Myanmar officially opened the 27th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games onDecember 11 with a flashy ceremony in the capital of Nay Pyi Taw.
The event has been billed as a coming-out party for the country, which is emerging from decades of international isolation.
Tens of thousands of people witnessed a lavish spectacle of lights and pyrotechnics at the ceremony.
Fireworksexploded above the 30,000-seat, specially-built Wunna Theikdi Stadium,as a series of screens beamed a dramatic light show during theextravaganza.
The 22-day Games were formally opened when abare-chested warrior in a chariot fired a blazing arrow to light asymbolic flame in a large cauldron set high in the stadium.
Speakingat the opening ceremony, U Tint San, Union Minister of Sportsemphasised the significance of the Games’ motto of “Green, Clean andFriendship”, saying he hoped that all of athletes would show theirskills and talents in competition, in a sense of fair-play and goodsportsmanship.
It is the third time Myanmar has hosted the Games. The first and second Games were held in Myanmar in 1961 and 1969.
TheSea Games are held every two years, offering regional bragging rightsand a chance for athletes from lesser sporting nations to shine insports, ranging from athletics to the obscure cane-ball game chinlone,as well as martial arts vovinam and pencak silat. Competition hasalready finished in some events.
But the bulk of the competitionbegins on December 12 and continues until the closing ceremony onDecember 22. Athletes compete in 33 sporting events for 460 gold medals.
Vietnam, with 10 gold medals, remains in second place in the ranking table.
HostMyanmar is still on top with 18 gold medals, while Thailand hasreplaced Indonesia in third place with six first place titles.-VNA
The event has been billed as a coming-out party for the country, which is emerging from decades of international isolation.
Tens of thousands of people witnessed a lavish spectacle of lights and pyrotechnics at the ceremony.
Fireworksexploded above the 30,000-seat, specially-built Wunna Theikdi Stadium,as a series of screens beamed a dramatic light show during theextravaganza.
The 22-day Games were formally opened when abare-chested warrior in a chariot fired a blazing arrow to light asymbolic flame in a large cauldron set high in the stadium.
Speakingat the opening ceremony, U Tint San, Union Minister of Sportsemphasised the significance of the Games’ motto of “Green, Clean andFriendship”, saying he hoped that all of athletes would show theirskills and talents in competition, in a sense of fair-play and goodsportsmanship.
It is the third time Myanmar has hosted the Games. The first and second Games were held in Myanmar in 1961 and 1969.
TheSea Games are held every two years, offering regional bragging rightsand a chance for athletes from lesser sporting nations to shine insports, ranging from athletics to the obscure cane-ball game chinlone,as well as martial arts vovinam and pencak silat. Competition hasalready finished in some events.
But the bulk of the competitionbegins on December 12 and continues until the closing ceremony onDecember 22. Athletes compete in 33 sporting events for 460 gold medals.
Vietnam, with 10 gold medals, remains in second place in the ranking table.
HostMyanmar is still on top with 18 gold medals, while Thailand hasreplaced Indonesia in third place with six first place titles.-VNA
