Many major international newspapers praised the opening ceremony of the SEA Games in Vietnam
Grand opening ceremony
Vietnam opened the 31st Southeast Asian Games with a “party of lights” mixed with spectacular music performances, leaving behind the gloomy weather and the Covid epidemic that delayed the event. 6 months – AFP writes.
Fireworks explode over the My Dinh National Stadium with a capacity of 40,000 seats in the capital Hanoi. During the 2 hours of the show, colorful spectacles mixed with traditional art were shown on a giant screen and white stage.
The 18-day SEA Games, held every two years, features the main Olympic sports including athletics and swimming, along with regional sports such as pencak silat and chess.
Female athlete Quach Thi Lan lights the Games torch. Photo: Nhac NGUYEN/AFP
Hundreds of athletes representing more than 4,900 athletes from 11 competing countries marched, waving their national flags as they passed girls in traditional Vietnamese costumes.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated: “On behalf of the leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam, I would like to thank you for coming to the 31st SEA Games held in Hanoi, Vietnam. I would like to announce the opening of the 31st Southeast Asian Games. I wish the Games great success.”
According to AFP, Southeast Asian heads of state are in Washington to meet US President Joe Biden at a special summit, so they cannot be present at the opening ceremony of the SEA Games.
Instead, the ceremony was attended by senior Vietnamese leaders and regional sports officials.
The Games were originally scheduled to be held in November 2021 but were postponed for 6 months after the outbreak of the Covid-19 wave.
Photo: AFP/Ye Aung THU
It has been nearly 20 years since Vietnam last hosted the SEA Games in 2003, and this stadium has hosted the opening ceremony of the multi-sport event for the second time.
Hot air balloons carrying the flags of the competing nations flew over the stadium and Vietnamese track and field athlete Quach Thi Lan lit the Games torch.
When the ceremony ended, Vietnamese singers sang the official Olympic song, “Let’s Shine” (English name: Let’s Shine). The stands were flooded with the flash of the audience’s mobile phones, creating a shimmering sea of lights.
Competitions began and ended in several events, including beach handball, kickboxing and diving.
Photo: AFP/Nhac NGUYEN
Before the opening ceremony, Vietnam had a breakthrough with 10 gold medals, followed by Malaysia with 9 gold medals and 3 gold medals from Indonesia.
Exciting SEA Games
Channel News Asia (Singapore) also reported boldly about the SEA Games event held in Vietnam. CNA said that the afternoon of unexpected rain could not dampen the spirits of fans and athletes when the 31st SEA Games officially opened in Hanoi.
2 hours before the ceremony, the atmosphere was already bustling outside My Dinh National Stadium. Undeterred by the weather, fans took selfies and posed for photos amid the epic view of giant hot air balloons with the flags of the 11 participating countries.
Across the city, banners and flags are hung everywhere, with giant images of the Saola mascot easily recognizable around different corners of Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
The stadium is only half full and this is intentional. CNA cited domestic media sources as saying that tickets were allocated to government and international officials, foreign embassies in Vietnam, as well as fans.
Part of the stadium was left empty to hold performances during the ceremony.
During the opening ceremony, there were a total of 31 people in the parade team of each participating country in the Olympics. In addition, up to 100 people from each country’s national Olympic councils are allowed in the stands.
“The past two years have been difficult. It is hard to believe that after 3 years, we are at the SEA Games again. With my teammates and countrymen walking into My Dinh stadium, I feel extremely proud to bring it along. the flag of his people,” a representative of Singapore spoke.
More than 400 athletes will represent Team Singapore at the Olympics, competing in 33 sports.
“We hope that the grand opening ceremony will set the stage for an exciting SEA Games in Hanoi in the coming weeks.”
The SEA Games focuses on Hanoi and activities also take place in 11 neighboring provinces in the North of Vietnam.
And when brilliant fireworks light up Hanoi’s night sky to resounding cheers, it’s perhaps a reminder that even on the darkest of days, there’s always light ahead. .
Photo: TANG CHHIN Sothy/AFP
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