The French Embassy in Laos organized a sports event on 14 March 2023 in the garden of the French Institute 500 days before the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
A friendly pétanque contest bringing together teams from the French Embassy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Ministry of Health, and the Lao Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was brilliantly won by representatives of the Ministry of Education and Sports.
In the presence of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phout Simmalavong, Minister of Education and Sports and President of the Laotian Olympic National Committee, members of the Lao national pétanque, badminton, and table tennis federations, and some of their best athletes, guests were also able to demonstrate their skills in the sports of table-tennis and badminton.
During her speech, the French Ambassador in Laos, Mrs. Siv-Leng Chhuor recalled the beautiful values of sport represented by the Olympic Games, but also important to Laos and France: determination, loyalty, resistance to effort, surpassing oneself, and, collective spirit. She also said she was convinced of the great future that sports has in Laos thanks to its talented youth for whom France is regularly engaged through educational, linguistic, and development projects.
The students of the Lycée Français International de Vientiane Josué-Hoffet also celebrated the 500 days to D-day, with the organization of water activities around this countdown: 500 round trips in the pool, finding 500 items under the water, etc.
The celebrations in Vientiane took place as part of a global initiative organized by Paris 2024 and the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, which set up a 24-hours sport relay all around the 5 continents. While pétanque was showcased in Laos, more than 40 sports were highlighted throughout the world during this day on March 14: running in Turkey, a bike race in Senegal, a boat regatta in Australia, etc.
