Budo Centre ready to rumble

The 25th SEA Games Administration and Service Committee carried out an inspection of the Lao-Japan Budo Centre in Chao Anou village, Chanthabouly district, Vientiane , on Monday.

The committee assessed the centre to be 99 percent complete, with just a few minor details to be resolved.

Committee Deputy Chairman Dr Soulasith Oupravanh said the centre is important for local people because it was built through grant assistance from the government and people of Japan .

Construction of the centre took place in two phases. The first phase went ahead under a Japanese government grant of about 37 billion kip (US$4.3 million) last December.

The second phase is still underway, with financial support in the form of a further grant from the Japanese government of 19 billion kip (US$2.2 million).

The centre is being built by the Kanto Construction Company and Sanpo International Corporation of Japan .

“The centre will be used to hold the karatedo and taekwondo events during the SEA Games and the Lao National Sports Committee will use it to host future table tennis and sepak takraw events, as well as other activities,” Dr Soulasith said.

The facility has the potential to host many future events and activities such as graduation ceremonies and concerts, he added.

The committee and construction company engineers will organise a training course on November 28-30 for officials who will work at the centre during the games to ensure they are familiar with all the systems and regulations.

Lao karatedo and taekwondo athletes will soon start training at the centre. The Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC) will host a handover ceremony on November 14 and the Lao Karatedo Federation will organise a Vientiane Championship to test its athletes and the facility from November 15.

The Budo Centre measures 32 by 29 metres, and stands 18 metres high. It contains three floors and has a seating capacity of 800.

After the games, the LNSC will open the centre to fighters from the Lao Judo and Karatedo Federations, Aikido Club and students from Anou Secondary School .

“ Anou Secondary School was also built with grant assistance from the Japanese government and the students will now be able to do martial arts training at a high quality facility,” Dr Soulasith said.

At the 24th SEA Games in Thailand in 2007, the Lao karatedo team won a bronze medal and the judo team brought home two gold, one silver and three bronze medals.

 

 

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Ocotber 21 , 2009

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