Laos inaugurates Vietnam-funded sports training centre

Vientiane (VNA) - Laos inaugurated the National Sports Training Centre in
Vientiane on Jan 19 in preparation for SEA Games 25, which will takes place in the
country in late 2009.

The centre was built on an area of 117,000sq.m at a cost of 4 million USD funded
by Vietnam as a gift for its neighbouring country.

The inaugural ceremony, at which Vietnam officially handed over the centre to
the host country, was attended by high-level government and sports officials from
the two countries.

Lao Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad expressed thanks to the Vietnamese
government and people and described the centre as a demonstration of Vietnam 's
timely and valuable help to Laos 's sports development and the success of the
organisation of SEA Games 25, the largest sports event in southeast Asia.

The centre, which is the first of its kind in Laos , is expected to help train
its athletes and coaches for regional and international games.-Enditem