses.
Mr Somsavat called for a 15,000 kip increase in the food allowance from October 1 as part of efforts to further encourage athletes.
“Each federation should discuss athletes' dietary requirements with nutritionists to ensure they are able to train and perform at their peak,” he said.
Source : http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/Site_SeaGames/News/News_Archive/News_Athletes.htm
Thailand ranking raises medal hopes for Sitthideth
Star snooker player Mr Sitthideth Satbieng will be feeling more confident of his medal chances at the SEA Games after taking third place at a high level tournament in Thailand .
Sitthideth reached the semifinal at the world Division 2 snooker tournament in Bangkok last week before being knocked out by a Thai opponent.
The competition, from August 26 to September 5, saw 160 players from France, Australia, India, Laos and hosts Thailand battle it out for a place in the semi finals, which left Sitthideth and three Thai players remaining.
The Lao Snooker Federation entered six players, three of whom made it to the third round.
The Lao team returned to Vientiane last week after training in Bangkok over the past two months before taking part in the tournament. Now they will continue their training in Vientiane in the lead up to the SEA Games.
Sitthideth, 26, was born in Xei-no village in Savannakhet's Outhoumphone district, and began playing snooker when he was 13 years old.
He worked as a resident professional at a snooker club in Bangkok for two years, and has competed in other Division 2 events, which are held five times a year.
Sitthideth rocketed to the top of the sport in Laos after winning no less than three gold medals in the men's singles, doubles and team events at the eighth National Games in Champassak province last December, where he represented Savannakhet province.
The Lao players are expecting a Thai coach to arrive at the end of October to help them continue to improve. They have been training since March, and living on site in the snooker federation's dormitory.
The Lao snooker starting team consists of three women and seven men. There are a further five substitutes among the men, selected by the federation at the National Games.
Snooker players at the 25th SEA Games will compete in men's and women's singles and doubles heats.
The snooker federation will send the Lao team to compete in the Asian Indoor Games in Hanoi , Vietnam , from October to November, their last rehearsal before the SEA Games in December.
The Thai, Philippine, Singapore and Malaysian teams are the hottest tip to win medals at the games, but if the Lao players continue to hit form they could have an opportunity to keep some medals at home. .
Sitthideth reached the semifinal at the world Division 2 snooker tournament in Bangkok last week before being knocked out by a Thai opponent.
The competition, from August 26 to September 5, saw 160 players from France, Australia, India, Laos and hosts Thailand battle it out for a place in the semi finals, which left Sitthideth and three Thai players remaining.
The Lao Snooker Federation entered six players, three of whom made it to the third round.
The Lao team returned to Vientiane last week after training in Bangkok over the past two months before taking part in the tournament. Now they will continue their training in Vientiane in the lead up to the SEA Games.
Sitthideth, 26, was born in Xei-no village in Savannakhet's Outhoumphone district, and began playing snooker when he was 13 years old.
He worked as a resident professional at a snooker club in Bangkok for two years, and has competed in other Division 2 events, which are held five times a year.
Sitthideth rocketed to the top of the sport in Laos after winning no less than three gold medals in the men's singles, doubles and team events at the eighth National Games in Champassak province last December, where he represented Savannakhet province.
The Lao players are expecting a Thai coach to arrive at the end of October to help them continue to improve. They have been training since March, and living on site in the snooker federation's dormitory.
The Lao snooker starting team consists of three women and seven men. There are a further five substitutes among the men, selected by the federation at the National Games.
Snooker players at the 25th SEA Games will compete in men's and women's singles and doubles heats.
The snooker federation will send the Lao team to compete in the Asian Indoor Games in Hanoi , Vietnam , from October to November, their last rehearsal before the SEA Games in December.
The Thai, Philippine, Singapore and Malaysian teams are the hottest tip to win medals at the games, but if the Lao players continue to hit form they could have an opportunity to keep some medals at home. .
Laos SEA Games will be broadcast LIVE in 6 countries
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. 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. The venues are being built with the installation of broadcasting facilities in mind as provision of broadcasting equipment at each venue is a requirement for hosting the games. The national football stadium at Dongsanghin village in Xaythany district will be inspected and tested in June by LAOSOC before hosting the games' opening and closing ceremonies in December. Source: Vientianetimes
Laos SEA Games will be broadcast LIVE in 6 countries
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. 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. The venues are being built with the installation of broadcasting facilities in mind as provision of broadcasting equipment at each venue is a requirement for hosting the games. The national football stadium at Dongsanghin village in Xaythany district will be inspected and tested in June by LAOSOC before hosting the games' opening and closing ceremonies in December. Source: Vientianetimes
Pre-25th SEA Games 2009 : 4 Nation Football Tournament
The Lao Football Federation and Television Nationale Lao are pleased to present the first 4-Nations Football Tournament in the new National Sports Stadium. October 2 to October 6. Six matches with the national teams from Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
In preparations for the 2009 SEA Games Laos, the Lao Football Federation, Lao National Television, and Crossfire Co. Ltd, are proud to announce the 2009 4-Nations Football Tournament. The national teams from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Laos are playing an AFC sanctioned tournament, to promote the SEA Games theme of Generosity, Amity, and a Healthy Lifestyle in live television broadcasts throughout the pan-Asian region.
The Lao Football Federation’s goal for this tournament is to help prepare the SEA Games Committee, Lao National Television, and the National Stadium support workers to train in a live tournament before the Sea Games. To help support this effort, the Lao Football Federation appointed Crossfire to manage the event. Crossfire has linked services with Total Sports Asia, an international media company, to bring in experts from around the world to offer training to the SEA Games personnel, and to Lao National Television.
In preparations for the 2009 SEA Games Laos, the Lao Football Federation, Lao National Television, and Crossfire Co. Ltd, are proud to announce the 2009 4-Nations Football Tournament. The national teams from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Laos are playing an AFC sanctioned tournament, to promote the SEA Games theme of Generosity, Amity, and a Healthy Lifestyle in live television broadcasts throughout the pan-Asian region.
The Lao Football Federation’s goal for this tournament is to help prepare the SEA Games Committee, Lao National Television, and the National Stadium support workers to train in a live tournament before the Sea Games. To help support this effort, the Lao Football Federation appointed Crossfire to manage the event. Crossfire has linked services with Total Sports Asia, an international media company, to bring in experts from around the world to offer training to the SEA Games personnel, and to Lao National Television.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
The Mascot of the 25th SEA Games in the year 2009
The Mascot of the 25th SEA Games in the year 2009 is white elephants with sapphire tusk which are existing animals in Laos for a long time. Male elephant called Champa and female elephant called Champi. Both elephants dress up with beautiful Lao national clothes and being full of happy and smiling faces and eyes. This is an important part to make sport competition joyful and lively. More importantly, it is expressing warm welcome feeling of Lao PDR as the host country for the 25th SEA Games.
from: http://www.laosoc.com/mascots.htm
SEA Games body starts screening of athletes for Laos
The Philippine Southeast Asian (SEA) Games Technical Committee will begin scrutinizing the records of the candidate athletes for the 2009 regional games slated later this year in Vientiane, Laos.
SEA Games Chef de Mission and technical committee head Mario Tanchangco said screening starts at 10 a.m. on Thursday at the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) office in Philsports Complex in Pasig with combat sports judo, karate, pencat silat, tae kwon do, muay and wushu comprising the first batch.
“After a series of positive meeting with the PSC [Philippine Sports Commission] led by Chairman Harry Angping, POC President Jose Cojuangco ordered us to screen the initial list of candidate athletes so we can came out with a ball park figure of the team’s composition,” said Tanchangco, president of the Philippine Amateur Sepak Takraw Association.
Other members of the committee are Efren Binag of table tennis, Dave Carter of judo, Julian Camacho of wushu and some representatives of the PSC.
“When we’re done with this one-on-one meeting with the national sports associations, we can give PSC a number for them to have an idea on how many athletes will comprise our delegation,” added Tanchangco.
The committee is tasked to analyze the past records of a certain athlete endorsed by their respective national sports association.
Tanchangco stressed that only those athletes who are capable of landing in the podium can qualify for in the national team bound for Laos.
“We are sending a lean but mean team. We will be stricter this time to make sure that all athletes are competent enough before going to Laos. If there are many qualified athletes, then so be it,” he said.
The PSC has earlier allotted P30-million budget for the country’s participation in the biennial meet. --
from: http://www.yehey.com/
SEA Games facilities not ready
ORGANIZERS of the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Laos, which will be hosting the games for the first time, said they need at least two more months to complete the construction of the venues and other facilities.
This was according to Deputy Prime Minister and chairman of the 25th SEA Games Organizing Committee Somsavat Lengsavad and senior LNSC officials following an ocular inspection they conducted on the main stadium, the golf course, the main access roads and the Athletes’ Village.
Work was supposed to be finished by March, but according to the Games’ official Web site, the Chinese and Korean companies involved in the construction work are having a difficult time completing the job at the main venue in the Saythany district.
The foreign contractors said the delay was caused by several factors, one of which is the dry summer season, which is not suitable for growing grass inside the football stadium. The grass will only be planted in June, which is the start of the rainy season.
Also, the land around the golf course have yet to be cleared because “some people have yet to leave their homes to make way for the construction.”
Lao Golf Federation president Songkham Silaphets said the course would be completed in May, “as long as plans don’t change.”
Meanwhile, the access road is reportedly 75 percent complete and will be landscaped by May, while engineers from the two companies said it is also difficult to dig drainage channels and install electricity around the main stadium and other venues, prompting Somsavat to ask the Ministry of Public Works and Transport committee to cooperate with the contractors regarding these problems.
More than 400 Lao workers are involved in the construction at a cost of more than $100 million.
A ceremony to hand over the stadium to the Lao government will take place in September.
The 25 events of the 2009 SEA Games to be held in Vientiane in December will be scattered around the eight stadiums. Peter Atencio
from: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=homepage
Karate coach suffers early blow ahead of SEA Games
PETALING JAYA: Karate coach P. Arivalagan has received an early setback in preparing exponents to defend the SEA Games overall title in Laos in December.
Arivalagan has been forced to leave out Pavitern Prataban from the training squad. The exponent for the above 80kg kumite event torn a ligament in his left knee during a training stint in Japan last week and will be out for six months.
The 18-year-old Sukma (Malaysia Games) gold medallist in Terengganu last year was the only exponent from the back-up squad to be promoted to the senior ranks this year. Last month, Pavitern took silver in the Hong Kong Open.
Although Pavitern is expected to return to training before the Laos Games, Arivalagan said that he was leaving him out of the team.
