THE Southeast Asian Games officially open in Bangkok on Tuesday, following a turbulent buildup marked by organizational missteps and renewed border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia that threaten to distract from the regional sporting showcase.
The biennial Games will run until December 20 in Bangkok and the nearby coastal province of Chonburi, bringing together thousands of athletes from 11 Southeast Asian nations.
Competitions span a wide range of sports, including football, fencing, skateboarding, sailing, weightlifting, and several combat disciplines.
Among the headline athletes are Olympic weightlifting gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz of the Philippines, Indonesia’s Olympic champion Rizki Juniansyah, and Thai badminton star and Olympic silver medalist Kunlavut Vitidsarn.
The Philippine delegation, estimated at around 60 athletes, will be led during the opening ceremony parade by tennis standout Alex Eala and Alas Pilipinas men’s volleyball team captain Bryan Bagunas.
Despite the star-studded lineup, organizers have faced criticism over a string of embarrassing incidents even before the opening ceremony at Bangkok’s Rajamangala National Stadium.
During the first day of competition last week, national anthems failed to play ahead of a men’s football match between Vietnam and Laos, forcing players and officials to sing without musical accompaniment.
Thailand’s Sports Authority later blamed an audio system malfunction and issued a public apology.
Thailand’s subsequent football match against East Timor was played in a sparsely attended stadium after local fans boycotted the game over ticketing rules that required ID registration and drew complaints about seating arrangements.
Authorities said the measures were imposed for security reasons and would remain in place.
Further controversy surrounded the Games after severe flooding in southern Thailand last month forced organizers to relocate more than a dozen events originally scheduled in Songkhla province.
Regional tensions have also cast a shadow over the event. Cambodia, which was involved in fresh border clashes with Thailand on Monday, withdrew around half of its athletes last month over security concerns.
The country pulled out of eight sports, including football, wrestling, judo, karate, and pétanque, a discipline where Thailand is a global powerhouse.
Amid mounting criticism on social media and from sports fans, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who assumed office in September, defended the government’s handling of the Games.
He cited last-minute venue changes due to flooding and the resulting additional costs.
Sports Authority of Thailand governor Gongsak Yodmani sought to reassure the public, saying organizers were confident the opening ceremony would proceed smoothly despite earlier errors, including a flawed promotional poster and the anthem mishap.
“I personally watched the rehearsal involving more than 500 school and university students,” Yodmani said, according to Thai PBS World.
“The performances will reflect the country’s sporting potential. Based on my experience watching countless opening ceremonies, I can say ours will be second to none.”