The SEA Games 2025 Thailand opening ceremony will be celebrating towards the Southeast Asian region's origins and how the 11 nations are connected. Also a first for the SEA Games, a "green flame" or a digital one to promote sustainability.
The SEA Games 2025 opening ceremony will give nods to the multi-sporting event's origins in Thailand over sixty years ago, celebrating unity and the regional connection of the eleven participant nations.
The opening ceremony, which would be held at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on Tuesday, December 9, bears the theme of "We Are One - Connected by the Sea".
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua of Thailand, also known as Rama X will be attending the ceremony along with Her Majesty the Queen and Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya.
Here are some things you need to know about the opening ceremony
BY THE NUMBERS
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12,506: The total number of athletes participating in SEA Games 2025
- 50: Sports contested in SEA Games 2025
- 574: Gold medals to be won
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WAY OF WATER
The main stage of the opening ceremony will be a symbolic "stage of water", nodding to the Southeast Asian region connected and born out of a culture by the sea.
Over 800,000 liters of water, equivalent to 1/3 of an Olympic swimming pool or enough to fill an entire football penalty area to a depth of one meter, will be integrated into the ceremony's performance environment.
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FIRST GREEN FLAME
Thailand takes pride in delivering the first low-carbon and carbon-neutral sporting event, envisioning sustainability by minimizing fuel usage.
The approach reflects the spirit of a new era, honoring tradition while embracing innovation and environmental responsibility.
The cauldron's design is "Play by the Rules - Discipline and Creativity in Harmony", inspired by the unity of the 11 nations, with the structure incorporating eleven interlocking circles to convey harmony, friendship, and journey towards the "One Victory".
There will be a minimal, controlled real flame placed upon the ceremonial cauldron. It will serve as the spark that triggers the digital Grand Cauldron--which would look like a pillar of light into the sky.
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TORCHBEARERS
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Vareeraya Sukasem: Thailand's youngest Olympic athlete in history, qualifying for the Paris 2024 skateboarding at just 12 years old.
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Lt. Col. Somjit Jongjohor: Beijing 2008 gold medalist, two-time Asian Games gold medalist, and three-time SEA Games gold medalist
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Pilot Officer Panipak Wongpattanakit: Thailand's first two-time Olympic gold medalist, and the country's first three-time Olympic medalist. She is a former world No. 1 in women's taekwondo.
PLACARD BEARERS OF EACH COUNTRY
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Thailand: Suchata Chuangsri
- Philippines: Anntonia Porsild
- Indonesia: Anchilee Scott-Kemmis
- Singapore: Chatnalin Chotjirawarachat
- Timor-Leste: Panida Kernjinda
- Malaysia: Chonnikarn Supittayaporn
- Laos: Sireethorn Leeramwat
- Myanmar: Kirana Youthong
- Vietnam: Nicha Poonpoka
- Brunei: Saffron Maya Snook
- Cambodia: Vanessa Wenk
FLAGBEARERS OF EACH COUNTRY
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Brunei: Walid Lachkar (Wushu) | Nur Hafizah Haji Abdul Sidek (Netball)
- Cambodia: Va Mithona (Taekwondo) | Kong Mona Jassicaa (Jiu-jitsu)
- Indonesia: Bobi Sianturi (Athletics) | Megawati Hangestri (Volleyball)
- Laos: Vilasack Rasavong (Petanque)
- Malaysia: Andre Anura (Athletics) | Aaliyah Yoong Hanifa (Water Ski)
- Myanmar: Aung Cho Myint (Sepak takraw) | Mar Mar Win (Sepak takraw)
- Philippines: Bryan Bagunas (Volleyball) | Alex Eala (Tennis)
- Singapore: Noah Lim (Jiu-jitsu) | Jia Min Yeo (Badminton)
- Timor-Leste: Jolanio Guterres (Aquatics) | Ana da Costa da Silva Pinto Belo (Taekwondo)
- Vietnam: Thuan Le Minh (Karate) | Thuy Le Thanh (Volleyball)
- Thailand: Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Badminton) | Janjaem Suwannapheng (Boxing)
The opening ceremonies will be shown at 8:00 p.m. Philippine time. It will be livestreamed on the One Sports YouTube page and via Pilipinas Live. It will also be aired on TV via One Sports, One Sports+, and RPTV.
[ALSO READ: SCHEDULE | Team Philippines competes at SEA Games 2025 Thailand]
Katrina Alba is a sports journalist and producer, notably with SportsCenter Philippines before taking on her current role at One Sports.
She primarily writes about basketball and volleyball, with experience covering the SEA Games, Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup.
Outside of work, her hobbies include running, swimming, pickleball, yoga, arnis, and krav maga.