“He needs about three months to be ready for competition. We would have gone through the intensive training period when he returns and it would be difficult for him to catch up,” he said.
“Pavitern was one of the better ones from the junior ranks and I had wanted to include him for the Asian Martial Arts Games in Bangkok (now postponed because of the political turmoil in Thailand). But this is a serious injury and I had to exclude him.”
Arivalagan added that he would be looking at another back-up exponent, G. Nagatheeban, as the replacement.
“I have him in my mind and I will evaluate his performances in competitions before making a decision,” he said.
The national championships will be in June while the KOI World Cup will be held in Sarawak the following month.
At the 2007 SEA Games in Korat, Malaysia emerged as overall champions with eight gold medals.
from: http://thestar.com.my/
Volleyball seeks redemption in SEA Games
THE national women’s indoor volleyball team wants to come back strong in the 25th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games slated later this year in Vientiane, Laos.
The Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) national coach Thelma Barina-Rojas is seeking for a fruitful return after failing to compete in the 24th edition in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand two years ago.
Barina-Rojas, the former SEA Games best spiker and Most Valuable Player, disclosed that the reigning champion Thailand is still the force to reckon with.
“We will be fighting for silver medal. The Thais have had years of preparation. They are well-experienced having competed in some of the world’s prestigious tournaments,” said Barina-Rojas, a member of the champion team in the 1993 Singapore SEA Games.
The PVF decided not to send a squad in the men’s and women’s indoor volleyball competitions due to retirement of veteran players.
The last time the Philippines participated in indoor volleyball was in 2005 Manila Games where the Filipina spikers placed third behind Thailand and Vietnam.
“It’s really a tall order to beat Thailand. It’s going to be a big challenge because majority of the players are 20 years old and below but we are optimistic,” added Barina-Rojas.
The national team is composed of Mary Jean Balse, Michiko Castañeda, Dahlia Cruz, Rubie de Leon, Raysabelle Devanadera, Rhea Dimaculangan, Juwelyn Gonzaga, Nasella Gulliman, Cathy Kwan, Lawrence Ann Latigay, Lilet Mabbayad, Aiza Maizo, Mikaela Morada, Maika Angela Ortiz, Aeriel Patnongon, Princess Pido, Suzanne Roces, Aleona Santiago, Ma. Angeli Tabaquero, Alysa Valdez, Cindy Velasquez, Charmaine Velez, and Venus Bernal.
from: http://www.yehey.com/sports/
Vietnam pledges assistance to Laos' 25th SEA Games
Vientiane (VNA) – Vietnam will send equipments for competition houses and provide technical assistance to help Laos prepare for the organisation of the 25 th SEA Games, scheduled for December.
The pledge was made meetings between Vietnamese sports experts and Lao colleagues regarding cooperation in the organisation of Southeast Asia’s largest sports event.
The Vietnamese experts, led by Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee Hoang Vinh Giang, also shared with Lao officials practical experiences from the organisation of the 23 rd SEA Games in 2007. (VNA)
from: enews.mcot.net
The pledge was made meetings between Vietnamese sports experts and Lao colleagues regarding cooperation in the organisation of Southeast Asia’s largest sports event.
The Vietnamese experts, led by Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee Hoang Vinh Giang, also shared with Lao officials practical experiences from the organisation of the 23 rd SEA Games in 2007. (VNA)
from: enews.mcot.net
Nurdin Sesumbar Sepakbola SEA Games 2009 Sumbang Emas
Dengan dalih prestasi timnas U-23 dalam tiga tahun terakhir membaik, ketua umum PSSI Nurdin Halid sesumbar merebut medali emas di SEA Games 2009.
Oleh Yuslan KisraKetua umum PSSI Nurdin Halid [foto] kembali mengeluarkan pernyataan kontroversi, terkait capaian timnas U-23 di ajang SEA Games 2009 yang sesuai rencana digelar di Laos akhir tahun ini.
Menurutnya, dengan melihat tren yang dicapai timnas U-23 Indonesia dalam beberapa tahun terakhir, dirinya memastikan bisa meraih medali emas di ajang multi event tersebut.
Dikatakan Nurdin, target meraih medali emas adalah hal yang sangat realistis. Dan hal itu lanjutnya, sangat mungkin untuk bisa dicapai, mengingat perkembangan yang dicapai tim junior Merah Putih.
"Saya optimis medali emas di SEA Games nanti bisa dicapai. Sebab, timnas U-23 kita telah mengalami peningkatan dalam tiga tahun terakhir," koar Nurdin dihubungi wartawan, Minggu (5/4).
Sesumbar Nurdin ini tampaknya masih harus dibuktikan. Sebab, dalam beberapa tahun terakhir, justru sepakbola nasional sudah tertinggal jauh dari Thailand dan Singapura.
Bahkan, Vietnam yang sebelumnya selalu menjadi bulan-bulanan Indonesia, sudah sulit dikalahkan. Karena itu, cukup mengherankan jika Nurdin menyebut prestasi timnas junior dalam tiga tahun terakhir membaik.
from: www.goal.com
Duet Penyerang PSMS Berpeluang Masuk Pelatnas
Duet penyerang muda PSMS Medan, Andhika Yudhistira (23 tahun) dan Oktavianus “Okto” Maniani (20 tahun) berpeluang masuk pemusatan latihan nasional (pelatnas) tim nasional Indonesia U-23 SEA Games 2009 Laos.
Setelah diliburkan, sesuai rencana pelatnas akan kembali digelar di Palembang pada Senin, 18 Mei 2009, mendatang tetap di Palembang.
“Pelatnas mungkin akan kembali digelar mulai Senin. Saat ini, pelatih didampingi manajer tim sedang memantau pemain. Jadi tidak menutup kemungkinan akan dilakukan penambahan pemain,” ujar Wakil Ketua Badan Tim Nasional (BTN), Hamka B Kadi, kepada wartawan GOSport, Artha Tidar.
Kabar ketertarikan timnas Indonesia untuk merekrut Andhika dan Okto, disampaikan langsung oleh pelatih kepala timnas U-23 Indonesia, Cesar Payovich Perez. Ketertarikan Cesar dimulai sejak dua pemain ini tampil menjamu wakil Maladewa, VB Sport di lanjutan AFC Cup 2009.
Cesar saat ini kembali ke Uruguay, untuk mengatur manajemen kepelatihan timnas U-16 Indonesia yang tengah berlaga di Liga Junior Uruguay. Sedangkan untuk perekrutan pemain U-23, dia menyerahkan kepada asisten pelatihnya yang juga berkebangsaan Uruguay.
“Untuk kontrak pelatih, kami sudah menyetujui program yang diajukan Cesar. Tinggal membicarakan gaji. Saat ini dia sedang kembali ke Uruguay untuk mengatur tugas kepelatihan tim yang ada di sana. Karena dia masih menangani timnas U-16 SAD Indonesia, sehingga dia nanti bisa berkonsentrasi disini,” tambah Hamka.
Terkait biaya Pelatnas yang dibutuhkan PSSI untuk menyiapkan tim berlaga di SEA Games 2009, Hamka menjelaskan setidaknya membutuhkan dana Rp 7 miliar. Kendati Program Pelatnas saat ini terus berjalan, namun pihaknya hingga saat ini belum mengantongi dana Pelatnas dari pemerintah untuk SEA Games mendatang.
“Kamis (23 April 2009) lalu, kami mendapat surat dari KONI. Dalam surat tersebut disampaikan, hingga saat ini dana untuk pelatnas belum jelas berapa dari pemerintah. Kami tidak tahu sampai kapan kejelasannya. Yang pasti isi suratnya seperti itu,” kata Hamka.
Terkait anggaran yang diharapkan cair dari KONI, Hamka menjelaskan pihaknya akan mengajukan semuanya. Andai dana yang akan disetujui tersebut kurang dari rencana, maka pihaknya akan menyediakan sendiri.
“Jika misalnya hanya turun Rp 2 miliar, berarti kami harus menambah Rp 5 miliar. Di luar semua masalah ini, yang penting pelatnas harus tetap berjalan,” tandasnya.
Setelah diliburkan, sesuai rencana pelatnas akan kembali digelar di Palembang pada Senin, 18 Mei 2009, mendatang tetap di Palembang.
“Pelatnas mungkin akan kembali digelar mulai Senin. Saat ini, pelatih didampingi manajer tim sedang memantau pemain. Jadi tidak menutup kemungkinan akan dilakukan penambahan pemain,” ujar Wakil Ketua Badan Tim Nasional (BTN), Hamka B Kadi, kepada wartawan GOSport, Artha Tidar.
Kabar ketertarikan timnas Indonesia untuk merekrut Andhika dan Okto, disampaikan langsung oleh pelatih kepala timnas U-23 Indonesia, Cesar Payovich Perez. Ketertarikan Cesar dimulai sejak dua pemain ini tampil menjamu wakil Maladewa, VB Sport di lanjutan AFC Cup 2009.
Cesar saat ini kembali ke Uruguay, untuk mengatur manajemen kepelatihan timnas U-16 Indonesia yang tengah berlaga di Liga Junior Uruguay. Sedangkan untuk perekrutan pemain U-23, dia menyerahkan kepada asisten pelatihnya yang juga berkebangsaan Uruguay.
“Untuk kontrak pelatih, kami sudah menyetujui program yang diajukan Cesar. Tinggal membicarakan gaji. Saat ini dia sedang kembali ke Uruguay untuk mengatur tugas kepelatihan tim yang ada di sana. Karena dia masih menangani timnas U-16 SAD Indonesia, sehingga dia nanti bisa berkonsentrasi disini,” tambah Hamka.
Terkait biaya Pelatnas yang dibutuhkan PSSI untuk menyiapkan tim berlaga di SEA Games 2009, Hamka menjelaskan setidaknya membutuhkan dana Rp 7 miliar. Kendati Program Pelatnas saat ini terus berjalan, namun pihaknya hingga saat ini belum mengantongi dana Pelatnas dari pemerintah untuk SEA Games mendatang.
“Kamis (23 April 2009) lalu, kami mendapat surat dari KONI. Dalam surat tersebut disampaikan, hingga saat ini dana untuk pelatnas belum jelas berapa dari pemerintah. Kami tidak tahu sampai kapan kejelasannya. Yang pasti isi suratnya seperti itu,” kata Hamka.
Terkait anggaran yang diharapkan cair dari KONI, Hamka menjelaskan pihaknya akan mengajukan semuanya. Andai dana yang akan disetujui tersebut kurang dari rencana, maka pihaknya akan menyediakan sendiri.
