National Stadium, Vientiane

Glorious combat on the field of sport is enacted here, Lao style. The entrance boasts a circular fountain surmounted by a sculpture of a soccer player in full flight, while off to one side hang a few forlorn punching bags. The stadium itself, recently given a face lift for the National Games held here every four years, consists of a soccer pitch surrounded by a running track. Broad, tiered concrete steps surrounding the field serve as seating while an electronic scoreboard gives the latest updates at one end of the field. Check locally for match details.