SEA Games 33, host Thailand and the dream of re-establishing dominance

One of the elements that defines the identity of the SEA Games is the power of the host nation. In each edition of the Games, host countries are allowed to include events in which they excel and have the highest chance of winning, including traditional sports with a large number of gold medals awarded.

Furthermore, the host country also introduced many regulations and eliminated or restricted events where they considered the chances of winning to be low. For example, at the 33rd SEA Games, gymnasts were only allowed to compete for one medal per individual event, as well as in the individual and team all-around events. Similarly, in basketball (5x5), players had to be recognized as domestic players according to the regulations of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). In judo, the over 78 kg weight class, which had not been included in the last three SEA Games, was included this time by Thailand due to the presence of many strong athletes in this weight category.

That is why host countries often finish in the top position, or at least significantly improve their ranking compared to previous editions. Statistics show that in the past 32 SEA Games, the top position of the delegation has belonged to the host country 18 times. Of these 18 times, 6 times belonged to Thailand, the country that has hosted the most times in the history of the Games (6). The countries ranked behind are Indonesia with 4 times and Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippines (both 2).

Host nation Thailand aims for 241 gold medals at the 33rd SEA Games.

Two years ago, when the 33rd SEA Games was held in Cambodia, although the host country did not lead the entire delegation, the 4th place was also a remarkable progress. If in previous editions, the Gold medals could be counted on the fingers, in 2023, they won 81 Gold medals, more than the total number of Gold medals they had from 1961 to 2021 (78). This achievement was largely thanks to the sports in Group 3, which are traditional sports or sports chosen by the host country to be included. 47/81 Gold medals of Cambodia belonged to this group of sports, accounting for 58%, or more than half.

It is not surprising that the host country has created records in terms of medals. Vietnam, as the host of the 31st SEA Games, has created a whopping 205 gold medals.

To date, no country has reached the 200-gold medal mark. Even Thailand, in its two most recent hosting events, which swept all the gold medals and far surpassed its rivals, only achieved 157 gold medals at the 1995 SEA Games and 183 gold medals at the 2007 SEA Games.

Will Thailand be able to capitalize on its home advantage this time to set a new milestone? At the 2025 SEA Games, Thailand and other participating nations will compete in 50 sports with 574 gold medals to be awarded. Thailand will compete with 1,531 athletes and aim for 241 gold medals, accounting for nearly half of the total.

Meanwhile, estimates from the Thai National Olympic Committee and the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) suggest they could win over 280 gold medals. Figures from the Elite Sports Development Board of the SAT indicate that, considering only sports included in the Olympic and Asian Games programs, Thai athletes won 52% of the gold medals at the 32nd SEA Games, more than Vietnam's 40%.

With the SEA Games 33 increasing the proportion of international sports, according to Thestandard, host nation Thailand can maximize its strength and new records are about to be set.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/sea-games-33-chu-nha-thai-lan-and-the-dream-of-re-establishing-the-thong-tri-post1803043.tpo