Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – On November 15, 2025, the 12th National Games of Laos (also known as the Vientiane Capital Games) officially opened in Vientiane. Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, leaders and cadres at all levels of the Party and government, team leaders, coaches, referees, athletes, as well as citizens of Vientiane and guests from home and abroad gathered to witness this grand sporting event.
The opening ceremony began with a stunning vault performance by the gymnastics team of the 306th Company, 703rd Battalion of the Air Force Command, whose graceful and fluid movements won rounds of applause from the audience. Following this, renowned artists from the Lao People's Democratic Republic presented a folk dance performance, skillfully blending traditional art with the spirit of sports. During the ceremony, banner teams, emblem teams, national flag teams, sports flag teams, referee teams, leadership teams, coaches and athletes from each delegation, youth teams, and anti-doping teams entered the stadium in an orderly fashion, their uniformity showcasing a vibrant and positive spirit. The torch relay and parade brought the atmosphere to a climax. The blazing torch not only conveyed the passion of sports but also highlighted Vientiane's outstanding organizational capabilities and leadership in successfully hosting the Games. As night fell, dazzling fireworks lit up the night sky, bringing the opening ceremony to a perfect close and creating a warm and festive atmosphere for the entire Games.
In his opening address, Vientiane Mayor and President of the 12th National Games, Asaphanthong Siphandone, introduced that the Games' core theme was "Unity, Discipline, Transparency, and Development," and that the peacock was chosen as the auspicious animal, symbolizing the Lao people's high hopes for the Games. The Games featured 33 sports and attracted 4,065 participants from 3 ministries, 17 provinces, and the host city of Vientiane, including athletes, coaches, referees, experts, and other staff (the original data is inconsistent; here, "4,065" is used for consistency). Over the course of 11 days, athletes will compete fiercely in 21 venues for a total of 1,563 medals, including 432 gold, 432 silver, and 699 bronze. Asapanthong Siphandone stated that the National Games are hosted by different provinces every three years, with the previous edition (the 11th) successfully held in Xieng Khouang Province at the end of 2022. This marks the 12th time Vientiane has been honored to host the event, recognizing the city's comprehensive strength and providing valuable opportunities for its development.
Following his address, Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith officially declared the 12th National Games open. On behalf of the Party and state leaders, he highly praised the comprehensive and meticulous preparatory work of Vientiane City and the organizing committee, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the provinces that enthusiastically sent delegations to participate, and encouraged all athletes to uphold the spirit of fair competition, demonstrate their style and skill, and jointly write a new chapter in the development of Lao sports.
