Thailand will host the 33rd Southeast Asian Games from 3 to 20/12, marking its seventh time as host, following previous Games in 1959, 1967, 1975, 1985, 1995, and 2007. This year's event will be centered in the capital Bangkok, with additional competitions held in Chonburi and Songkhla provinces. Bangkok, which hosted the inaugural Games in 1959, will serve as the main hub. Chonburi province will host outdoor events, while Songkhla will manage some football and beach sports.
This 12-day event features 574 events across 50 sports. Thailand prioritizes Olympic sports and limits optional disciplines, aiming to elevate the SEA Games as a platform for improving athletic quality and aligning with international standards.
The 33rd Games is considered one of the largest-scale SEA Games in history, featuring a rigorous organizational structure divided into three sport groups:
Group one, mandatory and prioritized for maximum events, includes: aquatics (swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming), athletics, archery, badminton, basketball, canoeing and rowing, cycling, equestrian dressage, fencing, handball, hockey, judo, rugby, sailing, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, wrestling, ice skating, golf, ice hockey, and weightlifting.
Group two comprises: baseball and softball, billiards & snooker, boxing, floorball, e-sports, muay, netball, pencak silat, petanque, sepak takraw, squash, bowling, karate, jujitsu, wushu, kabaddi, teqball, kickboxing, woodball, and chess.
Group three consists of: disc golf, tug-of-war, and aerial sports. This group includes 12 events, intended as demonstration competitions, with no medals awarded.
Thailand has removed most unusual martial arts, retaining only Muay, their strong discipline, and Pencak Silat. However, these omissions significantly impact the Vietnamese delegation, particularly Vovinam, Vietnam's national martial art, and diving, often regarded as a "gold mine" for Vietnamese sports.
Thanks to existing modern facilities, Thailand has introduced winter sports such as ice skating and ice hockey. In an effort to standardize professional expertise, the host country has minimized less popular local sports. Instead, they have added high-difficulty events to truly test athletes' skill levels. This move reflects Thailand's desire for SEA Games medals to hold genuine international professional value, prioritizing quality over quantity.
 |
Vietnam will participate in the 33rd SEA Games with about 1,000 members, competing in 45 sports. Photo: SG |
Vietnam will participate in the 33rd SEA Games with about 1,000 members, competing in 45 sports. Photo: SG
Due to specific scheduling, football and polo will commence earliest, starting on 3/12, six days before the opening ceremony. Badminton and hockey will also begin early, from 7/12.
The 11 nations participating in the 33rd SEA Games are: Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, and Timor Leste. These countries are members of the Southeast Asian Sports Federation, the body responsible for coordinating and overseeing the Games.
At the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia two years ago, Vietnam led the region with 136 gold, 105 silver, and 114 bronze medals. The Vietnamese sports delegation achieved a historic milestone at the 31st SEA Games on home soil in 2021, securing a record 205 gold medals.
Vy Anh
