Kuwait City, Kuwait, May 13, 2020: The Olympic Council of Asia is saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. Souvannarath Saignavong, a former Vice President and Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Laos, on Friday, May 7. He was 87.
Mr Somphou Phongsa, Vice President and Secretary General of NOC Laos, informed the OCA and the Olympic sports movement in Asia of the sad news: “He is one of the sports leaders in Laos who has contributed so much to the development of sport in Laos. His virtues will be remembered forever.”
He was Secretary General of NOC Laos from 1980 to 1995, Vice President from 2005 to 2009 and Vice President and Secretary General from 2009 to 2012.
One of his most memorable moments was being appointed Chef de Mission for the Lao delegation at the Athens Olympics in 2004.
He was also an honorary life member of the South East Asian Games Federation which organises the SEA Games every two years for the region’s 11 NOCs. The capital of Laos, Vientiane, hosted the 25th SEA Games in 2009, and Mr. Saignavong served as Secretary General of the 25th SEA Games Organising Committee from 2007 to 2009.
The OCA President, HE Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, commented: “We are very sad to learn of the passing of Mr. Souvannarath Saignavong.
“He was a well-respected sports leader not only in his home country but throughout the South East Asia region and Asia.
“We would like to express our sincere condolences to his family and friends and to the NOC of Laos at this difficult time. He will be greatly missed in our Asian sports movement.”
