French Ambassador in Laos, Mrs Siv-Leng Chhuor

(KPL) 500 days before the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, the French Embassy in Laos organised a sports event on March 14 in the garden of the French Institute, Vientiane. 

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, the Lao Chamber of Commerce and Industry, were brilliantly won by representatives of the Ministry of Education and Sports.

Minister of Education and Sports Phout Simmalavong (L) and French Ambassador in Laos, Mrs Siv-Leng Chhuor

In the presence of Minister of Education and Sports Phout Simmalavong, and President of the National Olympic 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 holding table-tennis or badminton rackets.

During her speech, the French Ambassador in Laos, Mrs Siv-Leng Chhuor recalled the beautiful values of sport carried by the Olympic Games that are 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 trough 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 symbolic figure: 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 five continents. While pétanque was practiced in Laos, more than 40 sports were highlighted throughout the world during this day of March 14: running in Turkey, a bike race in Senegal, a boat regatta in Australia.

KPL