“Jika misalnya hanya turun Rp 2 miliar, berarti kami harus menambah Rp 5 miliar. Di luar semua masalah ini, yang penting pelatnas harus tetap berjalan,” tandasnya.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Successful Team Within You
If you're like most people you are basically happy with a few areas of your life and then there are the other areas that you just can't seem to make work. Whether it is finance or relationship, career or health, you have some areas that always seem to be what you need the most work on. You are grateful for the easy parts of your life and you do everything you can to make the other areas work, but how can you get everything to work on an even keel through the Law of Attraction and make life just one big easy journey?
Learning about the Law of Attraction and realizing how your thoughts and feelings make a huge difference in life seems like it will be an easy task. Think positive, you are told, and it all works out. But there is much more to it than that. When you begin to think positively the old repetitive mental patterns that you have grown accustomed to or that perhaps you're not even aware of, begin to pop up and stop you in your tracks. The conscious mind doesn't enjoy change. It's not that it is resistant to it; it's just used to a certain way and prefers you being on automatic pilot.
When you begin to change your beliefs and mental patterns you find that it isn't as easy as you thought it would be. Many people just go back to the life they were living thinking it is just too hard to fight the logical chattering of the mind. But once you begin to work on changing a mental pattern and catching yourself in changing it, it will eventually become the repetitive mental pattern you were looking for and life will change.
See yourself as a Successful Team within. When thinking about what works and doesn't work in your life take each part and see what you like about that particular area of your life. When you come across the harder areas start visualizing that it is a part of your life that works and see each part working together, tapping the same energy that is used for your easier areas of life.
Begin to see it all as working together with life chugging along ever so smoothly. When you are able to openly examine every area and realize it all can be as easy as you envision, your body, your consciousness, your subconscious, your core being within, and the Universe will work together to make sure it happens.
Work on those mental patterns you no longer need in your life and begin to see yourself as a well-oiled machine that understands and rides over every bump nice and easy along your journey. As you begin to see ease and to acknowledge ease in your life, those wonderful thoughts and feelings will attract back to you through the Law of Attraction. You are one Successful Team within. Now it's time to bring out your number one players and have them help the weaker players by uniting them as one team working toward an easy and more fulfilling life using the LOA.
Beth & Lee McCain
Beth and Lee McCain host a popular nationally syndicated weekly radio show called Radio LOA, publish the national LOA magazine, The Indicator, and teach the principles of the Law of Attraction at gatherings and seminars around the world. You are invited to visit Beth and Lee McCain Law of Attraction Web Site for more Law of Attraction information and free study materials.
Learning about the Law of Attraction and realizing how your thoughts and feelings make a huge difference in life seems like it will be an easy task. Think positive, you are told, and it all works out. But there is much more to it than that. When you begin to think positively the old repetitive mental patterns that you have grown accustomed to or that perhaps you're not even aware of, begin to pop up and stop you in your tracks. The conscious mind doesn't enjoy change. It's not that it is resistant to it; it's just used to a certain way and prefers you being on automatic pilot.
When you begin to change your beliefs and mental patterns you find that it isn't as easy as you thought it would be. Many people just go back to the life they were living thinking it is just too hard to fight the logical chattering of the mind. But once you begin to work on changing a mental pattern and catching yourself in changing it, it will eventually become the repetitive mental pattern you were looking for and life will change.
See yourself as a Successful Team within. When thinking about what works and doesn't work in your life take each part and see what you like about that particular area of your life. When you come across the harder areas start visualizing that it is a part of your life that works and see each part working together, tapping the same energy that is used for your easier areas of life.
Begin to see it all as working together with life chugging along ever so smoothly. When you are able to openly examine every area and realize it all can be as easy as you envision, your body, your consciousness, your subconscious, your core being within, and the Universe will work together to make sure it happens.
Work on those mental patterns you no longer need in your life and begin to see yourself as a well-oiled machine that understands and rides over every bump nice and easy along your journey. As you begin to see ease and to acknowledge ease in your life, those wonderful thoughts and feelings will attract back to you through the Law of Attraction. You are one Successful Team within. Now it's time to bring out your number one players and have them help the weaker players by uniting them as one team working toward an easy and more fulfilling life using the LOA.
Beth & Lee McCain
Beth and Lee McCain host a popular nationally syndicated weekly radio show called Radio LOA, publish the national LOA magazine, The Indicator, and teach the principles of the Law of Attraction at gatherings and seminars around the world. You are invited to visit Beth and Lee McCain Law of Attraction Web Site for more Law of Attraction information and free study materials.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Get to know Miss Lao SEA GAMES 2009
Close up with Miss Lao SEA GAMES and their preparation for the upcoming 25th SEA Games in Vientiane, Laos.
Sorry, the clip is in Lao language only !
Sorry, the clip is in Lao language only !
Vietnam pledges assistance to Laos' 25th SEA Games
Vientiane (VNA) – Vietnam will send equipments for competition houses and provide technical assistance to help Laos prepare for the organisation of the 25 th SEA Games, scheduled for December.
The pledge was made meetings between Vietnamese sports experts and Lao colleagues regarding cooperation in the organisation of Southeast Asia’s largest sports event.
The Vietnamese experts, led by Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee Hoang Vinh Giang, also shared with Lao officials practical experiences from the organisation of the 23 rd SEA Games in 2007. (VNA)
Sepak takraw squad kicking along towards Laos SEA Games
Sepak takraw squad kicking along towards SEA GamesAfter intense competition, 42 sepak takraw athletes have been selected for tactics and skills training in preparation for 25th SEA Games in Vientiane in December.
The Lao Sepak Takraw Federation held a qualifying competition in Savannakhet province from April 3 to 5 to choose the best sepak takraw athletes from around the country.
Players selected for the games squad will continue their training at Savannahket's Sepak Takraw Centre.
There are no guarantees though, as only 36 male and female kickers will make the final cut.
Federation secretary Somsavath Phongsa said 60 athletes from six provinces participated in the competition.
Players represented the provinces of Borikhamxay, Khammuan, Savannakhet, Champassak and Vientiane , as well as capital.
“These activities are another opportunity for the federation to select the best sepak takraw players, after the eighth National Games held in Champassak province in December last year,” Mr Somsavath said.
After early setbacks, Savannakhet province took out Borikhamxay province 19-21, 21-18 and 17-16 in the final. In third place was Vientiane .
Borikhamxay province reversed its fortunes in the women's doubles competition, disposing of Vientiane province in two sets, 21-15 and 21-13. Savannakhet province was third.
It was an all-Savannakhet final in the men's singles, with a final scoreline of 21-19, 21-15. Third placed was Vientiane .
Borikhamxay province met Savannakhet province in the women's singles, taking the final 21-18 and21-15. Vientiane province took the last place on the podium.
Mr Somsavath said the choice of Savannakhet as the venue was no coincidence, as it had proved itself a hotbed of kicking talent.
“Savannakhet has more strong athletes than other provinces, so that is why the federation decided to gather 42 athletes in Savannakhet province after the competition,” Mr Somsavath said.
“I believe the sepak takraw federation is the first to gather athletes in another province, not here in Vientiane like so many of the federations participating in the SEA Games.”
The federation will whittle down the squad further, with the best 18 men and women to participate in the SEA Games at the end of this year.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Klik hier om een link te hebben waarmee u dit artikel later terug kunt lezen.World Snooker Championship Real 2009 (2009)
World Snooker Championship Real 2009 draait om de officiële snookerkampioenschappen en laat je spelen op alle belangrijke toernooien over de hele wereld. Het brengt de kampioenschappen in beeld zoals je dat op televisie gewend bent en bootst zo de sport na.Je kunt je eigen carrière beginnen in de Career modus, waarbij je aan de slag gaat met je eigen
gecreëerde snookerspeler. Door toernooien te winnen verdien je geld en bouw je een reputatie
op, terwijl je ook je opwachting kan maken op zogenaamde snooker-DVD's om jezelf publiciteit te geven. Ook kun je in andere modi spelen met een reeks wereldberoemde snookerspelers.
Ten opzichte van de vorige versie zijn de grafics en details van zeer hoge kwaliteit.
Kenmerken:- Creëer je eigen carrière
- Rondje langs de tafel, uniek in snooker gaming
- Nieuw control systeem, zeer realistich
- Zowel voor beginners als gevorderden
- Pool modus
- Online met eigen personality.
Deep Sea Game Fishing
Even though this term might make you think of ocean fishing, deep sea fishing refers to that which is performed in waters as large as or larger than lakes. Rivers and ponds are not “deep sea fishing” as the water is usually too shallow. Deep sea fishing is carried out in coastal waters where lots of large fish species make their home.
Open sea fishing necessitates a bigger boat for the operation in order to transport the catch and manoeuvre. Such a boat should have enough room for the fishing crew and also for the equipment needed to catch and store these big fish. Such a boat is intended to stand up to strong winds and bad weather at sea and to gain access to the fishing area safely and quickly.
The wide range of fish that are caught in deep sea fishing includes marlins, swordfish, sailfish, large tunas and various types of sharks. There are also smaller species of fish captured at the same time with these large ones. However, the former are not part of the plan. These come as by-catch or, if caught intentionally, they are meant to be turned into bait for the larger fishes.
Deep sea game fishing has been carried out in practically the same seas since the time that this occupation became established and later it developed into a business. It is performed in California, Florida, north of New Zealand, in Nova Scotia, Hawaii and so on. In those areas, the advantage the fishermen have is that large fish live close to the coasts and it does not take a long time to get to these places.
There are several techniques of deep sea game fishing of which the first we should mention is trolling, which is a form of angling performed by drawing a baited line through the water. The bait usually consists of squid or other small fish often used for bait and it is thrown into the sea off the rear of the boat. Deep sea game fishing boats have apiece of equipment called stabilizers or outriggers which enlarge the actual fish-catching area. Another technique is ‘chumming’ or ‘chunking’ which requires that large pieces of bait fish be thrown overboard in order to attract the larger. more desired species.
All in all, the scale of deep sea fishing has developed proportionally with the greater consumption of the market. Presently, various diets using fish dishes have actually become an epitome of healthy living and many people give up red meat for this lighter white variety.
About the Author:
Open Sea Fishing is more popular than ever as people want to reduce the amount of fat the ingest. Visit our website at: http://fishing.the-real-way.com .
