Bangkok: His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen officially commenced the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in 2025 with a grand opening ceremony at the Rajamangala National Stadium, Sports Authority of Thailand. The event marked the beginning of a multi-sport competition featuring athletes from eleven Southeast Asian nations under the theme “Ever Forward.”
According to Thai News Agency, the opening ceremony on December 9, 2025, began at 7:50 PM and was attended by dignitaries and thousands of spectators. The ceremony included a tribute video “His Majesty Resides in the Hearts of the People Forever,” honoring the significant contributions of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, to Thai sports. The event highlighted the merging of traditional Thai culture with modern performance technology, presenting a world-class spectacle that emphasized the potential of Thai people and the younger generation.
The parade of athletes was a central feature of the evening, showcasing participants from each of the eleven competing nations. The procession began with the display of the Southeast Asian Games Federation flag, followed by the Thai national flag, the SEA Games flag, and the introduction of the games’ mascot “The San,” a symbol of the harmonious blend of modernity and traditional Thai identity. Athletes from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, and the host nation Thailand paraded into the stadium.
Her Majesty the Queen, an accomplished sailor and member of the Thai national sailing team, led the Thai delegation. Kulavut Vititsarn, the 2024 Olympic silver medalist in badminton, and Chanjaem Suwanpeng, the Paris Olympic bronze medalist in women’s boxing, had the honor of carrying the Thai flag. His Majesty the King then delivered a royal address, officially opening the games.
The 33rd Southeast Asian Games, scheduled from December 9-20, will see over 8,000 athletes compete across 50 sports, vying for more than 500 gold medals. Her Majesty Queen Sirikit will participate in the keelboat SSL 47 event, scheduled from December 15-18 at the Ocean Marina Resort in Pattaya, Chonburi province. This event will include competitors from Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.