What I do

The video above is awesome!  Imagine being a sport personality in Laos receiving $40k after have won the first Silver medal ever!  I am really proud of them.

I have no problem writing what I say, saw, and think. The code of silence does not work well with me. I resorted to write because I want to explain in detail to one and then to the other or both sectors of the community the why and what I care about. Why the why is because what I say, saw, and think have meaning not just to me but to a lot of people. I am leveling it to my friends and fans here so they will gain a better understanding of who I am the author. Perhaps then you might open your garden gate and let me in. But what may take our relationship to another level depends on the when and how much effort I put into explaining the what I say, saw, and think (things I know). Needless to say, my story is just another Laotian person’s story, if you are not a Laotian person, you may be a friend of one. Nevertheless, I hope my stories impact, inspire, and move you some how…to be a better and caring friend to us. If you are a Laotian and trying to match your Laoness with mine, you might be glad that you read my stories and learn something; this is mine, your friend’s story.

I was asked by one of the organizers to be the sport coordinator four months prior to the Event. First I was presented with idea of the Kato (Sepak Takraw) tournament. Knowing the magnitude of the task, I took a deep breath. I wondered why he didn’t ask the Lao Kato players in the area. I think he just didn’t have the time to look for any one in the area to take the job or it just easier to go ahead and ask yours truly. I gave him the option to cancel my appointment if he found someone in the area. Here is how the story goes; the subject came up 2 years earlier in Arizona when I attended the second international conference for Lao studies, “We will have an international sport tournament in the San Francisco Bay area. We hope you bring your team.” Had said “Okay”, I have been keeping an ear on for any news of the tournament. Two years later, the news came and so was the invitation to join the First Annual International Lao New Year Festival as the sport coordinator.

Upon accepting the position, I was the resource and as resourceful as I could be, by all means, handle it. I blasted emails asking for involvement of the local Lao Kato players that might jump right in. All were nothing but silence. When that didn’t work, I asked the organizers and who they linked with for help. That didn’t turn out so well. Didn’t know what to do and not knowing what to do was no way to be me, I looked up to heaven and asked for a little help. It was a voice inside my head that said, “Hey Amphone, having a hard time?” “Yes Lord, help?” I humbly answered. “What about the USA national representatives?” the voice said again. I was dumb found. I used to google and search for the history of the sport on the web. That is how I learn about Takraw USA Association. I took a few seconds to gather myself. Then I clicked on the Compose instead of the Check Mail button. I wrote, “Dear Takraw USA…” After I found all the right words to say to them, I clicked Send. I checked my e-mail everyday to see if they respond. Two weeks later a reply came, “I like your idea about being a part of an event that would benefit everyone,” Takraw USA Association wrote.

A tournament was not the best way to go because of time and venue. We only have from 10 AM to 5 PM. That would not even allow us to complete the first round of the competition. Knowing what the organizers really should want and need, I proposed something better: a demonstration of a sport called Kato Lao in Laos and Sepak Takraw internationally. It was a go. They approved it.

See more postings on youtube.com or go to www.takrawusa.com. See more postings bythe first international Lao New Year goers there as well.