Liaison officials, volunteers tested their grade

Standing Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the SEA Games Organising Committee, Mr Somsavat Lengsavad, yesterday surprised games volunteers with numerous general knowledge questions on participating countries.

Mr Somsavat was addressing a gathering of 4,200 SEA Games Liaison Officials and Volunteer Officials at the National Culture Hall to test their knowledge before they assist at the SEA Games next month.

Volunteer officials listen to Mr Somsavat Lengsavad at the meeting.

After the test, some of them need to gain more general knowledge about the SEA Games history.

Mr Somsavat said the two groups will play an important role in coordinating athletes and delegations with SEA Games committees and they must be up to speed with the customs, cultures and general knowledge of all participating countries.

He asked many of the officials questions which they struggled to answer, so he asked the relevant federations and committees to remedy the situation.

Some of the young officials said they were eager to be involved in the games and to broaden their knowledge but the relevant committees had not kept in regular contact with them.

Others said the committees had promised to provide them with information on the athletes, delegations, sporting events and games schedule but had failed to do so.

Mr Somsavat urged the officials to pay attention to their training and to use their own initiative to seek out more information in the lead-up to the games.

He set them on the way with some homework, asking them to consider the meaning of the games' slogan ‘Generosity, Amity and Lifestyle' and explain it at the next meeting on November 28.

“You should practise being polite and courteous hosts at the very least, so that visitors to the games will feel welcome,” he said.

Mr Somsavat thanked all the officials for volunteering their time to participate in the games.

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
(Latest Update Novembe 19, 2009)