Host Thailand makes bold decision to send 12-year-old athlete to carry SEA Games torch: Great opening ceremony

At the opening ceremony of the 33rd SEA Games taking place in Thailand, fans are expected to witness one of the most unique torch lighting performances in history.

Before arriving at the opening ceremony (December 9, at Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok), the torch relay passed through Thai provinces such as Chonburi, Songkhla and Nakhon Si Thammarat. According to the explanation of the 33rd SEA Games Organizing Committee, the torch relay through the 4 host provinces can be seen as a story connecting the past, present and future of Thai sports . The flame traveled hundreds of kilometers, passed through the hands of nearly 300 people, a metaphor for the long road that each athlete must go through to reach glory.

More notably, the final leg of the torch relay will feature the participation of famous Thai athletes. Among them, 3 athletes including Panipak Wongpattanakit, Somjit Jongjohor and Vareeraya Sukasem will play an important role, passing the torch to light the SEA Games 33 cauldron.

Panipak Wongpattanakit - who just won the 2024 Olympic gold medal will be the main torch bearer.

PHOTO: REUTERS

3 famous faces, representing 3 generations of Thai sports

Panipak Wongpattanakit is considered the greatest pride of Thai sports in the past decade. The female taekwondo fighter has won 2 Olympic gold medals (2020, 2024), has been ranked number one in Asia many times and has brought the image of resilient Thai women to the international arena. The Thai Organizing Committee's choice of Panipak Wongpattanakit as the main torchbearer at Rajamangala Stadium shows that they want to entrust their faith and desire for victory to athletes who are at the peak of their performance.

Alongside Panipak Wongpattanakit, Somjit Jongjohor brings his own unique style from the boxing world. He is one of the icons of Thai sports, having won the 2008 Olympic gold medal. Somjit Jongjohor is the one who paved the way for Thai boxing to achieve great victories on the world stage. The presence of Somjit Jongjohor in the torch relay recalls the golden age of Thai boxing, while emphasizing the role of previous generations - those who laid the foundation for the sport in this country.

However, the most notable image is Vareeraya Sukasem – a 12-year-old athlete who will compete in the 2024 Olympics. The appearance of a young athlete in a solemn ceremony usually reserved for legends is considered a bold decision by the 33rd SEA Games Organizing Committee. Vareeraya Sukasem represents a completely new generation, where talents are discovered very early and are invested in systematically. Vareeraya Sukasem's participation in the torch relay is not only an affirmation that Thai sports are preparing for a long-term future, but also a widespread inspiration for children and young people in the region.

Khaosod website emphasized: “The fact that the flame was passed to an athlete who was only 12 years old is the clearest message about the goal of developing the next generation of Thailand. The image of a little girl holding the torch high next to Olympic champions shows that sports are not only built on current achievements but also on dreams that grow every day.”

Vareeraya Sukasem was present at the 2024 Olympics

PHOTO: AFP

Meanwhile, Thairath expressed: “In the final moment when the cauldron at Rajamangala was lit, the legends Panipak or Somjit stood next to a young talent like Vareeraya Sukasem, creating an emotional image of continuity and innovation. The 33rd SEA Games is therefore not only a sports festival, but also an opportunity for Thailand to tell its own story: honoring those who have made the country famous, and at the same time giving the next generation the opportunity to continue that journey.”

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chu-nha-thai-lan-quyet-dinh-tao-bao-dua-vdv-12-tuoi-ruoc-duoc-sea-games-le-khai-mac-cuc-hay-185251208162825415.htm