More than 100 martial artists gave a demonstration to a curious crowd at the Faculty of Economics and Business at the National University of Laos on Saturday.

The demonstrators, from the junior and senior categories of various martial arts, comprised 50 judo fighters, and 40 male and 21 female practitioners of aikido. They came from Vietnam , Cambodia , Singapore , Thailand and Laos and performed alongside karatedo teams. They received training for this event from Japanese experts.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Phongsavat Boupha, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture Bouangeun Xaphouvong, Japanese Ambassador to Laos Masaaki Miyashita, presidents of the judo aikido and karatedo federations and senior officials watched the performance along with students.

“It is my great pleasure that the Embassy of Japan is hosting this martial arts demonstration here today. I would like to welcome all guests and thank them for coming to this event,” Mr Miyashita said.

Judo is a traditional Japanese martial art dating back to ancient times along with sumo wrestling. It is renowned for its solid manual movements, without the use of any protective gear or equipment. After the Second World War, it gained an international reputation and was practised by millions of people all over the world. For some time it was included in the Olympic Games.

Karatedo is believed to have its origins in Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan . Again, it doesn't involve the use of any instruments, but there is more emphasis on striking and kicking.

The birth of aikido is relatively recent, dating back to around the 1920s. This martial art is primarily used for self-defence, rather than for attack. It also attaches great importance to harmony between the body and the mind. These martial arts are not simply physical sports, but also emphasise the importance of discipline and self-control.

Some of the players who demonstrated their skills and expertise on Saturday had won SEA Games' medals.

“I am confident that many more of them will obtain medals in the coming SEA Games in Vientiane later this year,” Mr Miyashita said.

He said the Japanese government was continuously contributing to the development of martial arts in Laos by organising annual events and building the Lao-Japan Budo Centre in Vientiane .

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Lao judo and karatedo federations and the Lao Aikido Club for their valuable collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in organising today's event,” he added.

“It's particularly important to mark this event as part of the Mekong-Japan Exchange Year 2009 programme. I hope you enjoy beautiful and powerful performances by Lao martial artists.”

The national judo team will compete at a judo competition to be held in Thailand on April 4. Teams will also take part in the first Asean Martial Arts competition to be held in Thailand at the end of April.

Judo events in the 25th SEA Games will include eight men's categories (55kg, 60kg, 66kg, 73kg, 81kg, 90kg, 100kg and over 100kg), while the eight women's categories are in the 45, 48, 52, 57, 63, 70, 78 and over 78kg weight divisions.

Karatedo events will consist of male combatants in seven categories (55kg, 60kg, 65kg, 65kg, 70kg, 75kg, 80kg) and women fighters in four (48, 53, 60 and over 60kg).

At the 24th SEA Games held in Thailand last year, the Lao judo team won two gold, one silver and three bronze medals, while the karatedo team won a bronze medal.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Vientianetimes

Labels: 2009, Brunei, Cambodia Vietnam, indonesia singapore, Judo, Karatedo, Laotian, Malaysia, martial arts, Myanmar, Philippines, team, Thailand Vietnam, vientiane game

The final selection of 100 Ms SEA Games representatives will take
place on Friday at the National Culture Hall in Vientiane.

More than 200 girls have applied to the contest, but only 100 will be
chosen for the role.

Eleven country placard bearers will be selected from the 100
representatives to take part in the stadium parade that precedes the
games, which will be held next December in Vientiane.

The 100 selected participants will introduce themselves to the public
for the first time at Patuxay Monument at the start of the countdown
to the SEA Games, which will begin on New Year's Eve.

Organising sub-committee member, Mr Sopha Inthavong, said nationwide
applications opened at the end of July, and the three-part selection
process would culminate in the announcement this Friday.

Applicants were required to be Lao citizens, aged between 18 and 25,
and have a pleasant personality and good manners.

Participants also had to be single and be communicative, intelligent,
knowledgeable, talented and able to speak English.

Before the candidates were presented yesterday to the organising
committee at the National Culture Hall, they received training in
social etiquette and ceremonial presentation. Mr Sopha, who is also
one of the trainers, said training would continue after the selection
process.

“After their selection, the 100 Ms SEA Games representatives will
return to the National Culture Hall stage, where they will practise
how to nop (perform the traditional greeting), stand and act in a
socially appropriate manner,” Mr Sopha said.

He said those who were selected would also learn how to speak English
and take part in various activities, such as visiting important sites
in Vientiane like That Luang and the Hor Phra Keo museum.

They will be trained by staff who will give them suggestions on the
wearing of traditional clothes and tennis dress, before their public
presentation on December 31.

They will also learn how to dance to a selection of songs and rhythm,
and be guided in their choice of clothes.

An 18-year-old participant in the contest, Ms Soudaphone Tilakhoun,
who attends Pakpasak Technical School , said she was persuaded by her
friend to apply. She is hopeful of being selected in the group of 100
on Friday.

“ Laos will host the SEA Games for the first time, and I wanted to
play a part in serving the nation,” she said. “As a Lao girl I want to
give other people an insight into Lao culture, both in Laos and
overseas.”

Another participant, Ms Bouasavanh Phanthamit, 18, from Luang Prabang,
who studies at Rattana Business Administration College , said she too
wanted to serve her country while building her confidence.

“Actually I'm shy and never thought I could take part in the selection
process, but I've discovered I'm confident enough to go through with
it,” she said.