Boaz Solossa, Top Scorer dan SEA Games
( Ditulis Oleh Luhur Satya Pambudi )
Boaz Solossa, penyerang timnas Indonesia yang memperkuat klub Persipura semakin garang dalam mencetak gol di Indonesia Super League (ISL). Hingga 26 pertandingan yang telah dilakoni Persipura, Boaz telah membuat 16 gol, sama dengan Alberto ’Beto’ Goncalves, rekan setimnya yang berasal dari Brasil. Raihan gol Boaz semakin mendekati Christian Gonzales (Persib) dengan 17 gol dan Ngon A.Djam (Sriwijaya FC) yang menjadi top scorer sementara ISL dengan 18 gol. Boaz kini menjadi penyerang lokal tersubur meninggalkan Bambang Pamungkas (Persija) yang baru mencetak 13 gol. Boaz memang lebih beruntung ketimbang BP. Persipura tidak terkena larangan bermain dari kepolisian Papua, sehingga timnya sudah 26 kali bermain. Sementara itu Persija -dan lebih banyak tim lainnya- dilarang menggelar pertandingan selama kampanye pemilu. Yang jelas Boaz sangat layak diunggulkan menjadi pencetak gol terbanyak ISL musim ini.
Di timnas senior Boaz telah dua kali bermain kembali, setelah lama absen karena cedera. Kendati belum mencetak gol, tapi kehadiran Boaz membawa warna baru bagi timnas yang meraih dua hasil imbang melawan Oman dan Australia di Pra Piala Asia bulan Januari 2009 lalu. Boaz juga dipanggil untuk memperkuat timnas U-23 yang akhir tahun nanti akan tampil di SEA Games Laos. Tahun 2009 merupakan kesempatan terakhir Boaz berlaga di pekan olahraga Asia Tenggara tersebut. Pemain kelahiran tahun 1986 itu sebenarnya bisa memperkuat timnas SEA Games tahun 2005 dan 2007, tapi selalu ada kendala menghadangnya. Setelah tampil cemerlang bersama timnas senior di Piala AFF 2004, Boaz terpaksa dicoret dari timnas SEA Games 2005 karena mendapatkan skorsing dari PSSI atas pelanggaran yang dilakukannya di Liga Indonesia. Di tahun 2007, cedera parah yang menimpa Boaz menjelang Piala Asia membuatnya mesti absen lagi di SEA Games. Semoga saja di SEA Games satu-satunya dalam kariernya, Boaz mampu tampil cemerlang mencetak gol demi gol, mengobrak-abrik pertahanan tim lawan, dan mempersembahan medali emas sepakbola bagi Indonesia tercinta. Apalagi rekan-rekan Boaz di timnas U-23 tahun ini cukup berpengalaman tampil di ISL dan di timnas junior sebelumnya, seperti : Ian Kabes, Immanuel Wanggai, Jajang Mulyana, Tony Sucipto, dan Achmad Jufriyanto. Sukses buat Boaz, bersama Persipura maupun timnas indonesia!
***
Sumber foto: Goal.com
SEPAK BOLA: Pelatih Tim U-23 SEA Games Belum Dipastikan
CINTA OLAHRAGA INDONESIA - JAKARTA - Meski SEA Games 2009 tinggal beberapa bulan lagi, tetapi sampai saat ini, PSSI masih belum menentukan pelatih tim nasional U-23 yang akan ikut even itu nanti.
- CINTA OLAHRAGA INDONESIA -
- CINTA OLAHRAGA INDONESIA - Sementara itu pelatih tim U-16 Uruguay Cesar Payovich Perez yang sebelumnya dinyatakan sebagai pelatih tim nasional, saat ini juga sudah berada di Palembang untuk melakukan seleksi pemain.
“Saya masih menunggu presentasi program pelatihan dia (Cesar Payovich Perez), baru setelah itu ada keputusan,” kata ketua PSSI, Nurdin Halid, kepada wartawan, di Jakarta, Rabu (1/4).
Cesar memang menjadi prioritas calon pelatih untuk tim nasional yang disiapkan untuk ajang Sea Games.
Ketua Badan Tim Nasional Rahim Soekasah mengatakan Cesar memang sudah diusulkan untuk menjadi pelatih tim nasional SEA Games 2009. Namun keputusan untuk mengambil Cesar sebagai pelatih tim nasional masih menunggu kesepakatan tentang nilai pembayaran.
Menurut Rahim, Cesar menjadi prioritas pelatih tim nasional U-23 karena dinilai sudah mengetahui kondisi pemain dan sepak bola di Indonesia. Rahim pun yakin jika Cesar mampu meningkatkan kemampuan tim Indonesia. “Dia punya kemampuan bagus untuk melatih,” katanya.
Sebelumnya, Badan Tim Nasional sudah mengeluarkan 28 nama pemain yang dipanggil untuk mengikuti seleksi.
Di antara pemain yang dipanggil untuk ikut seleksi, juga terdapat nama Boaz Sallosa yang selama ini telah bermain untuk tim nasional senior.
Menurut Rahim, setelah proses seleksi, tim nasional akan mengikuti turnamen Interkontinental di Kuala Lumpur pada Juni mendatang sebagai ajang uji coba.
“Setelah itu kembali lagi ke Indonesia, latihan di sini termasuk uji coba di turnamen yang diadakan oleh PSSI,” kata Rahim. (sihc/stic)
- CINTA OLAHRAGA INDONESIA
PSSI Targetkan Emas di SEA Games 2009
Palembang (ANTARA News) - PSSI menargetkan medali emas kepada Timnas sepak bola pada SEA Games 2009 yang kini diarsiteki Pelatih asal Uruguay, Caesar Payovick.
"Timnas U-23 kita telah mengalami peningkatan dalam tiga tahun terakhir, dan target medali emas menjadi realistis saja," kata Nurdin Halid, Ketua Umum PSSI dalam acara peresmian Pelatnas SEA Games 2009, di Palembang, Jumat.
Hadir dalam acara itu, Gubernur Sumsel, H Alex Noerdin, atlet-atlet sepak bola yang ikut seleksi, dan pelatih kepala timnas, Caesar Payovick.
Nurdin Halid juga mengungkapkan tujuan dilaksanakan pelatnas sepak bola di Palembang, bukan di Jakarta, seperti yang biasa dilakukan.
"Kita ingin mensosialisasikan olahraga sepak bola di daerah, khususnya Palembang yang mempunyai klub sepak bola ternama Sriwijaya FC," kata Nurdin pula.
Gubernur Sumsel Alex Noerdin menyatakan kesiapan untuk melasanakan pelatnas dari tanggal 1 April sd. 13 Desember 2009.
"Kami telah menyiapkan semuanya, fasilitas hotel, konsumsi, transportasi hingga sarana dan prasarana latihan," kata Alex pula.
Orang nomor satu di Sumsel ini tak hanya menyatakan kesiapan menyelenggarakan pelatnas sepak bola saja, tapi juga dua cabang olahraga lainnya yang ditunjuk KONI pusat, billiar dan menembak.
"Yang siap saat ini baru sepak bola, dan dua cabang lagi akan menyusul secepatnya, karena sedang tahap persiapan," ujar Alex lagi.(*)
"Timnas U-23 kita telah mengalami peningkatan dalam tiga tahun terakhir, dan target medali emas menjadi realistis saja," kata Nurdin Halid, Ketua Umum PSSI dalam acara peresmian Pelatnas SEA Games 2009, di Palembang, Jumat.
Hadir dalam acara itu, Gubernur Sumsel, H Alex Noerdin, atlet-atlet sepak bola yang ikut seleksi, dan pelatih kepala timnas, Caesar Payovick.
Nurdin Halid juga mengungkapkan tujuan dilaksanakan pelatnas sepak bola di Palembang, bukan di Jakarta, seperti yang biasa dilakukan.
"Kita ingin mensosialisasikan olahraga sepak bola di daerah, khususnya Palembang yang mempunyai klub sepak bola ternama Sriwijaya FC," kata Nurdin pula.
Gubernur Sumsel Alex Noerdin menyatakan kesiapan untuk melasanakan pelatnas dari tanggal 1 April sd. 13 Desember 2009.
"Kami telah menyiapkan semuanya, fasilitas hotel, konsumsi, transportasi hingga sarana dan prasarana latihan," kata Alex pula.
Orang nomor satu di Sumsel ini tak hanya menyatakan kesiapan menyelenggarakan pelatnas sepak bola saja, tapi juga dua cabang olahraga lainnya yang ditunjuk KONI pusat, billiar dan menembak.
"Yang siap saat ini baru sepak bola, dan dua cabang lagi akan menyusul secepatnya, karena sedang tahap persiapan," ujar Alex lagi.(*)
PSM To Identify 'Tekongs' At Khir Johari Gold Cup
KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 (Bernama) -- The Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) are expected to use the Khir Johari Gold Cup sepak takraw championship that kicks off at the Titiwangsa Stadium, here from April 7-11, as a platform to identify potential "tekongs" for the national team.
PSM Coaching Committee Chairman Tengku Adnan Tengku Burhanuddin said finding suitable "tekongs" for the national squad was important as two of the current "tekongs" are tied down by work commitments.
"Norshahidan Masri and Sulaiman Salleh are finding difficulties in securing leave from their employers and this has affected their training and our preparations," he told reporters at the National Sports Council (NSC) training centre in Keramat here today.
Tengku Adnan said due to the unavailability, the elite national squad currently has only six "tekongs" and PSM hope to identify at least three more talented ones who can be drafted into the squad," he said.
Fourteen teams, including defending champion Kuala Lumpur will be vying for honours when the Khir Johari Gold Cup kicks off at the Titiwangsa Stadium.
"This year, we will be facing some very high level tournaments including the World Sepak Takraw championships in May, Thailand King's Cup in July and Laos SEA Games in December. To face these tournaments, we need to go through intensive training," he said.
Tengku Adnan added that former national player and coach Iskandar Arshad would return to coach the national elite squad starting May 1 to try and beef up the squad, especially the "killers" since Iskandar had played in that position before.
Iskandar was also the driving force behind the team that beat Thailand to capture the gold at the 2005 Manila SEA Games after 12 years.
-- BERNAMA
NERI says 25th Sea Games is a stimulant to Lao economy
KPL) Acting Head of the National Economic Research Institute claimed that the 25th SEA Games, to be held in December this year, would act as a stimulus to the national economy and thereby mitigates the adverse effects of the global economic turmoil.
Mr. Leeber Libuapao also said that the national economic growth is facing a big challenge this year because of the sharp drop in the export of goods.
Mr Leeber added that although the government has designed and implemented measures to try to minimise and overcome the effects of the global crisis but it would take at least a few months before one sees its positive effects.
