BANGKOK: Thailand’s 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games opening ceremony on Dec. 9 will not only celebrate regional unity and history but also set new standards for eco-friendly sports event hosting.
The much-anticipated ceremony, scheduled to take place at the Rajamangala National Stadium, aims to revive the nostalgia of the regional multi-sport event that first began in Thailand over six decades ago, which embodies the spirit of ‘We Are One, United Again’, a message that resonates deeply with the participating nations.
Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, said the opening performance has been carefully crafted to honour the history of the SEA Games, which originally started as the Southeast Asian Peninsula (SEAP) Games.
“Thailand was among the founding members alongside Burma, Laos, Malaysia, South Vietnam and Singapore before the event expanded to include other countries in the region,” he said during a press conference held at the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) building today.
Preparations for the ceremony have reached an advanced stage, and he is confident that the event will showcase Thailand’s ability to host large-scale international sporting events despite challenges faced since October.
He then said that the main performance will present a fusion of Thai art, culture, and modern creativity, with each segment designed to reflect the country’s unique identity and heritage.
“We want the world to witness the talent and dedication of the Thai people in producing a performance worthy of international acclaim,” Atthakorn added.
Atthakorn also shared that the hosting concept gives great priority to eco-friendly principles.
“We may not be able to achieve this fully, but a new standard for green event hosting will still be established, and this effort aligns with the government’s policy to promote sports events with low environmental impact.
“This green hosting can become a benchmark for future sports or tourism events in the country,” he explained.
He also confirmed that the lighting of the event torch will be conducted using a new approach that minimises pollution, remains iconic, and does not affect the community around Rajamangala National Stadium.
Atthakorn said such a special atmosphere only occurs once since the last time the event was held in 2007.
He said all international viewers can also follow the opening ceremony through broadcasting partners in their respective countries.
