Laos Calls on Vietnam for 2031 SEA Games Hosting Preparations

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Laos has requested Vietnam’s support in sports development and athlete training as the country prepares to host the 36th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2031 as this is the country’s second time staging the regional multi-sport event after first hosting the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane in 2009.

The request came during a bilateral meeting on 13 May in Vientiane between Lao Education and Sports Minister Thongsalith Mangnomek and Vietnamese Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Lam Thi Phuong Thanh, where both sides reviewed existing cooperation in sports and education and discussed the road ahead for the regional event.

Among the key requests, Laos asked Vietnam to help renovate the National Sports Training Center, a facility originally constructed with Vietnamese assistance in 2009 that has since fallen into disrepair, as well as support the development of a new Sports Science Center to boost athlete performance ahead of 2031.

Laos also called on Vietnam to maintain long-term sports scholarships and short- to medium-term training programs, along with equipment, coaching, and technical support for Lao athletes, coaches, and officials. Support for para-athletes competing in athletics and weightlifting was also raised.

On the practical side, the proposal envisions Vietnamese experts being deployed to conduct training in Laos, while 35 to 60 Lao athletes would attend training camps in Vietnam each year, a figure set to rise to between 70 and 100 annually in 2029–2030 as final preparations for the Games intensify.

Both sides also explored broader collaboration covering student football competitions, sports management training, and initiatives to promote public participation in physical activity and traditional sports.

Lao officials described the cooperation as a core part of the country’s wider effort to strengthen its sports sector and ensure it is ready to stage one of Southeast Asia’s most prominent sporting events.

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