He also said that the national economic recovery, due to commence in 2010, would only kick in if it coincides with the recovery of the world’s economy by next year and it means that if it would grow by one to two per cent in 2010.
However, the Asian Development Bank, in its press release yesterday, is upbeat on the Lao economy and stated that it would grow by 5.5 per cent this year and 5.7 per cent in 2010.
The acting head of NERI commented on the effects of the biggest hydropower project, Nam Theun Two, on the national economy and said that when it is operational in late 2009, it would generate income and this would not only mitigate the impact of the crisis but it can even boost national economic growth.
Mr. Leeber said that in order to get the Lao economy to grow one should get the consumers to spend and this is because national expense is always equal to national income and the government and people should be aware that consumers who retrench and save money would not be contributing to economic growth.
Mr. Leeber Libuapao also said that the national economic growth is facing a big challenge this year because of the sharp drop in the export of goods.
Mr Leeber added that although the government has designed and implemented measures to try to minimise and overcome the effects of the global crisis but it would take at least a few months before one sees its positive effects.
He also said that the national economic recovery, due to commence in 2010, would only kick in if it coincides with the recovery of the world’s economy by next year and it means that if it would grow by one to two per cent in 2010.
However, the Asian Development Bank, in its press release yesterday, is upbeat on the Lao economy and stated that it would grow by 5.5 per cent this year and 5.7 per cent in 2010.
The acting head of NERI commented on the effects of the biggest hydropower project, Nam Theun Two, on the national economy and said that when it is operational in late 2009, it would generate income and this would not only mitigate the impact of the crisis but it can even boost national economic growth.
Mr. Leeber said that in order to get the Lao economy to grow one should get the consumers to spend and this is because national expense is always equal to national income and the government and people should be aware that consumers who retrench and save money would not be contributing to economic growth.
The first round the clock night bazaar in Vientiane to serve SEA GAMES 2009
(KPL) The Hong Thong Development Project (or Night Bazaar)would be operational on a round the clock basis to serve the tourists, commencing from the later part of the year and the purpose of this kind of operational hours is to attract more tourists to Vientiane capital.This project, presently under construction, is located in Chanthaboury district, in front of Lao National Stadium.
President of Hong Thong Development Project, Mr Khamphay Somsana said that when the project was first proposed it was meant to serve the tourists and to offer them round the clock service.
Construction started in May 2008 and now 30 per cent of the building had been completed., the president of the project said.
“The project is part of Vientiane’s plan to generate more income to the city, especially to the business operators,” he said.
He added that the project would be opened as early as the opening day of the 25th Sea Games.
Funding for this project was made by four local investors, whose combined total investment was 25 billion kip and the authorities granted them a lease of 40 years, Mr Khamphay commented.
“We decided to construct the Night Bazaar because we found that the majority of tourists who visited Vientiane would not spend much time in it and as a result some of the Lao money goes to foreign countries,” said the president of Hong Thong Development Project.
The Night Bazaar would have 10,700 square metres of land, seven two-storey buildings, one restaurant, a public park and parking lot area, he
said.
The restaurant would offer a whole range of Lao food and the prices would be affordable, he added.
The handicraft products, he said would be on sale in the Night Bazaar in order to introduce to the foreign tourists the traditional culture of Laos and the products can be gifts to them, he said.
FIFA supports training course for Lao sports official to prepare for 25th SEA Games
(KPL) The Asian Football Federation organized in Vientiane on 6 April a five day training course to develop football administration, management and coaching capacity within the Lao Football Federation.The regional course which is part of the Futuro programme run by FIFA, concentrated on instruction of coaches, referees, administrators and sports medicine practitioners, with a view to producing active, home grown management talent, with the proactive effort of member associations.
The five day training course will focus on administrative proficiency, FIFA development activities, general management and finance, as well as competition organization, planning and marketing.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Further 30 billion kip is needed to boost Laos team prepare for 25th SEA GAMES
The Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC) is seeking a further 30 billion kip to boost the national team's preparations for the 25th SEA Games, to be held in Vientiane from December 9-18.
A budget of 50 billion kip has already been approved.
The LNSC announced it would seek the increase, to a total of 80 billion kip, at a meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office on Friday.
The meeting was held to discuss the progress of sports complex construction, food provision, tours, security, transportation, athletes' preparations for the games and other related issues.
It was attended by Standing Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Lao SEA Games Organising Committee Mr Somsavat Lengsavad, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office and LNSC President Dr Phouthong Seng-akhom and senior officials from each sports federation.
Mr Somsavat Lengsavad said construction of sports venues was on track.
However, preparations to ensure Laos had the best possible results from its elite competitors and their teams was proving more of a challenge.
He said progress was being made on issues ranging from accommodation to training upgrades for referees and match officials.
Several teams will stay at live-in training camps after the Lao New Year festivities.
Meanwhile, Vientiane hotels and tour operators are preparing for an influx of official guests and visitors during the games.
Mr Somsavat said the Lao World Company would be responsible for providing food during the games and food imported from other countries would be banned.
He said agencies' work to coordinate preparation efforts was improving, and the LNSC hoped to continue working effectively to ensure smooth preparations for Lao athletes as they get ready to compete on home soil.
The LNSC, Chinese advisors and Lao officials would continue working together through the construction phase of the sports complex until the games were over.
The Ministry of Information and Culture promised to be ready with 8,000 performers for the opening and closing ceremonies.
Meanwhile, Naxaithong district's Sports Training Centre martial artists still require important equipment for training and competition
Currently in training at the centre are 30 Lao boxers, 20 wushu tao lu fighters, 34 taekwondo fighters, 25 pencak silat fighters, 23 wrestlers and 18 archers.
From the end of this month, they will be joined by their counterparts from the provinces, who will take up residence in the training centre in Sikeuth village, where they will also take part in warm-up competitions and other events.
Meanwhile, the National University of Laos will host 34 petanque players and trainers at its purpose-built centre. The team will live on-site during training.
Twenty-nine muay lao fighters and trainers will train and live at the Sokxay camp, while 19 table tennis players and trainers will be accommodated at the Lao Table Tennis Federation's live-in training centre.
The 29 judo fighters and trainers are in preparation at the national camp and living at the Lao Judo Federation's own accommodation.
At the 24th SEA Games in Thailand in 2007, the Lao team won five gold medals in petanque, judo and muay events, seven silver medals in taekwondo, wushu, judo, boxing and muay events, and 32 bronze medals in muay, sepak takraw, wrestling, taekwondo, wushu, petanque, judo, boxing, karatedo, pencak silat and rugby.
The 25th SEA Games will feature competitions in athletics, swimming, diving, water polo, archery, badminton, billiards and snooker, boxing, cycling, football, golf, judo, karate-do, sepak takraw, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, beach volleyball, weight lifting, wrestling, wushu, muay, pensak silat, petanque, fin swimming and shuttlecock.
By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Saythany to launch inspection campaign for 25th SEA Games
(KPL) The Tourism Service of Saythany district plans to launch an inspection campaign of hotels, guesthouses and restaurants in August, to prepare for welcoming athlete delegations participating in the upcoming of 25th SEA Games at the end of this year.
The plan was informed at a meeting took place on 18 March, Vientiane to local businessmen that was under the chairmanship of Head of Tourism Service of Vientiane Mr. Khamphadith Khemphanith.
The participants were informed on the inspection and security campaigns, and food management law during the SEA Games and they were urged to cooperate in the campaign.
The campaign will take into practice in the district due to the new SEA Games stadium is located in Saythany district will be used inaugural ceremony of 25th SEA Games.
New sports stadium for the 25th SEA Games is now 90% completed
(KPL) Ninety per cent of the construction work of the new sports stadium for the 25th SEA Games has been completed.
The next stage is to carry out the decoration work for this infrastructure.
This was reported during a meeting on the progress of the preparatory work on the Sea Games on 20 March, under the chairmanship of Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad.
The sub-committees for organizing the Sea Games reported at the meeting that the inauguration and closing ceremonies of this sporting would be different
from the past Sea Games.
The Standing Deputy Prime Minister stressed on the policy of usage of local products at this coming sporting event and on the need to get the Lao national athletes to practice at the training centre after the Lao New Year.
He also said the financial sub-committee has approved 90 billion kip to fund other preparatory works.
For the senior sports officials, they would be accommodated in eleven standard hotels and 200 rooms had been set aside specially for them, said Mr Somsavat.
To ensure spectacular shows during the opening and closing ceremonies of this sports event, there will be 8,000 performers, and they would be rehearsing their sequences soon, said the Standing Deputy Prime Minister.
Last but not least, he asked all sub-committees to be conscientious, to complete their work on schedule and to take care of the welfare of the athletes.
Thai Visa at Embassy in Vientiane
Thai Visa at Embassy in Vientiane
So I know that visa regulations have just recently changed and crossing a land border only gets you a 15 day visa now :( So I'm planning on applying for a longer one at the embassy in vientiane laos. Anybody have any recent experience there (since the regulations changed in jan)? I'm looking to get a 60 day visa if at all possible (US passport). Also heard a rumor that visa fees have been waived until june because of the new land border visa changes, but can't find anything official about that. Anyone?
So I know that visa regulations have just recently changed and crossing a land border only gets you a 15 day visa now :( So I'm planning on applying for a longer one at the embassy in vientiane laos. Anybody have any recent experience there (since the regulations changed in jan)? I'm looking to get a 60 day visa if at all possible (US passport). Also heard a rumor that visa fees have been waived until june because of the new land border visa changes, but can't find anything official about that. Anyone?
Vientiane capital to host 900,000 tourists next year
(KPL) According to the planners who wrote the Vientiane socio-economic plan, 900,000 visitors would be visiting Vientiane capital in the next fiscal year, 2009-2010.
To cater to their basic needs, there are 169 guesthouses, 69 restaurants and 37 tourism sites in Vientiane capital.
It is said that these might not be enough to cater to such a big number of domestic and foreign tourists next year and Vientiane capital is planning to expand its accommodation and tourism facilities.
Its expansion plan is to have 100 hotels, 175 guesthouses, 76 restaurants, 39 tourism sites, four cruise sites and 80 tourism companies.
According to the figures on arrivals at the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge and other local checkpoints, Vientiane capital welcomed more than 400,000 visitors during the first six months of 2008-2009 fiscal year and their total expenditure was US$40 million.
Based on the estimated figures, Vientiane capital is expected to generate US$88 million in income by the end of this year. For the next fiscal year, Vientiane capital is planning to increase investments in tourism infrastructure and to make them more attractive to foreigners.
