Spectacular show opens 25th SEA Games today
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 09 Dec 2009
A colorful extravaganza of a show officially opens today the 25th Southeast Asian Games host Laos will be staging for the first time. The spectacular ceremony, showcasing the Lao people?s remarkable traits ? hospitality, joy and friendship ? also serves as call for the continued prosperity in the Southeast Asian Region and to be held at the newly-constructed National Stadium in the host country;? premier city of Vientiane.
Today?s show marks the start of competitions in 28 sports to be contested by the finest athletes from the 11-member nations in quest for glory and honor to be crowned this edition?s overall champion. The colorful show of dance and music will depict the former French?s colony?s development since the transformation of Laos from as far back as Chao Fagnum king and how the country rose to become an integrate part of the world of nations.
One of the highlights of the program is the choral singing of the Sea Games official song, ?The Spirit of Flame,? to be performed by over 100 artists of different ages and occupations, from Vientiane and other parts of the country.
The general director of the ceremony, Bouagnuen Saphouvong, the Deputy Minister of Information and Culture and general director of the opening rites, vowed that the extravaganza will that ? a spectacular show that wisll be capped by firework display designed to brighten the entire city.
? We hope the opening show will impress our gests from our neighboring countries, athletes and officials as well as people in the surrounding areas of Vientiane,? Saphouvongadded said through the Games official website.
Today?s rites and the competitions that will follow in the next 10 days will be the culmination of Laos? six years of preparations that started when the SEA Games Federation, in a meeting in Hanoi in December of 2003, awarded the hosting of the biennial meet, an never given the country since this former Southeast Asian peninsular Games was inaugurated in 1959 in Bangkok.
The flags of participating nations and welcoming banners that adorned Vientiane's streets weeks ago proved that Laos is well prepared for the SEA Games
Incidentally, this year?s games will be held in celebration of the conclave?s 50th yea anniversary besides coinciding with Vientiane?s 450th anniversary of Vientiane as the capital of Laos in 2010.
The country?s National Sports Committee assumed the responsibility for planning and preparations, including building up of sports venues and refurbishing existing ones, building athletes? accommodation and providing other services for use during the games.
Head of states the participating nations or their representatives, including the prime ministers of Cambodia, Timor Leste and Thailand, who all confirmed their attendance have been invited to the opening ceremony.
Also invited were representatives of Lao families living overseas to attend the event, including groups in France, United States of America, Australia and Japan. Laos has not only worked hard to prepare the necessary infrastructure for the games, but also to make sure that all athletes, coaches and delegation officials will not forget their stay in the country.
Laos is setting its sights on winning more gold medals than at previous SEA Games, as the country?s athletes will be competing on home soil. Because it is the 25th edition of the SEA Games this year, Laos decided to organise just 25 sports, less than at the previous games held in Thailand in 2007.
This makes it easy to remember the event by the number 25, with the slogan ?25 sports at the 25th SEA Games in Laos? to become symbolic of the Vientiane Games. This year?s SEA Games is not just about winning, but also promotes ?Generosity, Amity, and Healthy Lifestyle?
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