The National Sports Committee has gold medal hopes for Lao athletes in six sports at the 24 th South East Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand next month.
In a press conference at the Lane Xang Hotel in Vientiane on Friday, committee officials said that of the 26 events at the games, the Lao contingent is strongest in petanque, wushu, taekwondo, boxing, Muay Lao and judo.
The conference was led by Standing Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the 25 th SEA Games Organising Committee, Mr Somsavat Lengsavad, and attended by ministers, senior sports officials, company representatives, trainers and athletes.
Afterwards, the Lao Brewery Company, Trio Export Company and other firms presented more than 400 million kip to Mr Somsavat and committee President Dr Phouthong Seng-akhom to support the Lao athletes at the games in Thailand .
Lao Brewery Company and Phetchampa Advertising Company will also award 10 million kip to the first five gold medallists, and Angkham Hotel will present a further five million kip and a motorbike on their return from Thailand .
“I will present 20 million kip to the sixth gold medallist and beyond,” said Mr Somsavat.
The committee sees the Thailand games as a test for its athletics squad ahead of hosting the 25 th SEA Games in Vientiane in 2009. Almost 450 Lao athletes will take part in 22 events in Thailand , including swimming, track and field, volleyball, snooker and football.
The Lao committee is unable to send contestants in rugby, bowling, gymnastics and handball.
The athletes are under the watchful eyes of coaches from Vietnam , China , the Republic of Korea , Russia , Cuba , Mongolia , Thailand , Indonesia and Japan . Some teams have benefited from overseas training in Vietnam , the Republic of Korea , China and Japan in preparation for the games.
“The Lao people are more hopeful of seeing our athletes win medals at the 24 th games,” said Mr Somsavat.
“The 8 th Party Congress provided directives sports, so that we can compete more strongly in international competitions and ready ourselves to host the SEA Games in 2009,” he said.
Lao athletes won three gold medals at the 23 rd SEA Games in the Philippines in 2005.
