Thai newspapers unanimously criticized the incident on the opening day of the SEA Games.

Thai media reacted strongly after the opening ceremony of the 33rd SEA Games on the evening of December 9, when a series of technical problems and signs of poor preparation by the organizing committee were exposed right at Rajamangala Stadium.

The 33rd SEA Games opening ceremony took place on December 9.

In a striking article, Thairath described the opening event of the region's largest sporting event as a "day of chaos," when the lighting system at the main stadium malfunctioned. Numerous large lights suddenly went out, with no backup lights available, forcing the crew to "race against time" to borrow equipment from a neighboring stadium. The newspaper commented that this was a "basic and inexplicable" error, occurring just before the ceremony that had been prepared for months.

Another article by Thairath asked bluntly: “Are the SEA Games ready?” The article listed more shortcomings: choppy audio, uncoordinated seating areas, and billboards that overshadowed the games logo. The newspaper said these flaws were “incongruous with a regional event that Thailand is trying to host.”

Meanwhile, Siam Sport also devoted several lines to dissecting the incidents that occurred right before the opening ceremony. In addition to the lighting system, the newspaper said that some sports delegations reported that the accommodation, transportation and service facilities were not stable, forcing the organizing committee to make last-minute adjustments. Siam Sport warned that if these problems were allowed to persist, “the reputation of the host country would be affected.”

On the other hand, Thai media also acknowledged that the organizing committee has been actively working to fix the problem after the incident. Some items at Rajamangala Stadium have been replaced or added quickly to prepare for the upcoming competition days. However, most articles have a common cautious tone: Thailand needs to prove that the 33rd SEA Games will not be remembered for technical errors right at the launch.

The frankness of the Thai press reflects the high expectations of the Thai people for the event. It also serves as a reminder that, even though the opening ceremony has taken place, the real challenge for the host nation will lie in ensuring that the following days of competition do not repeat the unacceptable missteps.

Source: https://znews.vn/bao-thai-lan-dong-loat-chi-trich-su-co-trong-ngay-khai-mac-sea-games-post1609782.html