The British Embassy Vientiane supports ‘One Day of Sport’ at the Lao Paralympic Centre
The Embassy's last event in the series of 2012 Olympic legacy events saw Paralympic games in Vientiane.
Wheelchair basketball game
The British Embassy Vientiane continued its series of legacy events in celebration of the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic games last weekend with ‘One Day of Sport’ showcasing the strides being made in the Lao Paralympic movement.
The Embassy-sponsored event at the Lao Paralympic Centre on Saturday featured the Lao paralympic goal ball and wheelchair basketball teams in showcase matches, and provided able-bodied spectators the opportunity to try out the sports. Participants also took part in English language games around the theme of sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Ambassador Philip Malone and Vice Minister of Education and Sport H.E. Mr. Boualanh Silipanya learned the techniques of goal ball and wheelchair basketball from the athletes and tried them out during half time to an enthusiastic crowd consisting of students of the Lao Center for Medical Rehabilitation and the Boy Scouts.
Special guest at the event was Lao Paralympic medal power lifter Mr. Euay Simay, Laos’ only ever Olympic or Paralympic medal winner who won bronze at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics in the 48g category, and 4th at London 2012. Mr. Simay offered his insights about traveling to the Paralympics and his time in London and encouraged Lao Paralympic athletes to go for their dreams. British Ambassador Philip Malone commented:
It was also wonderful to see the Lao PDR represented at both the Olympics and the Paralympics and I’m very pleased to see Tao Euay here today. I hope this will encourage all of you to do your very best and emulate the achievements of Tao Euay and all the other athletes who competed in London in 2012.
See photos of Saturday’s event on the UK in Laos’ Facebook page.