SEA Games opens with a bang in Cambodia

By Duc Dong, Lam Thoa May 5, 2023 | 06:03 am PT

A dance performance at the opening ceremony of SEA Games 32 at Morodok Techo National Stadium in Cambodia’s Phnom Penh, May 5 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Dong

The 2023 SEA Games opening ceremony lit up Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh this Friday with dance, lighting and fireworks shows.

"Today is the era of competition," said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the ceremony. "We compete with each other to increase our strength and reach a higher level."

The slogan of this year’s SEA Games is "Sport: Living in Peace."

The ceremony was split into three parts: "The Splendor of Angkor", "The Smile of the Khmer People", and "The Future of the Khmer People."

Hundreds of artists performed traditional dances in front of over 60,000 people.

Swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang marched with the Vietnamese flag at the opening ceremony.

The 32nd SEA Games is being held from May 5 to 17 in Cambodia’s capital city Phnom Penh and four other localities, with more than 12,400 athletes, coaches, officials, staff and volunteers set to participate.