Mr Bounthong Chitmany and his officials inspect the stadium to be used as the main venue at the National Games hosted by Xieng Khuang province.          --Photo Lao National Radio

Xieng Khuang gets into gear for National Games

Sports officials in Xieng Khuang province are working to make sure that the main stadium in the provincial capital, which will be the centrepiece of the National Games in December, is in good condition.
Preparations are underway to ensure that everything is ready for the big event and that all facilities are in good working order.
Vice President Bounthong Chitmany and his officials on September 16 visited the province to oversee the preparations and viewed the football stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies will take place, as well as other competition venues.
Provincial officials insist that preparations are going smoothly and that everything will be ready for the National Games, which will comprise 25 sports.
Competitions in 18 of these sports will take place in indoor venues and seven will take place in the main stadium and other outdoor sports grounds.
Some 460 officials are involved in the organisation of the Games.
Eighteen hotels will accommodate visiting senior officials, while other accommodation is being prepared for 27 trainers and the athletes. The province will be able to accommodate 8,580 visitors in total.
The 11th National Games are also seen as an opportunity to promote Xieng Khuang’s tourist attractions and give a boost to social and economic development in the area.
Meanwhile, athletes around the country are getting ready to compete in the long-awaited event, which has been postponed for several years because of the Covid-19 outbreak and for other reasons.
The last National Games was held in Oudomxay province in 2014, while the next edition will be hosted by Vientiane at a date to be announced.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update September 20, 2022)