SEA Games 33 instability

SEA Games 33 soon encountered many controversies.

Despite affirming that it is "100% ready" for the 33rd SEA Games, host country Thailand has revealed a series of shortcomings that have caused regional public opinion to question its management capacity.

The early warnings immediately became reality on the first day. The national anthem was not played at the Vietnam-Laos match, along with the Rajamangala stadium lighting system being broken and lacking replacement bulbs, and spectators were confused because the seat numbers on their tickets did not match the actual numbers.

The organizers were also criticized for releasing a promotional poster for the "33rd SEA Games Virtual Run" running event with a series of basic errors. The image, which was expected to be an official promotional publication, revealed many sloppy details, from the disorderly placement of letters to the disjointed layout, causing the online community to question its professionalism.

Previously, the Thai press unanimously confirmed that the promotional atmosphere for this Games was almost quiet. Newspapers in the region described Thailand entering the quietest SEA Games in decades. Even the locals did not know the competition schedule or the venue.

The storms and rains have added to Thailand’s confusion. Flooding in the south has forced organizers to move 10 events from Songkhla to Bangkok and Chonburi. The near-term adjustment has put pressure on infrastructure construction and the risk of cost overruns.

Not to mention, many athletes have complained about delayed salaries, cut benefits and lack of financial transparency. In that context, Thailand still aims to win the overall title and break the record of 241 gold medals - an ambition that has been questioned by the host athletes themselves.

Source: https://znews.vn/sea-games-33-bat-on-post1608602.html