Laos to slash 2009 South-East Asia Games programme

Laos, which will host the Southeast Asian Games in 2009, plans to reduce the number of sports from 45 to just 25, Reuters quoted vice-president of the Laos SEA Games Organising Committee Phouthong Sengakhom as saying.

The games however will make room for such sports as petanque, the Malay martial art silat and shuttlecock kicking. Blue riband events including athletics, soccer and swimming will be included in the 2009 edition but less popular sports including sailing and gymnastics may not be included.

"Brunei had only 23 sports. We are also a small country, and it is our first time hosting a major Games," said Phouthong Sengakhom.

According to Sengakhom, who is also a minister in the Prime Minister's Office and president of the Laos National Sports Committee and Laos National Olympic Committee, the Games budget would be about $80 million.

Around $50 million is allocated to construct a new sports complex, complete with a 20,000-capacity main stadium. The stadium will be the biggest in the country, which has a population of around six million. The Games is scheduled for December 2009.

Laos's organising committee must still seek the approval of the SEA Games Federation council to set the number of sports. The 2007 Games, held in Thailand's Nakhon Ratchasima province, finishes on December 15.