SEA Games 33 and the spiritual challenge of One Southeast Asia

In early December, as the 33rd SEA Games is counting down the hours to its opening, the behind-the-scenes picture of the region's largest sports event is making observers somewhat worried.

Continuous technical problems, forced adjustments to the competition schedule and venue, or the sudden withdrawal of Cambodian sports from many competitions..., all show that the host country Thailand - despite its extensive experience in organizing - is still facing a difficult problem: how to keep the SEA Games flame burning brightly.

This is the 7th time Thailand has hosted the SEA Games. In the last 3 editions, they have proactively moved the Games away from Bangkok, bringing them to provinces such as Nakhon Ratchasima or Chiang Mai with the aim of distributing development benefits and spreading the sporting spirit. But that choice means greater risks: unsynchronized infrastructure, expensive operating costs, and limited funding sources.

Therefore, the cancellation of the 33rd SEA Games in Songkhla due to flooding further pushed Thailand into a passive position as the main venue, Bangkok, did not have any new constructions for this event and now had to "bear" the additional organization burden. The 33rd SEA Games, from then on, became a race between expectations and reality.

The financial challenges are something Thailand cannot hide, with budget cuts and revenues from television rights and advertising almost zero. But this is not just a story for the host country. It reflects a growing paradox: the SEA Games are expanding in scale, trying to approach international standards, but the public appeal and economic benefits are clearly decreasing.

The Games, once a source of pride for the region, now struggle to maintain itself, both as a test of its organizing capacity and as a measure of its own existence. This has unintentionally become a pressure, or even a burden, for the host countries under the rotational responsibility mechanism.

It is also in this difficult time that the spirit of “One Southeast Asia” needs to be ignited more than ever. This is even more meaningful when the 33rd SEA Games is a historic event, the first time all 11 ASEAN countries have participated after Timor Leste officially joined the common community. The “ASEAN circle” is completed on the sports map, opening a new chapter for the journey of regional integration.

For the first time, the SEA Games is truly a playground for all of ASEAN, reflecting the vision of comprehensive integration that regional leaders have pursued over the past two decades. Therefore, the 33rd SEA Games is not only a test for Thailand, but also a test for the whole of Southeast Asia.

With the theme of ASEAN 2025 being “Inclusive and Sustainable”, the 33rd SEA Games needs to become a symbol of sharing and solidarity across ASEAN through sports. Member countries cannot just hold their breath and wait for Thailand to bring the ship safely to the destination. What is needed now is a proactive act, an act of sharing the burden instead of just sympathy.

The 33rd SEA Games should therefore be seen as a practical lesson, where the whole of Southeast Asia reflects on its way of doing sports: from governance, finance, infrastructure, to how it defines success. Instead of just measuring by medals, the value of the SEA Games should be measured by the extent to which the ASEAN spirit is spread, by the moments when athletes support each other, by the ability to connect the community and promote the sustainable development of sports in the region.

When the 33rd SEA Games torch is lit during the opening ceremony, it will not only represent Thai sports, but also be a reminder of the ASEAN spirit after more than half a century of formation. Thailand's efforts to overcome difficulties will bring valuable lessons.

But more importantly, if member countries realize that saving the SEA Games is not just the responsibility of a single host country, but a shared responsibility to protect a regional brand, then the 33rd SEA Games - despite starting with many thorns, can absolutely become the starting point for a new chapter: more professional, more sustainable, and where the spirit of "One Southeast Asia" is reinforced by action.

DANG LINH

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/sea-games-33-va-thu-thach-tinh-than-mot-dong-nam-a-post827166.html