The Games are now officially open!
The 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Cambodia is officially open.
The first-time hosts formally kicked off the biennial meet with a grand but earnest opening ceremony held at the sprawling Morodok Techo Stadium, which was specifically built to host the opening and closing ceremonies, along with marquee events such as athletics and swimming.
These Games, themed “Sports: Live in Peace,” are a culmination of seven years of preparation by the Kingdom, which had been engaged in nonstop infrastructure development and relentless capacity building of its athletes since 2016.
And the excitement was palpable from the pre-show all the way to the spectacular fireworks display that ended the festive night in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. The opening ceremony was equal parts a tribute to Cambodia’s rich history, a nod to Cambodian culture, and a glimpse of the endless possibilities in store for the host’s future—all showcased in a variety of songs, dances, and artistic performances.
Among the noteworthy performances were a masterfully choreographed “duel” pitting Cambodian kun bokator fighters and the Chinese Shaolin and a massive showcase of indigenous percussion instruments set to a spectacular light show. The songs "Welcome Cambodia," "This Is Our time," and "Cambodia Is Our Home,” all composed by the Union of Youth Federation of Cambodia, were also played for the first time during the opening ceremony.
Another highlight of the ceremony was the much-awaited parade of athletes, which was a stark departure from the parades of SEA Games past, as not all athletes made the traditional walk to the stadium. Instead, only 50 athletes from each participating nation—except the host, of course—marched into and around the spanking new stadium to bask in the crowd’s cheers and adulation.
Representing the Philippines in this parade of athletes was an all-female delegation—a first in SEA Games history. Carrying the country’s colors was the inimitable Alyssa Valdez, who, along with her peers, looked stunning in the Francis Libiran-designed “Araw”—a white barong Tagalog featuring an intricate embroider of the Philippine flag.
Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen formally opened the regional meet, followed by the final phase of the torch relay, which saw the symbolic torch passed from the PM to some of Cambodia's greatest athletes, starting with jiu-jitsu fighter Jessa Khan. She then passed it on to petanque legend Ke Leng, who handed over the torch to petanque rising star Jov Sotheara, who then gave it to kun Khmer fighter Khun Dima. Martial artist Sorn Seavmey, who won Cambodia's first ever Asian Games gold medal, was the torch's last recipient, and she proceeded to light the cauldron to signal the official start of the two-week sporting spectacle.
The Philippines, which has already secured two gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze medals prior to the Games’ formal opening, will look to build on its strong start as it aims to surpass its 4th place finish last year in the 31st SEA Games held in Hanoi, Vietnam.