To cater to their basic needs, there are 169 guesthouses, 69 restaurants and 37 tourism sites in Vientiane capital.
It is said that these might not be enough to cater to such a big number of domestic and foreign tourists next year and Vientiane capital is planning to expand its accommodation and tourism facilities.
Its expansion plan is to have 100 hotels, 175 guesthouses, 76 restaurants, 39 tourism sites, four cruise sites and 80 tourism companies.
According to the figures on arrivals at the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge and other local checkpoints, Vientiane capital welcomed more than 400,000 visitors during the first six months of 2008-2009 fiscal year and their total expenditure was US$40 million.
Based on the estimated figures, Vientiane capital is expected to generate US$88 million in income by the end of this year. For the next fiscal year, Vientiane capital is planning to increase investments in tourism infrastructure and to make them more attractive to foreigners.
Sightseeing in Vientiane
Laos is really starting to grow on me. It has loads of potential long term and it’s also a really beautiful country, well worth visiting.. It’s really opened up to tourists in the last 10 years and fingers crossed we don’t all F*&K it up (in the process of trying enjoying it) like we have with most of the other hot spots around the world already!
Vientiane is the capital of Laos and like all capitals in Asia it has all the usual things to do and see. Good food, loads of museums, all types of accommodation and about a million motor bikes running around the streets! I was only there for two nights and three days buts that’s enough to see all the main stuff and get a feel for it. Most people I talked to didn’t even stay that long, it seems to be kind of a transitional town in the land of backpackers. The only reason you go there is because its on the way to somewhere else.
My personal highlight in Vientiane was the food! Yes, I know this sounds a little strange but those guys know how to do western food extremely well! After three
Monk Dog
Monk Dog
months of living on rice and noodles it was simply awesome to tuck into too some familiar favourites. In fact I’m going to go as far as saying that the ‘BEST’ eggs benedict I have ever had (and I’ve had a lot!) was in Vientiane. At a place called ‘Sticky Fingers’. They only do it on weekends as it’s a special (and it’s a little expensive compared to the other food) but it was simply brilliant! Put it this was if it wasn’t just a special dish on weekends, I would have had it every day I was there. If I ever go back, I’m definitely going to have it again!
Vientiane also has a lot of temples or as they call them “Wat’s. We ( my travel buddy Carla and I) found a good way to see most of them in one afternoon. We simply hired a tuk tuk for a fixed price ( I think it was about 80,000 kip, that’s about AUD$14) for a couple of hours and he took us to all the main sites.
The other thing that’s really good about Vientiane is the tuk tuk’s (which is our version of a taxi)
more temples
more temples
as they all operate on a fixed price rate for all the main attractions around town. Each tuk tuk has this little A4 laminated sheet in it with all the main attractions around town listed on it. They all have to operate of those fixed prices (but you can still negotiate it you want to) which is really good as you know you’re not getting totally ripped like seems to happen everywhere else. I wish more towns in Asia would do this!
Other than that there’s not much else to report about Vientiane. Its definitely worth a visit, but not for too long. Stop off there on the way through if your even in the , but don’t plan to be there for weeks!
Vientiane is the capital of Laos and like all capitals in Asia it has all the usual things to do and see. Good food, loads of museums, all types of accommodation and about a million motor bikes running around the streets! I was only there for two nights and three days buts that’s enough to see all the main stuff and get a feel for it. Most people I talked to didn’t even stay that long, it seems to be kind of a transitional town in the land of backpackers. The only reason you go there is because its on the way to somewhere else.
My personal highlight in Vientiane was the food! Yes, I know this sounds a little strange but those guys know how to do western food extremely well! After three
Monk Dog
Monk Dog
months of living on rice and noodles it was simply awesome to tuck into too some familiar favourites. In fact I’m going to go as far as saying that the ‘BEST’ eggs benedict I have ever had (and I’ve had a lot!) was in Vientiane. At a place called ‘Sticky Fingers’. They only do it on weekends as it’s a special (and it’s a little expensive compared to the other food) but it was simply brilliant! Put it this was if it wasn’t just a special dish on weekends, I would have had it every day I was there. If I ever go back, I’m definitely going to have it again!
Vientiane also has a lot of temples or as they call them “Wat’s. We ( my travel buddy Carla and I) found a good way to see most of them in one afternoon. We simply hired a tuk tuk for a fixed price ( I think it was about 80,000 kip, that’s about AUD$14) for a couple of hours and he took us to all the main sites.
The other thing that’s really good about Vientiane is the tuk tuk’s (which is our version of a taxi)
more temples
more temples
as they all operate on a fixed price rate for all the main attractions around town. Each tuk tuk has this little A4 laminated sheet in it with all the main attractions around town listed on it. They all have to operate of those fixed prices (but you can still negotiate it you want to) which is really good as you know you’re not getting totally ripped like seems to happen everywhere else. I wish more towns in Asia would do this!
Other than that there’s not much else to report about Vientiane. Its definitely worth a visit, but not for too long. Stop off there on the way through if your even in the , but don’t plan to be there for weeks!
du Pain Du Vin Du Boursin
What a change Vientiane was!
The capital city has changed almost beyond recognition since we were here 6 years ago - then almost no cars at all. Now mercedes shoproom , traffic jams, traffic lights & cars everywhere!! However we were told by a bloke at a sauna at a temple in the forest that it was all chinese cars....
However its still a very small capital city & the Mekong festival was just beginning, sponsored by the French.
The lure of french cheese & red wine was too hard to resist after 3 months of NO cheese at all. Our cholesterol levels are now replenished!
So Boules & fromage on the bank of the Mekong, with views over to Thailand & sureal French/Lao farce. The local kids loved the funky chicken & golden shoed policeman & oversized flip flop children sketch - unfortunately it meant nothing to us!!!
The Buddha park seemed smaller than we remembered but was still as weird as ever & the Pataxuy, their Arc de Triomphe still as concrete as ever.
We accidentally gatecrashed a buddhist funeral, thinking it was a fireworks display & got invited to the wake!
Cycled around - still the best way to see the city, ate gorgeous baguettes, pomelos & local fish. Have we mentioned how good the food is in Laos??
The capital city has changed almost beyond recognition since we were here 6 years ago - then almost no cars at all. Now mercedes shoproom , traffic jams, traffic lights & cars everywhere!! However we were told by a bloke at a sauna at a temple in the forest that it was all chinese cars....
However its still a very small capital city & the Mekong festival was just beginning, sponsored by the French.
The lure of french cheese & red wine was too hard to resist after 3 months of NO cheese at all. Our cholesterol levels are now replenished!
So Boules & fromage on the bank of the Mekong, with views over to Thailand & sureal French/Lao farce. The local kids loved the funky chicken & golden shoed policeman & oversized flip flop children sketch - unfortunately it meant nothing to us!!!
The Buddha park seemed smaller than we remembered but was still as weird as ever & the Pataxuy, their Arc de Triomphe still as concrete as ever.
We accidentally gatecrashed a buddhist funeral, thinking it was a fireworks display & got invited to the wake!
Cycled around - still the best way to see the city, ate gorgeous baguettes, pomelos & local fish. Have we mentioned how good the food is in Laos??
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Chinese Dams and the Great Mekong Floods of 2008
By Geoffrey Gunn and Brian McCartan
Japan Focus
As major floods have coursed through the middle Mekong across Southeast Asia this August in what some describe the greatest flooding in one hundred years, governments have announced plans to step up flood control work. At the same time, many are asking whether China is responsible for the heavy damage, especially as its cascade of dams has in the past been blamed for holding back the natural flow of water and intensifying the historic patterns of flooding. Certainly greater transparency on China’s part would make for increased understanding of the issues. Yet transparency is in short supply all round if we consider the way that decisions are made in the downstream riparian countries, namely the Lao PDR and the Kingdom of Cambodia, especially the way that NGOs are given short shrift and where even armies are deeply involved in illegal logging and other nefarious ventures. For that matter, the current political crisis in the Kingdom of Thailand in part turns upon the lack of financial transparency that bedeviled the ousted Thaksin Shinwatra regime.
What has changed in the last decade is the way that the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) has become a reified category in development thinking. Especially, one is struck by the way in which the Asian Development Bank, alongside the Mekong River Commission, and the ASEAN countries collectively, have imposed their institutional construct upon this zone with its “Corridors,” “Backbones,” and “Frameworks.” Everywhere earth is being moved, new roads are being cut, new dams and lakes are being set in place, while people – mostly powerless ethnic minorities – are being relocated, not only from the lowlands but also from the highlands to the lowlands. Planning is often ad hoc and it is always top-down. This vast sub-tropical zone of endangered species and of myriad cultures and traditions is no less in the vortex of irremediable change – and pillage - than the Amazon basin or the island of Borneo.
But one statistic stands out. The average GDP per capita in the GMS zone, within which some 60 million people depend on the Mekong for their livelihood, is about one US dollar a day, with the weight of poverty falling most heavily upon the ethnic minorities. Alongside globalization and regionalism, however, nationalism still holds sway (the ongoing spat between Thailand and Cambodia over ownership of a border temple is just one example). It also appears in the way that ethnic labeling or “taxonomic” control over national minorities takes precedence, above all in the communist states (China, Laos and Vietnam), as do powerful official narratives of common history. In a word, the concerned nations seek to assimilate their respective minorities while harnessing their territories to new developmental logics, at the same time seeking increased economic interaction across frontiers, often at the expense of traditional cultures. To test these insights we have to examine the recent experience of the Hmong, Mien, and Dai minorities, in respectively Thailand, Laos and Vietnam (as well as in China). Still, even tourism can become a vehicle for maintaining identity as with the Dai in China or the Hmong in Thailand, just as Laos has opened to forms of ecotourism. Geoffrey Gunn
CHIANG MAI - As Mekong River floodwaters in Laos and Thailand recede, indignation with China for its lack of transparency on upstream dam developments is on the rise. China has recently pursued a friendly policy of economic integration with Southeast Asian neighbors but in relation to Mekong River development it has taken what many see as a covetous and less than neighborly approach.
The Mekong in Laos
Flood waters in recent days inundated parts of Luang Prabang and Vientiane provinces in Laos and at least seven northern provinces in Thailand. The flooding was widely reportedly the worst in a century for some areas, with river levels reaching a high of 13.7 meters on August 14. Previous record high floods occurred in 1966, when river levels reached 12.4 meters.
Thailand has estimated damages at around 220 million baht (US$6.48 million), while the Vientiane Times, a state-controlled Lao newspaper, cited an unofficial government report that the floods would cost Luang Prabang province alone some 100 billion kip (US$11.6 million). Those figures may only be provisional, as flood waters in the Mekong Delta have already reached critical levels and Vietnamese forecasters have predicted more flooding before the end of the rainy season.
