The Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) is a biennial multi-sports event involving athletes from 11 countries in Southeast Asia, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Timor Leste, Thailand and Vietnam.
The first SEA Games was held in Bangkok in 1959. Up until 1977, it was known as the Southeast Asian Peninsular (SEAP) Games.
This year, the 24th SEA Games will be held in Thailand from 6th December 2007 until 15th December 2007. More than 6,500 competing athletes and over 2,000 officials representing 10 countries will be taking part in this year's games.
Timor Leste is the only country not competing this year due to domestic problems.
With a budget of Bt1.5 billion, the host country has vowed to stage one of the most successful SEA Games ever.
About 485 events in 46 sports will be held in three locations in Thailand - Korat (Nakhon Ratchsima), Bangkok and Chonburi (Pattaya). The events are mainly in Korat (Nakhon Ratchsima), but a number of sports which are lacking facilities there will be held in Bangkok and Chonburi (Pattaya).
Sports to be held in Chonburi (Pattaya) include sailing and wind-surfing, rowing, canoeing, traditional boat race, triathlon and duathlon and equestrian. Sports to be held in Bangkok are baseball, handball, hockey, lawn bowls, polo, skeet and trap shooting.
The opening ceremony will commence in Korat on 6th December, a day after the 80th birthday anniversary of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest reigning monarch. The 24th SEA Games will officially close on 15th December.
However, shooting events kicked-off the biennial games earlier, on 27th November, followed by the men's soccer on 1st December.
The last time Thailand played host for the games was in 1995, during the 18th edition in Chiang Mai.
The previous meet, held in the Philippines, saw the former host country emerging at the top with a total medal tally of 291. Thailand came in a close second with 283 medals and Vietnam took third place with 228 medals. |
