Welcome to 25th SEA Games Vientiane, Lao PDR

Welcome to 25th SEA Games 2009 in Vientiane, Lao PDR, December 9-18


The Southeast Asian Games will be in its 25th edition comes year 2009 when it's held in Vientiane, Laos. It will also be SEA Games 50th year since its inception. The biennial multi-sport event was formed back in 1959 and was previously called Southeast Asian Peninsular Games or SEAP Games. Laos holds the honor of being host country for the first time in its history for the year 2009.

The history behind the games was that when the Southeast Asian nation's delegates attended the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo, during a joint meeting they all agreed to have a sports organization within the Southeast Asian region that will promote closer bilateral ties.

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

For the 25th Southeast Asian Games, the capital city Vientiane will be main games area. Due to decades of war and lacking in resources and finances, this impoverished communist country has reduced the number of sports to be contested at the SEA Games. It dwindled the figure to a proposed 25 games. This is far lesser than the 43 sports being contested at the last SEA Games in Thailand, 2007. The 25 disciplines that will be in competition are:

1. Archery
2. Aquatics
3. Athletics
4. Badminton
5. Basketball
6. Billiards and Snooker
7. Bodybuilding
8. Boxing
9. Bowling
10. Football
11. Golf
12. Handball
13. Judo
14. Karatedo
15. Muay Thai
16. Pencak Silat
17. Pétanque
18. Shooting
19. Shuttlecock kicking
20. Table tennis
21. Taekwondo
22. Traditional boat race
23. Volleyball
24. Wrestling
25. Wushu

The news that Laos has dropped a considerable number of sports and run the risk of not being able to hold the event due to financial constraints, it has led to other SEA Games countries and even help outside of the region in aid. Vietnam has agreed to help out in the staging and organization of sports and footing the bill on a new $19 million Games Village. Thailand has offered exchange lesson for Laos's officials for more pointers in SEA Games preparation, which is worth some $2.9 million.

Singapore are to provide teachers and technicians, and organization such as the Yuuwakai Association of Japan has agreed to donate US$100,000 for the new Karatedo training center in Laos, while China has agreed to chalk up the main cost for the new Laos National Stadium. It is estimated a total US$85 million worth of aid has been handed by various nations.

With the outpouring of international help, it is reported that the progress of Laos preparation for the SEA Games have been encouraging. The aid sped-up the logistics preparations and facilities are now up to 60 per cent from completion. However if Laos does fail to meet the qualifications to hold the event in time, the games would be moved to Singapore as an alternative hosting backup option.

The games in Laos are slated to open on December 13th, 2009 and the closing ceremony is scheduled for 21st December. The opening, closing and major games will be held at the new Laos National Stadium.

Laos has employed the use of their national animal, the white elephants as the Official Mascots. Named Mr. Champee and Ms. Champa, these two Lao Elephants will represent the national flower of Laos.

Air Tickets to Laos for Sea Games 2009 : Online Booking Now !