A woman guides bulls to higher ground in the Mekong near Phnom Penh
The larger cost has been diplomatic, as downstream neighbors suspect rightly or wrongly that Chinese dams were primarily responsible for the flooding. From the hard-hit Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong districts of Thailand's northern Chiang Rai province to its eastern Mukdahan province, many Thais believe waters released from the reservoirs of three upstream Chinese dams swelled the runoff from heavy rainfalls. They also blame China's recent blasting and dredging of upstream river rapids to make the river navigable for large cargo vessels for rising water levels.
Map of Chinese dams on the Lancang (Mekong)
That may or may not be the case, but China's lack of transparency is fueling suspicions. The Mekong River Commission (MRC), a multinational grouping made up of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam responsible for sustainable development and water resource management of the Mekong, said in a statement that the high water levels were the result of above average rainfall and not the result of upstream Chinese dams opening sluice gates. The situation was compounded by tropical storm Kammuri, which hit the region between August 8 and 10, the statement said.
The MRC also noted that just half of the flood waters in Vientiane originated in China with the rest from Mekong tributaries, namely the Nam Ou and Nam Khan rivers. It concluded, "The current water levels are entirely the result of the meteorological and hydrological conditions and were not caused by water release from presently operating Chinese dams which have storage areas far too small to affect the flood hydrology of the Mekong," the statement said.
That view was supported by Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and the Thai Water Resources Department, which oversees Mekong water flows and Lao government officials also said Chinese dams are not at fault. Heavy rains had lashed Myanmar and Vietnam - lending credence to the nation's views - resulting in severe flooding that killed at least 130 in northern Vietnam and forced thousands from their homes in both countries. But the Thai People's Network on the Mekong, a grouping of several Thai environmental organizations, openly rejected the MRC's reasoning for the floods in an August 16 statement, calling for China to free up information on its dams. There also appears to be lingering doubts among some top government officials.
Thai Deputy Interior Minister Prasong Kositanond said on Wednesday that officials were studying the floods and that China may be asked to provide future warnings on the timings and volumes of water released by the dams. He noted that without the cooperation of China, Thailand's northeastern regions could face more severe flooding. Even the MRC in Thailand, in contradiction to the statement from the organization's headquarters, has said it will ask the Thai Foreign Ministry for help in requesting more information from China about its dams.
No dam evidence
China has remained reluctant to reveal information about its dams, including its own environmental and hydrological studies of their impact. This lack of transparency has continued despite heavy criticism from environmental groups and official pleas from Southeast Asian neighbors seeking more information.
Thai Water Resource Department deputy head, Thanade Dawasuwan, recently told the Bangkok Post that his department actually has scant information on the Chinese dams. Thailand's MRC coordinator, Burachat Buasuwan, told the same newspaper that Chinese officials only provide information on water discharges in the rainy season. The MRC, he claimed, had made requests for information from Chinese officials in the past, but had yet to receive replies.
China has so far completed three dams across the upper Mekong - the Manwan in 1993, the Dachaoshan in 2002 and the Jinghong in June of this year. The three dams have respective storage capacities of 920 million, 890 million and 1.2 billion cubic meters, meaning a total of over 3 billion cubic meters of reservoir. This is enough, environmentalists say, to significantly influence water flows on the upper Mekong. Chinese officials have countered that since only 18% of the Mekong's flow originates in its areas, the dams will not have an effect on the volume of water flowing downstream.
China's grand vision for the Mekong is to build up to fifteen power-generating dams on its upper reaches to fuel economic growth in its laggard southwestern territories. The Xiaowan dam, the world's tallest at 292 meters, is slated for completion on the upper Mekong in 2013. Scheduled to generate over 4,000 megawatts of electricity, that particular hydropower dam has downstream Southeast Asia concerned about the massive reservoir the dam is expected to create and its anticipated impact on river water levels. Chinese officials have said the 190 square kilometer reservoir will reduce the amount of water flowing downward by 17% during flood seasons and increase the flow by 40% in dry seasons.
What is certain is that there have been ecological and hydrological changes in the Mekong River since the construction of the Chinese dams, and more recently with the dynamiting of river rapids. Locals in Chiang Khong, Thailand, the closest major town of the MRC member countries to China, say that there is a noticeable rise in the river level when the water gates are opened on China's dams. Environmentalists say the dams have also affected the river's seasonal flows and caused the destruction of river islets. They also blame water blockages due to dam construction for unexpected and dangerous rapid rises and falls in downstream flows.
Until recently the main concern about the dams centered more on the lack of water flowing down the river. For example, the dams were criticized for exacerbating a drought in 2004 that left ships stranded mid-river and damaged crops and fishing in downstream nations. Halts in river flows for up to five days at a time due to Chinese dam construction inhibited trade, with angry cargo ship owners claiming journeys that used to take days instead took weeks.
China-first policy
The MRC said in 2004 that the Chinese dams had exacerbated the drought and sent an official letter to Beijing demanding information on the Chinese dams. In a seeming about turn, then-MRC chief executive officer Oliver Cogels wrote a letter to the Bangkok Post on January 9, 2007, claiming the impact of the Chinese dams was exaggerated in public opinion and not a factor in the drought affecting downstream countries.
He also noted, echoing Beijing's line, that because the Chinese dams are for power generation and not for irrigation, they do not hold water, but instead regulate flows, increasing them in the dry season and reducing them in the rainy season. Indeed, China's dams may not be directly culpable for either the flooding or drought, but the lack of transparency has stoked downstream fears and anger among its southern neighbors and environmental groups.
China's unwillingness to allow independent scientific studies on its dams' impacts makes it difficult to conclusively determine what impact they have had on water levels. Even within China there is very little public discourse on the dams, in part because the issue is treated as a matter of national security.
Beijing has made clear its stance that, since it is developing the Mekong on Chinese soil, it is not responsible for downstream impacts. Appeals to China by non-governmental organizations to compensate people living downstream whose farming or fishing livelihoods have allegedly been impacted by the recent changes in the river have been scornfully rebuffed.
China's lack of cooperation and responsibility is seemingly at odds with its broader soft power policy of forging greater economic integration with Southeast Asia, including through preferential free trade agreements and generous infrastructure loans. Seen from Beijing's point of view, its participation in the Greater Mekong Subregion is less about an altruistic desire to see its southern neighbors develop and more about gaining access to export markets for its industrial and agricultural goods and securing a strategic, alternative passage for fuel and other imports for its inland industries.
China is not a member of the MRC and critics say that without Beijing's participation the grouping is powerless to accomplish organizational goals related to sustainable development on the Mekong. If China were to join, it would have to conform to various mandatory standards and come under pressure to accept water management norms that are less harmful to downstream communities, a prospect it clearly wants to avoid.
The MRC has however recently incorporated China and Myanmar to some extent, as non-member, dialogue partners. While the MRC's most northerly monitoring station is in Chiang Saen, Thailand, in 2002 it convinced China to commit to exchanging some information from two of its monitoring stations, including the Jinghong station located below its three standing dams. Flood forecasting first became an issue after floods in 2000 killed some 800 people in the Mekong Delta. In 2005, China agreed to hold technical discussions with the MRC, including flood management and alleviation.
Last year, Beijing also agreed to begin supplying the MRC with 24-hour water level and 12-hour rainfall data for flood forecasts in return for monthly flow data from MRC stations on the lower Mekong. However the incentives for China to become a full-fledged member of the MRC are still few and far between. As the Mekong's most upstream nation, it is geographically in a position of power. And with its growing hunger for new and alternative energy sources to imported oil, it will likely remain loathe to enter into a multilateral mechanism which may attempt to put a brake on its ambitious dam building program.
For China, the Mekong is now viewed more as a potential source of energy rather than a trade artery as the river has been quickly supplanted by a more efficient network of roads leading south from China's Yunnan province into Southeast Asia. The newly completed Route 3 in Laos that connects Yunnan with northern Thailand through Laos means trucks can complete a trade journey in hours which used to take days by river.
Once a bridge is completed across the Mekong between the northern Thai town of Chiang Khong and Laos' Huay Xai, where Route 3 currently terminates, Yunnan's goods will have direct access to Southeast Asian markets, and perhaps more importantly, to seaports on the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. Close relations with military-ruled Myanmar have already provided China with another southern trade route, with a soon to be upgraded port at Sittwe on the Indian Ocean.
Of course cross-border river issues pose diplomatic problems and challenges in many regions of the world. Although a Law of the Sea treaty exists to govern disputes on the world's oceans, there is no comparable global law for rivers to mediate disputes over water resources. Until such a mechanism exists, and more importantly until China agrees to a more multilateral approach to managing the Mekong, the issue will remain a contentious one with its Southeast Asian neighbors while life for people living along the river's shifting banks will remain highly uncertain.
Brian McCartan is a Chiang Mai-based freelance journalist. He may be reached at brianpm@comcast.net
Geoffrey Gunn is author of Rebellion in Laos: Peasant and Politics in a Colonial Backwater White Lotus reprint, Bangkok, 2003) and a Japan Focus coordinator.
This article was published at Asia Times on August 22, 2008. It is published at Japan Focus on August 31, 2008.
What has changed in the last decade is the way that the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) has become a reified category in development thinking. Especially, one is struck by the way in which the Asian Development Bank, alongside the Mekong River Commission, and the ASEAN countries collectively, have imposed their institutional construct upon this zone with its “Corridors,” “Backbones,” and “Frameworks.” Everywhere earth is being moved, new roads are being cut, new dams and lakes are being set in place, while people – mostly powerless ethnic minorities – are being relocated, not only from the lowlands but also from the highlands to the lowlands. Planning is often ad hoc and it is always top-down. This vast sub-tropical zone of endangered species and of myriad cultures and traditions is no less in the vortex of irremediable change – and pillage - than the Amazon basin or the island of Borneo.
