Thailand sends apology letter to Vietnam for map error at the opening ceremony of the 33rd SEA Games.

(Chinhphu.vn) - On December 12, the Thailand Sports Organizing Committee (THASOC) sent an official letter to the President of the Vietnam Olympic Committee, expressing its apologies for the mistakes that occurred during the organization and broadcasting of some events at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 33) and the 13th Southeast Asian Para Games (ASEAN Para Games 2025).

The map of Vietnam displayed at the opening ceremony of the 33rd SEA Games omitted the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos and Phu Quoc island.

In a letter signed by Dr. Gongsak Yodmani, Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand and Secretary-General of THASOC, the host organizing committee acknowledged and clarified two regrettable mistakes that occurred, while affirming its willingness to learn, its responsibility, and its commitment to preventing similar incidents from recurring.

Specifically, THASOC acknowledged the inaccurate depiction of Vietnam's territorial map in its third performance, "We Are One – Connected by the SEA," at the Opening Ceremony of the 33rd SEA Games, held on the evening of December 9th at the Rajamangala National Stadium.

Accordingly, the map of Vietnam in the performance did not show the Hoang Sa archipelago, the Truong Sa archipelago, and Phu Quoc island. The SEA Games 33 Organizing Committee recognized this as a particularly sensitive issue, directly related to national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and it caused discomfort for the Vietnamese side.

In addition, THASOC also apologized for the technical incident during the live broadcast of the 3x3 basketball event, when the technical team mistakenly displayed the wrong national flags of the participating teams, including Malaysia, Laos, the Philippines, and Vietnam, causing concern and frustration among the participating countries.

In the letter, THASOC affirmed that it does not take the aforementioned errors lightly and will closely coordinate with relevant parties to rectify them, while also strengthening technical review and control to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents in the future.

The host country's organizing committee is committed to paying attention to every detail in the organization of the event, ensuring respect, standards, and proper conduct for all participating nations.

THASOC once again extends its sincere apologies to the President of the Vietnam Olympic Committee and all relevant parties for any inconvenience caused, demonstrating its sense of responsibility and goodwill in preserving the image and prestige of the largest sporting event in Southeast Asia.

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/thai-lan-gui-thu-xin-loi-viet-nam-ve-sai-sot-ban-do-tai-le-khai-mac-sea-games-33-10225121408534828.htm