Party in Phnom Penh as 32nd SEA Games officially open

PHNOM PENH: Braving the sweltering heat and enticed by the promise of making history, they arrived in droves.

In a mood to party, the crowd which poured into the 60,000-seat Morodok Techo National Stadium were treated to a spectacle as the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games were officially declared open in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Friday (May 5).

This is the country's first time hosting the regional event. The 32nd SEA Games will feature 36 sports across a number of cities including capital Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville.

Hours before the opening ceremony went underway, throngs waited patiently outside the sleek US$160 million stadium, built and designed by Chinese firms.

Tickets to the Games will be provided to all spectators for free, organisers previously announced.

The regional event will be held from May 5 to May 17, followed by the 12th ASEAN Para Games from Jun 3 to Jun 9. Some sports such as indoor hockey, cricket and football are already underway.

While the ceremony only officially began at 7pm local time, there was unbridled enthusiasm in the air earlier in the evening.

Treated to performances by singers and local comedians, the audience roared their approval, enthusiastically triggering a series of Mexican waves for good measure.

As the sky dimmed, fluorescent lights lit up the stands, bathing the sea of spectators in pink and yellow and spelling out “SEA Games” and “Cambodia 2023”.

In attendance for the Games’ opening was Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, as well as a host of visiting dignitaries including Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith and Singapore National Olympic Council chairman and Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin.

Also in the stands was International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice-president Ng Ser