Deputy Prime Minister Prof. Dr Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune (centre) and members of the Lao National Olympics Committee attend the appointment of the Executive Committee on Thursday.

National Olympics Committee appoints new management board

New members of the Lao National Olympics Committee are aiming for bigger targets during their term of office until 2025, following the appointment of a new Executive Committee of the 8th Electoral National Olympics Committee of Laos.
The new committee members comprise the Minister of Education and Sports, Associate Prof. Dr Phout Simmalavong, the Vice President of the committee, the Mayor of Vientiane Dr Athsphangthong Siphandone, and other senior officials.
The announcement of the new committee members was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Prof. Dr Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune and representatives of Lao sports federations.
Prof. Dr Kikeo said he was confident the new members would expand cooperation with Laos’ sports federations, which would improve sports in terms of both quality and quantity, and raise Laos’ profile on the international stage.
The Lao National Olympics Committee continues to support Lao sports federations and will look at ways to improve sports in Laos and raise the standard of athletes.
The Committee looks forward to entering athletes in the Olympic Games, Asian Games, SEA Games and other events, and to working more closely with the government, the private sector, and the general public.
It aims to improve the working methods of sports federations and to source more funding to support their work and improve the standards of the various sports bodies.
The Committee will also seek closer cooperation with international organisations to broaden the knowledge and skills of sports officials, referees and trainers.
It will also encourage international organisations to provide professional trainers to help raise standards in Laos.
The former Committee members met with the new members to discuss the development of sports. 
The new Committee members will encourage sports federations and sports clubs to develop the sports for which they are responsible.
They also called on Party organisations, the government and private sectors and the general public to share in the work of the Committee.
Associate Prof. Dr Phout has asked the Asian Sports Federation and other international bodies to strengthen the work of the Lao National Olympics Committee and broaden the scope of its work. 
Many local sponsors continue to support sports federations to enable them to stage competitions. It is hoped that continuing support will enable athletes to raise their standards and to be more competitive at international events.
The Lao National Olympics Committee was founded in 1980 and works with the SEA Games Federation, the Olympics Council of Asia, the International Olympics Committee and sports federations in the region and beyond.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
(Latest Update September 12, 2022)