Category: Sports

Laos will host the 26th Asian Table Tennis Championship 2022 in Vientiane on Sep 1-6, 2022, a press conference held in Vientiane was told on Aug 16.

Minister of Education and Sports Phout Simmalavong, President of the National Table Tennis Federation Ms Sengdeuan Lachanthaboun, and relevant officials took part in the press conference.

More than 200 players from 20 countries are expected to participate in the sport event.

The competition will comprise 11 categories including youth under 15 years old (U15): women’s singles – men’s singles, women’s team, men’s team, and youth under 19 years old (U19): women’s singles – men’s singles, women’s doubles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles .

The competition will be organized at the Lao ITEC Shopping Mall in Vientiane. General public members can attend the event for free.

Source: Lao News Agency

Xieng Khuang province is speeding up its Covid-19 vaccination efforts to have at least 80% of its population given at least one dose of Covid-19, 70% given second dose and 30% administered with a booster dose to ensure it can open delayed 11th National Games by the end of this year.

“Our Covid-19 vaccination campaign is in line with the guidance of the government, the Ministry of Health in particular. So far our efforts have been focused on target villages without access to Covid-19 vaccines. We are paying attention to coordination among relevant authorities to make sure people understand and cooperate with us,” said Director of the Xieng Khuang Provincial Health Department Dr. Bouaphan Vongmachan.

Up to 73% of population in the northern province have been given at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine. Meanwhile those given second and booster doses currently represent 61% and 19.2% respectively.

Only 2.2% of population in the province have been given a fourth dose.

Realizing a relatively low vaccination coverage in the province, the Provincial Department of Health has launched a rigorous Covid-19 vaccination campaign this month to have 80% of population in the province fully vaccinated before the beginning of new school year.

As for the coming 11th National Games, to be held by the end of this year, the Health sector and relevant authorities will issue a notice urging local people and visitors to receive at least three doses of Covid-19 vaccine, have temperature check and Covid-19 test before they can be allowed to attend competition venues, according to Dr. Bouaphan.

This visit to Xiengkhouang follows after a briefing in June was held for senior news editor from the media on the current status of COVID-19 vaccination in Lao PDR and how the media can support the national vaccination efforts. This kind of media mission was organized in Savannakhet, Borikhamxay and Khammouane provinces in June and July 2022.

The visit was organized by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Health, with the support of UNICEF. International partners to Lao PDR’s COVID-19 response activities, including UNICEF have consistently provided support in the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines since early 2021 through the COVAX Facility. COVAX is a partnership co-led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), working in partnership with UNICEF as well as the World Bank, civil society organisations, manufacturers, and others stakeholders.

Source: Lao News Agency

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) with the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Provincial Education and Sports Services (PESS) and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Department with the Provincial Integrated Vocational Education Training (IVET) schools and colleges met from 4 to 5 August to discuss a collaboration between the National School Meals Programme and IVET schools and colleges in Laos.

The partnership with IVET schools follows the Government of Laos Policy on Promoting School Lunch (2014) where academic institutions contribute through technical support and advice to the National School Meals Programme, enhancing sustainability. Through the partnership, the IVET schools will provide practical assistance regarding agriculture, school meal cooking, food processing and preservation, and nutrition-related education to selected schools and communities.

“Many communities still face challenges to practice school meals due to poor maintenance of school gardens or insufficient knowledge of seasonal food storage and nutrition diversity. I delightedly look forward to this collaboration opportunity with provincial IVET colleges through our strong partnership with WFP,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phout Simmalavong, Minister of Education and Sports.

