The SEA Games Thailand 2025 opened with an aquatic show and a sustainable ‘First Green Flame’ lit by Olympic champion Panipak Wongpattanakit
BANGKOK: The SEA Games Thailand 2025 opened with a spectacular water-based ceremony at the Rajamangala National Stadium on Tuesday night.
The event, themed around unity, featured a central stage holding over 800,000 litres of water, symbolising the sea connecting the 11 participating nations.
An opening segment titled ‘Back to the Origin’ used 800 synchronised drones to form the Games emblem in the sky.
The ceremony then shifted to a fiery display of lasers and flames for the ‘Ignite the Games’ sequence, set to a performance by Thai rapper GOLF F. HERO and other artists.
A key segment, ‘We Are One – Connected by the SEA’, transformed the stadium pool into a ‘River of Friendship’ with underwater ballet and jet ski stunts.
Thai K-pop star BamBam performed his song ‘Wheels Up’ during the ‘Blooming of One Victory’ segment.
Athletes from all nations then marched into the stadium, including Malaysia’s contingent of 59 members wearing modern batik shirts.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida attended the ceremony, with the King officially declaring the Games open.
The cauldron was lit with the historic ‘First Green Flame’, a sustainable display using lasers and drones instead of traditional fuel.
Olympic taekwondo gold medallist Panipak Wongpattanakit had the honour of lighting the innovative cauldron.
The 33rd SEA Games will run until December 20 across venues in Bangkok and Chonburi. – Bernama
