Gymnastics, sailing, bowling and water polo - which have been goldmines for the Republic in recent editions - are not among the list of 22 sports that host Laos has proposed.

Among the reasons cited at the SEA Games Federation meeting: the first-time host's lack of facilities, equipment or technical expertise in these events.

However, Singapore National Olympic Council secretary-general Chris Chan, who was at the meeting in Vientiane last week, said: 'Nothing is confirmed yet.'

A meeting in November will finalise the list.

The news comes as a blow to officials and athletes, for whom emulating Singapore's record 'away' haul of 43 gold medals last December was already an uphill task.

The gymnasts, sailors, bowlers and water polo team's total of 12 golds in Thailand accounted for over a quarter of that figure.

In the 2005 Games in the Philippines, they brought home 10 of the Republic's 42 golds.

'The SEA Games is an important highlight in our calendar, and helps to grow the sport locally and in the region,' argued Singapore Gymnastics vice-president Lee Hong Chuan.

'But if it isn't staged, then we'll have to send our gymnasts to other similar-level meets for competition exposure.'

Laos' National Olympic Committee deputy secretary-general Southanom Inthavong said that negotiations were ongoing to include sports like water polo and snooker.

However, he added that it would be particularly hard for gymnastics, as the host had no such equipment and national federation.

He also disclosed that the final list is likely to have a maximum of 25 sports, a far cry from the 43 staged in the previous edition.

Laos' budget for the Games in December next year is approximately US$80 million (S$108 million).

Of this, about US$50 million will be spent on the construction of a new sports complex in the capital, Vientiane.

The venue will host popular sports like athletics, swimming and football.

And while Singapore swim queen Tao Li will be aiming to rule the pool again, sailors like Roy Tay are almost certain to miss out because of the lack of a suitable venue in land-locked Laos.

However, SingaporeSailing president Low Teo Ping, who had previously called the 11-country Games a developmental event for his charges, sees this as a 'blessing in disguise'.

'It will give us some breathing space, and allow us to focus on higher-level meets given the heavy schedules ahead,' he said.

'We've got the Asian Youth Games later next year, and preparation for the 2010 Youth Olympics and Asian Games.'

Meanwhile, bowling, facing the chop due to the Laotians' lack of technical know-how, could be thrown a lifeline.

'We'll see what the international and Asian federations can do to help,' said Jessie Phua, who heads both Singapore and world bowling's governing bodies.

Though Laos has two alleys, its bowlers are part-timers and have little international experience.

Phua added: 'If it's technical expertise or the training of their squad, I'm sure something can be worked out.

'But it takes two hands to clap. There must be support on their end as well.''

limze@sph.com.sg