SEA GAMES cover story

SEA Games which stands for Southeast Asian Games, is a sports carnival Asian countries Ternggara held every two years. This new name was officially adopted in 1977, when Indonesia and the Philippines signed a member.

Previously, the sports carnival that aims to strengthen cooperation, understanding and inter-state relations in the ASEAN region is using the name of Southeast Asian Peninsular Games or SEAP Games abbreviated. On May 22, 1958, delegates from the countries of Southeast Asia are attending the third Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan, to have a meeting and agreed to form a sports organization. And, the concept of SEAP Games was sliding from LAUNG Sukhumnaipradit, who later became Vice President of Olympic Committee of Thailand.

Thailand, Burma (now Myanmar), Malaya (now Malaysia), Laos, South Vietnam and Cambodia (with Singapore included later), is a pioneer countries. They agreed to hold this event once every two years. Also formed SEAP Games Federation Committee.

The first SEAP Games were held in Bangkok from 12 to December 17, 1959, followed by more than 527 athletes and officials from Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Laos.They competed in 12 sports.

In the SEAP Games VIII in 1975, the SEAP Federation considered the inclusion of Indonesia and the Philippines. The two countries officially signed in 1977, and in the same year when SEAP Federation changed their name to Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF), which became known as the State Games Southeast Asian Nations.

After that, the number of member countries continue to grow. At the SEA Games X in Jakarta, Indonesia, Brunei came in and then turn East Timorese who took part in the XXII SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

From 1977 to 2007, there are several countries that have hosted three times, namely Malaysia (1977, 1989, 2001), Philippines (1981, 1991, 2005), Indonesia (1979, 1987, 1997), and Thailand (1985, 1995, 2007). Meanwhile, Singapore's only two-time host (1983, 1993) and Brunei only once, in 1999.

This year, the SEA Games XXV with the theme of "generosity, friendship, health, lifestyle" will be held in Laos for the first time to host. There are 25 sports that will dipertandingkan at the National Stadium Sports Complex

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