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The SEA Games torch started in Bangkok, then traveled to Chonburi, Songkhla and Nakhon Ratchasima, passing through the hands of many athletes. Then, it was brought back to Bangkok, where athletes carried it to the podium.
The torch lighting ceremony was led by two-time Olympic taekwondo champion Panipak Wongpattanakit. After she lit a small flame, a larger symbolic flame appeared, as an effect rather than a real fire. Organizers said it was the first time the SEA Games used a non-real flame as part of efforts to promote a "Green Games."
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Olympic taekwondo champion Panipak Wongpattanakit lights up the SEA Games fire. Photo by Duc Dong |
Anutin Charnvirakul, who took office as Thailand's Prime Minister on Sept. 7, 2025, replacing Paetongtarn Shinawatra, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.
This was followed by the flag raising and singing of the Thai national anthem.
Athletes Le Minh Thuan (taekwondo) and Le Thanh Thuy (volleyball) are flag bearers for Vietnam at the opening ceremony. The delegation has a few dozen members marching.
Vietnam has 1,165 members, including 842 athletes, who already started competition in several events such as football, badminton and baseball.
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Photo by Duc Dong |
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Photo by Duc Dong |
Brunei lead the parade, with host nation Thailand marching last. Delegation sizes will vary from a few dozen to more than 100 participants, and the host delegation will field the largest contingent of athletes.
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Cambodia has sent the smallest delegation to the tournament, with only several dozen members. Photo by Duc Dong |
K-pop boy band Got7, including Thai singer and rapper Kasidech Bhuwakul (stage name BamBam) performed at the ceremony.
BamBam also sang a few other songs, a privilege not given to any other artist at the opening ceremony. The 28-year-old owns an Instagram account with more than 18 million followers.
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Members of K-pop boy band Got7 perform at the opening ceremony. Photo by Duc Dong |
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BamBam (L) performs a solo at the ceremony. Photo by Duc Dong |
Eleven cubes with a volume of about 27 cubic meters each are erected on the stage, during the performance "One Spirit." The artists wear costumes representing different kinds of martial arts at the Southeast Asian Games, such as Muay Thai, pencak silat and wushu.
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Buakaw Banchamek, a 43-year-old martial artist, performs Muay Thai moves. Photo by Duc Dong |
The performance "We Are One — Connect By The Sea" opens with dancers appearing against a backdrop of the sea. Later, many dancers leap into the lake to perform graceful swan-like dances.
Southeast Asia has a diverse and complex maritime system, including many seas. Of the 11 Southeast Asian countries, only Laos is landlocked.
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An artist performs with a flyboard in the air. Photo by Duc Dong |
After about 20 minutes of interruption, King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Sineenat appeared on stage. The Thai people all bowed to greet the two special guests. The program will continue later.
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Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn (L) and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana in the VIP area. |
The program seems to be experiencing issues when the two hosts spent more than five minutes entertaining the audience while the show was delayed.
Cameras have not shown any VIPs in the crowd, such as the King and Queen of Thailand.
Performances are currently paused, likely awaiting their arrival. The broadcast instead focuses on the audience atmosphere, which remains upbeat despite the hold-up.
It is rare for the opening ceremony of such a major sports event to be interrupted.
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A area for VIPs at Rajamangala Stadium. Photo by Duc Dong |
