INQUIRER Sports

The Philippines will lobby for inclusion of at least eight more sports when the Southeast Asian Games Federation convenes this week in Vientiane, Laos.

To be represented by track and field association president Go Teng Kok, the Philippines will bat for the inclusion of billiards, basketball, archery, cycling, fencing, rowing, dance sports and bowling in the lean roster of events Laos plans to stage for the 2009 SEA Games.

“There are only 22 sports disciplines that they [Laos officials] want to stage, but since the other member countries want to lobby (for the addition of more sports), we will also lobby,” Go told the Inquirer from Bangkok, where he conferred with Thai sports officials before proceeding to the Laos capital.

Laos, which placed eighth overall during the 2007 Thailand SEA Games, announced that, with the help of other countries, it is on track with its preparation for its first-ever hosting job.

Battered by war for decades, Laos wants to use the Games as a launching pad for economic development through pledges of support from China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam, according to the nation’s Olympic chief, Somphou Phongsa.

Laos, however, drew flak after announcing plans to stage little-known sports like shuttlecock, muay lao, petanque and kempo, instead of traditional Olympic sports like gymnastics, archery, cycling and weightlifting.

China reportedly promised to help finance the building of a 20,000-seat stadium and two indoor stadiums, a tennis center and the country’s first Olympic-sized swimming pool.

South Korean companies have agreed to finance a tae kwon do center and a 27-hole golf course.

Japan is said to be funding a judo venue, while Thailand last month pledged millions of dollars to train technical officials in 12 sports.

Neighboring Vietnam, which hosted the Games in 2003, reportedly shouldered the cost of building the athletes’ village.

Thailand hosted 43 events last year, while the Philippines put up 42 in 2005.