Vietnam Sports Delegation requests clarification of territorial image errors at SEA Games 33

In the slideshow simulating the map of Southeast Asian countries, the map of Vietnam displayed by the 33rd SEA Games Organizing Committee only included the mainland, completely missing the two archipelagos of Hoang Sa, Truong Sa and Phu Quoc Island. This error was quickly discovered by domestic and international audiences when watching the program via livestream.

In a quick exchange with Van Hoa about this issue, a representative of the Vietnam Sports Delegation said that the Delegation has contacted the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand to coordinate in handling this matter and will have official information tomorrow.

In addition to the serious error regarding the image of Vietnam’s territory, in the section reviewing the history of the SEA Games, the Organizing Committee continued to cause controversy when it mistakenly assigned the Singapore flag to the 1997 SEA Games – an event held in Indonesia. This is also not the only error related to the flags of member countries.

Before the opening ceremony, the Organizing Committee posted the women's futsal competition schedule but mistakenly showed the Vietnamese flag as the Thai flag, and also mistook the Lao flag for the Indonesian flag. These mistakes were later quietly removed without any official announcement or apology.

While waiting for the move from the 33rd SEA Games Organizing Committee, domestic public opinion continues to express the view that there needs to be absolute respect for the image of the territory, sovereignty and national symbols at all international events - especially activities that represent solidarity and exchange within the ASEAN community such as the SEA Games.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/doan-the-thao-viet-nam-de-nghi-lam-ro-sai-sot-hinh-anh-lanh-tho-tai-sea-games-33-187023.html