Laos display great touch for Baton Run
VIENTIANE, the capital of Laos, provided a change in pace and scenery in the third leg of the Rising Together Baton Run as the city of more than 700,000 welcomed the Malaysian entourage for their Sea Games promotional tour.
While Brunei provided a more disciplined run over the course of 7km and the Philippines injected a carnival-like atmosphere almost over the same distance, Vientiane gave a more historical focus to mark their 10km run.
The citizens of this city might be small in numbers but they were definitely not small in excitement and enthusiasm as more than 3,000 participants made full use of the quintessential Laos-inspired monuments to give the Baton Run a quainter feel to the whole program.
“The Baton Run has given a feel-good factor to the promotion of the 2017 Sea Games which Malaysia will host,” said Deputy Sports Minister Datuk M. Saravanan in Vientiane yesterday.
That Luang or the Great Stupa is a gold-covered Buddhist Stupa in the city centre with history stretching back to the third century, was the starting point with Saravanan passing the baton over to Sengdeuane Lachanthaboune, Laos minister of education and sports.
The run covered several historical sites and at the finish, the baton was passed back to Saravanan by Sengdeuane who then presented it to Daw Tin Tin Htwe of the Myanmar embassy in Laos.
The Rising Together Baton Run was conceptualised as part of the legacy for the 29th SEA Games which Malaysia will host on Aug 19-31.
The Run covers all countries taking part in the Sea Games and the Asean Para Games. The run ends in Singapore on May 13 before the start of the Torch Run in Malaysia.