Chao Anouvong stadium set for completion in April

The Lao National Sports Committee (LNSC) has completed 70 percent of work to improve the Chao Anouvong football stadium in Vientiane in preparation for the 25th SEA Games to be held in Vientiane in December.

The government is spending 14 billion kip on the project, which began in June 2008 and is set for completion in April.

Group B football matches will take place at the stadium and the Lao Football Federation will use the stadium until the start of the SEA Games.

Chief of Facility Construction of LNSC, Mr Phaiboun Chanthamaly, said the stadium will be reseeded and repairs will be made to the electrical system, seating, scoreboard and running track.

Earlier this month, the Asia Football Confederation inspected the stadium to monitor its progress ahead of the SEA Games.

The existing stadium has 6,000 seats, which is believed to be sufficient to accommodate spectators at the first round of the football tournament.

The national football team is currently training at the sports training centre.

Savankham Construction Company began work on the Chao Anouvong football stadium in the middle of last year.

The LNSC changed the name of the stadium from the National Football Stadium to the Chao Anouvong Stadium, as it is building a new national football stadium elsewhere for use in the SEA Games. The stadium has been used in the past for matches at the national level.

The LNSC is improving many football stadiums, including those at the National University of Laos, Bank Institution and Lao National Television for better football training.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
February 16, 2009