By Vientiane Times

Labels: 2009 vientiane, beauty contest, Cambodia Vietnam, girls, Indonesia, Laos Cambobdia, Laotian Thailand, logos, marks, Miss SEA GAMES, Philippines, Singapore

SeaGames 2007NaKhon RATCHASIMA 2007 GAME
The 17th Southeast Asian Games were held in Singapore from 12 June to 20 June 1993।

Position	Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Indonesia	88	81	84	253
2	Thailand	63	70	63	196
3	Philippines	57	59	72	188
4	Singapore	50	40	74	164
5	Malaysia	43	45	65	153
6	Vietnam	9	6	19	34
7	Myanmar	8	13	1	22
8	Laos	0	1	0	1

Labels: Flag of Malaysia Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand

The 16th Southeast Asian games were held in Manila, the Philippines from 24 November - 3 December 1991. This was the second time that the country hosted the biennial regional sporting event. It was officially opened by President Corazon Aquino at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila through a colorful opening ceremony. It was the only SEA games where the overall championship was heavily contested. The deciding medal came from the last sporting event - women's marathon where Indonesia got the gold medal. The host country was disappointed when they were two gold medals short of getting the over-all championship।

Mabuhay, the Sarimanok, a colourful mountain-dwelling fighting cock, was the official mascot of the XVI Seagame

Position	Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Indonesia	92	86	67	245
2	Philippines	91	62	86	239
3	Thailand	72	80	69	221
4	Malaysia	36	38	66	140
5	Singapore	18	32	45	95
6	Myanmar	12	16	29	57
7	Vietnam	7	12	10	29
8	Brunei	0	0	8	8
9	Laos	0	0	0	0

Labels: fighting, Indonesia, mascot, Myanmar, Philippines, Sarimanok, Singapore, Thailand

The 14th Southeast Asian Games were held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 9 December - 20 December 1987.

Position	Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Indonesia	183	136	84	407
2	Thailand	63	57	67	188
3	Philippines	59	78	69	206
4	Malaysia	35	41	67	144
5	Singapore	19	38	64	121
6	Burma	13	15	21	50
7	Brunei	1	5	17	24
8	People's Republic of Kampuchea	0	1	9	10

Labels: Brunei, Indonesia, Kampuchea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand

The 13th Southeast Asian Games were held in Bangkok, Thailand from 8 December - 17 December 1985.

Position	Country:	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1.	Thailand	92	66	59	217
2.	Indonesia	62	73	76	211
3.	Philippines	43	54	32	129
4.	Malaysia	26	28	32	86
5.	Singapore	16	11	23	50
6.	Burma	13	19	34	66
7.	Brunei	0	0	3	3
8.	People's Republic of Kampuchea	0	0	0	0

Labels: Brunei, Burma, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, इन्डोनेसिया, कम्पुचेया

The 12th Southeast Asian games were held in Singapore from 28 May - 6 June 1983. Scheduled to be hosted by Brunei in accordance to the renewed alphabetical rotation of hosting duties, the 1983 SEA games were offered to be hosted by Singapore as Brunei prepared for its forthcoming independence from the United Kingdom.

Position	Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1.	Indonesia	64	67	54	185
2.	Philippines	49	48	53	150
3.	Thailand	49	40	38	127
4.	Singapore	38	38	58	134
5.	Burma	18	15	17	50
6.	Malaysia	16	25	40	81
7.	BruneiTemplate:Ref 1	0	0	5	5
8.	People's Republic of Kampuchea	0	0	0	0

Labels: BruneiTemplate, Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand

The 11th Southeast Asian Games were held in Manila, Philippines from December 6, 1981 to December 15, 1981. This was the first time that the Philippines hosted the Games since its first participation in 1977. The event was officially opened by President Ferdinand Marcos and the cauldron was lit by Benjamin Silva-Netto. The colorful opening ceremony was held in the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila. A new football stadium and indoor arena was built in Pasig named the University of Life Track & Field and Arena or the ULTRA, now called the PhilSports Arena. The adjacent apartments were used as the athlete's quarters and was converted into a BLISS housing project of First Lady Imelda Marcos.

Position	Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Indonesia	85	73	56	214
2	Thailand	62	45	41	148
3	Philippines	55	55	77	187
4	Malaysia	16	27	31	74
5	Burma	15	19	27	61
6	Singapore	12	26	33	71
7	BruneiTemplate:Ref 1	0	0	0	0

Form: http://www.olympic.org.my/web/gamesrecords/sea/sea_history.htm

Labels: BruneiTemplate, Burma, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore

The 9th Southeast Asian Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 19 December - 26 December 1977. Brunei, Indonesia, and the Philippines were finally admitted into the SEAP Games Federation in February that year. Although the word 'Peninsula' was omitted from the new federation title to reflect the expansion, its emblem (which featured six rings representing the six founding members), and the sequential numbering of the games was kept to provide continuity, as well as reverence to the objectives, aspirations and contributions of the founders. The six-ring emblem was not replaced until 1999, when the present ten-ring emblem was first used in an official games लोगो

Position	Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Indonesia	62	41	34	137
2	Thailand	37	35	33	105
3	Philippines	31	30	30	91
4	Burma	25	42	43	110
5	Malaysia	21	17	21	59
6	Singapore	14	21	28	63
7	BruneiTemplate:Ref 1	0	0	3	3

Labels: 1977, December, Games, Kuala Lumpur, Philippines, Seagames