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Olympics fans in Laos watch events through social media, Thai broadcasts

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  • Olympics fans in Laos watch events through social media, Thai broadcasts
  • August 11, 2024
  • Article Body Text <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sports fans in Laos have been watching the Paris Olympic games through online video platforms or through television broadcasts from neighboring Thailand.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Four athletes representing Laos competed in Paris, but there was little expectation they would bring home a medal. So viewers in Laos have also taken an interest in Thai athletes and other Southeast Asian competitors. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I know well that Lao athletes have very little chance to win a medal,” a Vientiane resident told Radio Free Asia. “But I’m still closely following the Olympic games.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She cheered on Panipak Wongpattanakit from Thailand, who won a </span><a href="https://www.reuters.com/sports/olympics/taekwondo-thailands-panipak-wins-flyweight-gold-2024-08-07/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">gold medal in the taekwondo</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> women’s flyweight division.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I remember that she also won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics too,” she said, referring to the games held in 2021. “I would say ‘congratulations’ to her.”</span></p> <figure><img alt="ENG_LAO_OLYMPICS WATCH_08112024_002.jpg" class="image-richtext image-inline" src="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/laos/olympics-silina-pha-aphay-08112024094833.html/eng_lao_olympics-watch_08112024_002.jpg/@@images/0fe06152-70b5-47df-bc3b-31fa79d89602.jpeg" title="ENG_LAO_OLYMPICS WATCH_08112024_002.jpg"/> <figcaption>Steven Insixiengmay of Laos competes in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke Heats on July 27, 2024 in Nanterre, France. (Al Bello/Getty Images)<br/><br/></figcaption> </figure> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Laos’ television channels didn’t have enough advertising sponsors to show a live broadcast of the Paris games, an official from Laos’ Olympic committee said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instead, committee officials who are in France have been posting results from Lao athletes on social media platforms and have also done a few Facebook Live broadcasts to talk about the events, he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fans in Laos have also just been enjoying the track and field, soccer and gymnastic events no matter who is competing, another Lao citizen told RFA.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I watch almost everything,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Laos hasn’t won a medal since it first sent athletes to the Olympics in 1980, when the games were held in Moscow. </span></p> <figure><img alt="ENG_LAO_OLYMPICS WATCH_08112024_001.JPG" class="image-richtext image-inline" src="https://www.rfa.org/english/news/laos/olympics-silina-pha-aphay-08112024094833.html/eng_lao_olympics-watch_08112024_001.jpg/@@images/b00847fe-d5d2-42b8-8b74-3f56bd06d2f7.jpeg" title="ENG_LAO_OLYMPICS WATCH_08112024_001.JPG"/> <figcaption>Praewa Misato Philaphandeth of Laos performs a rhythmic gymnastics routine, Aug. 8, 2024 . (Mike Blake/Reuters)<br/><br/></figcaption> </figure> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Four athletes represented Laos in Paris: Silina Pha Aphay, a Lao-born 100-meter sprinter; Praewa Misato Philaphandeth, a rhythmic gymnast who is of Lao, Thai, and Japanese descent; and Ariana Southa Dirkzwager and Steven Insixiengmay, both of whom are Lao-American swimmers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pha Aphay was briefly in the spotlight during a preliminary heat of the women’s 100-meter race. She was seen helping another sprinter, Lucia Moris of South Sudan, who fell to the ground during the race after an apparent injury. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After crossing the finish line in sixth place, Pha Aphay ran back to Moris as she lay on the track in pain. She </span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2024/08/02/olympics-track-sprinters-injury-pictures/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">stayed with her as medics</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> strapped her onto a stretcher.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Once I saw her on the ground in pain, it was in my mind that I must finish my race first,” she told RFA. “Then I asked permission from the referee if I could help her. The referee said yes, then I rushed to help her.”</span></p> <p><b><i>Translated by Phouvong. Edited by Matt Reed.</i></b></p>
  • Content Type Text
  • Language English
  • NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
  • Subtitles / Dubbing Available No
  • Rights (Michael Steele/Getty Images)
  • Network VOA
  • Embargo Date August 11, 2024 10:12 EDT
  • Byline By RFA Lao
  • Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English
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