Announcers sought for opening, closing ceremonies

The Lao SEA Games Opening and Closing Committee yesterday announced that a contest to select public announcers for the games had so far attracted about 50 applicants.

( From left ) Mr Somsanouk Mixay, Mr Bouanguan Saphouvong and Dr Douangchampa Vudthisouk attend a press conference.

Committee Chairman and Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Bouanguan Saphouvong, said all the applicants were local people or Lao students studying overseas who were able to return to Laos for the games.

“We will select five pairs of announcers, a male and a female, for the opening and closing ceremonies,” he said.

The first pair of announcers will participate in the opening ceremony of the SEA Games on December 9 and the second will take to the stage during the closing ceremony on December 18.

Meanwhile, the three other pairs will act as substitutes, and will also have some other work as well, Mr Bouanguan said.

“Applications are open to Lao nationals from August 20 until October 15, and we will have a contest to decide the winners at the end of October.”

He said each of the 10 people selected will receive 5 million kip and certificates of honour from the committee. They will have the very important role of making public announcements, including the introduction of programmes, during the opening and closing ceremonies.

“The announcers at the SEA Games will be the face and voice of our country in displays of culture and tradition that demonstrate Lao dress, charm, and behaviour. They will be cultural ambassadors,” he said.

The committee agreed that Khompanya Entertainment will work with the committee in the contest because the company has experience in this area.

Because announcements will be made in both Lao and English, competition entrants need to have very good skills in both those languages. All applicants must have completed upper secondary school, be well-presented, aged 18 to 30 and be at least 1.55m in height for females and 1.65m for males.

Applicants should also have good health and an attractive personal style. They need to submit a CV and a 4x6cm photo to the committee.

The committee welcomes all professional and amateur announcers and encourages Lao students who have recently returned from studying abroad to apply.

Those seeking more information can call 021 212419 for the Ministry of Information and Culture's Performing Arts Department as a part of the committee, or 020 9849414 for the Mass Culture Department as the coordinator.

The press conference was jointly organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture and Khompanya Entertainment.

Lao Journalists' Association Vice President Somsanouk Mixay, Performing Arts Department Deputy Director General Ms Somchith Phomsavanh, Mass Culture Department Deputy Director General Dr Douangchampa Vudthisouk, Khompanya Entertainment Director Khompanya Phengvinaiya and media representatives attended the press conference.

 

By Panyasith Thammavongsa
September 22, 2009

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