The 24th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) is going on in Nakhon Ratchasima province, with the official opening ceremony taking place on December 6, presided over by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn at 6:00 p.m.
It is the sixth edition of the SEA Games hosted by Thailand, and it is the second time that the main venue of the Games is found outside Bangkok, after it was successfully held in Chiang Mai in 1995.
The SEA Games evolved from the Southeast Asian Peninsular Games, or SEAP Games, which had its inception in late 1959. Luang Sukhumnaipradit, the then Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, played a vital role in initiating the SEAP Games. Since Thailand and neighboring countries had promoted international relations through sports for many years, and since Thai people have a great affinity with their neighbors, from way of life and culture to physical build, he believes that organizing a regional sports event would serve to bolster regional athletic standing and prime contestants for higher competitions, such as the Asian Games and the Olympics. In addition, it would enable the people in this region to get together in a spirit of regional cooperation and friendship.
Luang Sukhumnaipradit’s idea gained support from Cambodia and Vietnam, and the idea was subsequently presented to the Olympic Committee of Thailand in February 1958. After a series of considerations, the committee agreed to the concept and decided that the first SEAP Games was to be held in Bangkok in December 1959. It was agreed that the SEAP Games be held every two years, between other major international events – the Asian Games and the Olympics.
After Thailand as the first host, the Games continued to be held successfully by member countries. The title of the Games was changed to SEA Games in 1977. This biannual multi-sport event involves participants from 11 countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. Each member country, in alphabetical order, takes turns hosting this event.
The 23rd SEA Games took place in the Philippines in 2005. In fact, the 24th SEA Games was to be hosted by Singapore, but Singapore had to give up the chance, as its new national sports stadium was under construction in preparation for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Thailand was then asked by the SEA Games Federation to host the event in place of Singapore.
Apart from Nakhon Ratchasima, the 24th SEA Games is also taking place in Bangkok, Chon Buri, Pathum Thani, and Samut Prakan. It will be the biggest games ever in the history of the SEA Games, with 43 sports; two of them, Go and Kempo, will be demonstration sports. The Games will be concluded on Saturday, December 15.
Source from The Government Public Relations Department Date: December 6, 2007