WFP has supported school feeding programmes in Lao PDR since 2002. In mid-2019, WFP successfully handed over school feeding programmes at 515 schools to the National School Meals Programme of the Government of Lao PDR and at 915 schools in 2021. After the handover, WFP continues to support the Government to strengthen its capacity to perform the school meals programme and improve nutrition quality of school lunches in various aspects including agriculture, income generation and community mobilization.“While the handover was indeed a milestone for school feeding programmes in Laos, we all understand that there is still a long way to go before the National School Meals Programme can consistently provide quality nutritious lunches to Lao schoolchildren. Therefore, WFP continues its technical support to the Government at all levels to improve the sustainability and quality of school lunches,“ said Mr. Jan Delbaere, WFP Country Director and Representative.

Source: Lao News Agency

Over 500 runners from China, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Holland, United States and Laos participated in the Golden Triangle 2nd Half Marathon organized by Golden Triangle Economic Zone in Ton Pheuang district, Bokeo Province on Jun 26.

King Romans Co., Ltd served as the main sponsor of the anti-drug sport competition.

The half marathon was opened in the presence of Deputy Governor of Bokeo Province Kheuanphet Vongsa and representatives of relevant authorities.

“The aim of the competition is to celebrate International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking – Jun 26 – and the 15th anniversary of establishment of the Golden Triangle Economic Zone,” said Deputy Governor Kheuanphet.

Winners of the competition will be awarded over 400 millions kip (approx. US$26,840).

‘’This competition is also held in the spirit of the National Agenda on Addressing Drug Issues to make people from all walks of life in the society aware of the menace and effects of narcotic drugs on human beings. All people have a common goal of eradicating drugs from our society and nation,’’ said the provincial official.

SEA Games female medalist Lotkeo Inthakoumman was named the winner of the competition, rewarded a cash prize of 106 million kip (US$7,112) and a trophy, and a medal.

The second place went to Ms Natthaya Thanonlawat from Thailand. The athlete was rewarded a prize of 64 million kip (US$4,294) and a medal.

The third place belonged to Ms Kanyalak Serywutthisay from Thailand. She was presented a prize of 42 million kip (US$2,818) and a medal. Meanwhile, the fourth place was announced for a Thai runner along with a prize of 21 million kip (US$1409) and a medal.

Winners of male category (name-nationality-prize):

1st San Xay – Thai-106 million kip

2nd Sana Phon – Thai-64 million kip

3rd Ek Kalack – Thai-42 million kip

4th Pha Noukone – Thai-21 million kip

Source: Lao News Agency

The 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) wrapped up with a ceremony imbued with Vietnam’s cultural identity at the Hanoi Indoor Games Gymnasium on May 23 evening.

Participants in the event included Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the 32nd SEA Games Organising Committee Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh, ministers, ambassadors, and the chefs de mission.

Special performances at the closing ceremony looked to leave unforgettable impression on international friends and demonstrate Vietnam as a country deeply imbued with its traditional identity and intensively integrating into the world.

At the closing ceremony, the host flag was handed over to Cambodian representatives. After that, artists from Cambodia had a performance of “Cambodia Welcoming and Blessing” to introduce their country, people and culture.

With 40 sports, SEA Games 31 took place in Hanoi and 11 nearby localities.

Vietnam ranked first in the medal standings with 205 gold, 125 silver, and 116 bronze medals. Thailand (92 golds, 103 silvers, 136 bronzes) is placed second and Indonesia (69 golds, 91 silvers, 81 bronzes) third.

They are followed by the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, and Timor Leste, respectively./.

Source: Lao News Agency

The Lao government has scheduled the opening of the 11th National Games for Dec 13, 2022. The sport event, to be hosted by Xieng Khuang, will last through Dec 22, 2022.

Vice Governor of Xieng Khuang Province Boua-ngeun Hom Xayaphom told the media on May 16 that preparations for Xieng Khuang Games have been achieved by 70%.

“Currently, we are preparing staff with some re-recruited after being suspended several times. They will form 10 sub-committees,” said Mr. Boua-ngeun.

We have checked sports facilities including football stadiums, table tennis venue and we are about to do remaining reparation works to ensure the organization of this sports event.

Some sports competitions will be held in Vientiane.

Source: Lao News Agency