But one statistic stands out. The average GDP per capita in the GMS zone, within which some 60 million people depend on the Mekong for their livelihood, is about one US dollar a day, with the weight of poverty falling most heavily upon the ethnic minorities. Alongside globalization and regionalism, however, nationalism still holds sway (the ongoing spat between Thailand and Cambodia over ownership of a border temple is just one example). It also appears in the way that ethnic labeling or “taxonomic” control over national minorities takes precedence, above all in the communist states (China, Laos and Vietnam), as do powerful official narratives of common history. In a word, the concerned nations seek to assimilate their respective minorities while harnessing their territories to new developmental logics, at the same time seeking increased economic interaction across frontiers, often at the expense of traditional cultures. To test these insights we have to examine the recent experience of the Hmong, Mien, and Dai minorities, in respectively Thailand, Laos and Vietnam (as well as in China). Still, even tourism can become a vehicle for maintaining identity as with the Dai in China or the Hmong in Thailand, just as Laos has opened to forms of ecotourism. Geoffrey Gunn
CHIANG MAI - As Mekong River floodwaters in Laos and Thailand recede, indignation with China for its lack of transparency on upstream dam developments is on the rise. China has recently pursued a friendly policy of economic integration with Southeast Asian neighbors but in relation to Mekong River development it has taken what many see as a covetous and less than neighborly approach.
The Mekong in LaosFlood waters in recent days inundated parts of Luang Prabang and Vientiane provinces in Laos and at least seven northern provinces in Thailand. The flooding was widely reportedly the worst in a century for some areas, with river levels reaching a high of 13.7 meters on August 14. Previous record high floods occurred in 1966, when river levels reached 12.4 meters.
Thailand has estimated damages at around 220 million baht (US$6.48 million), while the Vientiane Times, a state-controlled Lao newspaper, cited an unofficial government report that the floods would cost Luang Prabang province alone some 100 billion kip (US$11.6 million). Those figures may only be provisional, as flood waters in the Mekong Delta have already reached critical levels and Vietnamese forecasters have predicted more flooding before the end of the rainy season.
A woman guides bulls to higher ground in the Mekong near Phnom PenhThe larger cost has been diplomatic, as downstream neighbors suspect rightly or wrongly that Chinese dams were primarily responsible for the flooding. From the hard-hit Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong districts of Thailand's northern Chiang Rai province to its eastern Mukdahan province, many Thais believe waters released from the reservoirs of three upstream Chinese dams swelled the runoff from heavy rainfalls. They also blame China's recent blasting and dredging of upstream river rapids to make the river navigable for large cargo vessels for rising water levels.
Map of Chinese dams on the Lancang (Mekong)That may or may not be the case, but China's lack of transparency is fueling suspicions. The Mekong River Commission (MRC), a multinational grouping made up of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam responsible for sustainable development and water resource management of the Mekong, said in a statement that the high water levels were the result of above average rainfall and not the result of upstream Chinese dams opening sluice gates. The situation was compounded by tropical storm Kammuri, which hit the region between August 8 and 10, the statement said.
The MRC also noted that just half of the flood waters in Vientiane originated in China with the rest from Mekong tributaries, namely the Nam Ou and Nam Khan rivers. It concluded, "The current water levels are entirely the result of the meteorological and hydrological conditions and were not caused by water release from presently operating Chinese dams which have storage areas far too small to affect the flood hydrology of the Mekong," the statement said.
That view was supported by Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and the Thai Water Resources Department, which oversees Mekong water flows and Lao government officials also said Chinese dams are not at fault. Heavy rains had lashed Myanmar and Vietnam - lending credence to the nation's views - resulting in severe flooding that killed at least 130 in northern Vietnam and forced thousands from their homes in both countries. But the Thai People's Network on the Mekong, a grouping of several Thai environmental organizations, openly rejected the MRC's reasoning for the floods in an August 16 statement, calling for China to free up information on its dams. There also appears to be lingering doubts among some top government officials.
Thai Deputy Interior Minister Prasong Kositanond said on Wednesday that officials were studying the floods and that China may be asked to provide future warnings on the timings and volumes of water released by the dams. He noted that without the cooperation of China, Thailand's northeastern regions could face more severe flooding. Even the MRC in Thailand, in contradiction to the statement from the organization's headquarters, has said it will ask the Thai Foreign Ministry for help in requesting more information from China about its dams.
No dam evidence
China has remained reluctant to reveal information about its dams, including its own environmental and hydrological studies of their impact. This lack of transparency has continued despite heavy criticism from environmental groups and official pleas from Southeast Asian neighbors seeking more information.
Thai Water Resource Department deputy head, Thanade Dawasuwan, recently told the Bangkok Post that his department actually has scant information on the Chinese dams. Thailand's MRC coordinator, Burachat Buasuwan, told the same newspaper that Chinese officials only provide information on water discharges in the rainy season. The MRC, he claimed, had made requests for information from Chinese officials in the past, but had yet to receive replies.
China has so far completed three dams across the upper Mekong - the Manwan in 1993, the Dachaoshan in 2002 and the Jinghong in June of this year. The three dams have respective storage capacities of 920 million, 890 million and 1.2 billion cubic meters, meaning a total of over 3 billion cubic meters of reservoir. This is enough, environmentalists say, to significantly influence water flows on the upper Mekong. Chinese officials have countered that since only 18% of the Mekong's flow originates in its areas, the dams will not have an effect on the volume of water flowing downstream.
China's grand vision for the Mekong is to build up to fifteen power-generating dams on its upper reaches to fuel economic growth in its laggard southwestern territories. The Xiaowan dam, the world's tallest at 292 meters, is slated for completion on the upper Mekong in 2013. Scheduled to generate over 4,000 megawatts of electricity, that particular hydropower dam has downstream Southeast Asia concerned about the massive reservoir the dam is expected to create and its anticipated impact on river water levels. Chinese officials have said the 190 square kilometer reservoir will reduce the amount of water flowing downward by 17% during flood seasons and increase the flow by 40% in dry seasons.
What is certain is that there have been ecological and hydrological changes in the Mekong River since the construction of the Chinese dams, and more recently with the dynamiting of river rapids. Locals in Chiang Khong, Thailand, the closest major town of the MRC member countries to China, say that there is a noticeable rise in the river level when the water gates are opened on China's dams. Environmentalists say the dams have also affected the river's seasonal flows and caused the destruction of river islets. They also blame water blockages due to dam construction for unexpected and dangerous rapid rises and falls in downstream flows.
Until recently the main concern about the dams centered more on the lack of water flowing down the river. For example, the dams were criticized for exacerbating a drought in 2004 that left ships stranded mid-river and damaged crops and fishing in downstream nations. Halts in river flows for up to five days at a time due to Chinese dam construction inhibited trade, with angry cargo ship owners claiming journeys that used to take days instead took weeks.
China-first policy
The MRC said in 2004 that the Chinese dams had exacerbated the drought and sent an official letter to Beijing demanding information on the Chinese dams. In a seeming about turn, then-MRC chief executive officer Oliver Cogels wrote a letter to the Bangkok Post on January 9, 2007, claiming the impact of the Chinese dams was exaggerated in public opinion and not a factor in the drought affecting downstream countries.
He also noted, echoing Beijing's line, that because the Chinese dams are for power generation and not for irrigation, they do not hold water, but instead regulate flows, increasing them in the dry season and reducing them in the rainy season. Indeed, China's dams may not be directly culpable for either the flooding or drought, but the lack of transparency has stoked downstream fears and anger among its southern neighbors and environmental groups.
China's unwillingness to allow independent scientific studies on its dams' impacts makes it difficult to conclusively determine what impact they have had on water levels. Even within China there is very little public discourse on the dams, in part because the issue is treated as a matter of national security.
Beijing has made clear its stance that, since it is developing the Mekong on Chinese soil, it is not responsible for downstream impacts. Appeals to China by non-governmental organizations to compensate people living downstream whose farming or fishing livelihoods have allegedly been impacted by the recent changes in the river have been scornfully rebuffed.
China's lack of cooperation and responsibility is seemingly at odds with its broader soft power policy of forging greater economic integration with Southeast Asia, including through preferential free trade agreements and generous infrastructure loans. Seen from Beijing's point of view, its participation in the Greater Mekong Subregion is less about an altruistic desire to see its southern neighbors develop and more about gaining access to export markets for its industrial and agricultural goods and securing a strategic, alternative passage for fuel and other imports for its inland industries.
China is not a member of the MRC and critics say that without Beijing's participation the grouping is powerless to accomplish organizational goals related to sustainable development on the Mekong. If China were to join, it would have to conform to various mandatory standards and come under pressure to accept water management norms that are less harmful to downstream communities, a prospect it clearly wants to avoid.
The MRC has however recently incorporated China and Myanmar to some extent, as non-member, dialogue partners. While the MRC's most northerly monitoring station is in Chiang Saen, Thailand, in 2002 it convinced China to commit to exchanging some information from two of its monitoring stations, including the Jinghong station located below its three standing dams. Flood forecasting first became an issue after floods in 2000 killed some 800 people in the Mekong Delta. In 2005, China agreed to hold technical discussions with the MRC, including flood management and alleviation.
Last year, Beijing also agreed to begin supplying the MRC with 24-hour water level and 12-hour rainfall data for flood forecasts in return for monthly flow data from MRC stations on the lower Mekong. However the incentives for China to become a full-fledged member of the MRC are still few and far between. As the Mekong's most upstream nation, it is geographically in a position of power. And with its growing hunger for new and alternative energy sources to imported oil, it will likely remain loathe to enter into a multilateral mechanism which may attempt to put a brake on its ambitious dam building program.
For China, the Mekong is now viewed more as a potential source of energy rather than a trade artery as the river has been quickly supplanted by a more efficient network of roads leading south from China's Yunnan province into Southeast Asia. The newly completed Route 3 in Laos that connects Yunnan with northern Thailand through Laos means trucks can complete a trade journey in hours which used to take days by river.
Once a bridge is completed across the Mekong between the northern Thai town of Chiang Khong and Laos' Huay Xai, where Route 3 currently terminates, Yunnan's goods will have direct access to Southeast Asian markets, and perhaps more importantly, to seaports on the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. Close relations with military-ruled Myanmar have already provided China with another southern trade route, with a soon to be upgraded port at Sittwe on the Indian Ocean.
Of course cross-border river issues pose diplomatic problems and challenges in many regions of the world. Although a Law of the Sea treaty exists to govern disputes on the world's oceans, there is no comparable global law for rivers to mediate disputes over water resources. Until such a mechanism exists, and more importantly until China agrees to a more multilateral approach to managing the Mekong, the issue will remain a contentious one with its Southeast Asian neighbors while life for people living along the river's shifting banks will remain highly uncertain.
Brian McCartan is a Chiang Mai-based freelance journalist. He may be reached at brianpm@comcast.net
Geoffrey Gunn is author of Rebellion in Laos: Peasant and Politics in a Colonial Backwater White Lotus reprint, Bangkok, 2003) and a Japan Focus coordinator.
This article was published at Asia Times on August 22, 2008. It is published at Japan Focus on August 31, 2008.
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