BANGKOK — Thailand opened the 33rd Southeast Asian Games on Tuesday night with a ceremony presided over by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida, marking the country’s first time hosting the regional event in 18 years.
The opening ceremony at Bangkok’s Rajamangala National Stadium drew a full house of 30,000 spectators, who secured free seats through online and on-site registration that filled up by late afternoon. The Games run Dec. 9–20.
The show began at 7 p.m. under the theme “We Are One — We Are Connected by the Sea,” combining traditional Thai performances with artists from 10 other participating nations.
Highlights included underwater ballet, jet ski and flyboard stunts, and a traditional Muay Thai wai kru performed by boxing star Buakaw Banchamek. BamBam, the Thai singer from K-pop group GOT7, also took the stage.
Athletes from all 11 countries, led by flag bearers from the Southeast Asian Games Federation, marched into the stadium in alphabetical order, with Thailand entering last as host.
Her Majesty the Queen led the Thai athletes’ procession, as she is set to compete for Thailand in the SSL47 keelboat sailing event at the SEA Games. The competition will take place December 15-18 at Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Sattahip District, Chonburi Province.
After the King declared the Games open, the SEA Games flag was raised. The torch relay featured skateboarder Vareeraya Sukasem, 2008 Olympic boxing champion Somjit Jongjohor, and two-time Olympic taekwondo gold medalist Panipak Wongpattanakit. The cauldron lighting triggered a stadium-wide display of lasers, CGI projections and a drone show.
Thailand’s preparations, however, have been dogged by criticism. In the lead-up to the Games, organizers faced complaints over weak publicity efforts, the use of AI-generated promotional posters, and the failure to play national anthems before a Vietnam–Laos football match.
The event also opens amid heightened Thai-Cambodian border tensions, complicating the government’s message of regional unity and peace through sports.
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