LAOS TO TEST SEA GAMES VENUES AND FACILITIES BEFORE SEPTEMBER

KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 (Bernama) -- The Laos SEA Games Organising Committee
(Laosoc) will conduct a dry-run on all SEA Games venues and facilities to ensure
that the meet the standard before handing them over to the relevant organising
committees in September.

President of the Laos National Sports Committee and Minister in the Prime
Minister's Office Dr Phouthong Seng Akhom said Laosoc would also arrange several
local and international competitions at the venues, to test not only the venues
but also the facilities and equipment.

"The first body to test its readiness for the Games will be the Laos
Badminton Federation which will host the Laos International Challenge 2009 in
Vientianne, starting Tuesday until Aug 1.

Other sports would hold similar competitions to test their repective
facilities in August," he said in the official Laos SEA Games website Tuesday.

Dr Phouthong said the 20,000-seat stadium in Dongsanghin village, to be used
for the opening and closing ceremonies, was almost complete with just minor
touches still in progress.

All sports fields and stadiums would be tested before September and any
arising issue would be resolved before the facilities were handed over to the
respective committees.

"All the venues are near completion. The shooting field, however, is still
under construction due to the delay in the delivery of equipment," he added.

Other indoor and outdoor courts at Chao-anouvong stadium in Anou Village,
Chanthabouly district, the international Trade Exhibition and Convention Centre,
Beungkhayong stadium and facilities at the National University of Laos are close
to completion and waiting to be installed with sports equipment.

The 25th SEA Games will be held from Dec 9 to 18 in Vientianne involving 386
events in 25 sports including athletics, swimming, archery, badminton, snooker
and billiards, muay thai, cycling, football, golf, judo, karate, sepak takraw,
shooting, tennis, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, wrestling, weightlifting,
boxing, silat, petanque, fin swimming, diving and shuttlecock juggling.
-- BERNAMA