(KPL) Twelve high school students, two government officials and one official from the Lao Rugby Federation departed from the Wattay International Airport on Sep 17, 2018 for Japan to participate in the Japan-ASEAN Youth Rugby Exchange in the framework of JENESYS 2018, supported by the Japanese Government.

They will stay in Japan from 18 to 25 September 2018. The Rugby Exchange aims at enhancing interest in rugby among ASEAN countries anticipating 2019 Rugby World Cup held in Japan. Students enthusiastic about sports are invited and will learn future diplomacy through sports activities and play Tag Rugby with the same age students of Japan as well as the other ASEAN countries. 

The twelve Lao students were selected from outstanding students by the Ministry of Education and Sports. These students together with students from other ASEAN countries will visit Gotenba city (Shizuoka Prefecture) to attend Tag Rugby joint practice and exchange friendly matches. Then, they will move to Tokyo and have the opportunity to make a courtesy call on the representative of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in addition to visit historic landmarks and facilities          .

  JENESYS is a people-to-people exchange program between Japan and the Asia-Pacific region with its history from 2007. The Japanese Government will invite about 120 young Lao people to Japan in this fiscal year.

KPL