With only a week remaining before the start of the 33rd SEA Games, Tourism and Sports Minister Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn reaffirmed Thailand’s readiness to host the region’s biennial sporting event amid criticism of the country’s poor preparations.
The 2025 SEA Games, the seventh time the event has taken place in the Kingdom and the first since 2007, will be held from December 9 to 20 in Bangkok and Chon Buri.
However, Thailand has been pestered by a number of problems in the lead-up to the tournament, including the delisting of Songkhla as one of the host cities due to the recent flood crisis in the southern province, leading to suspicion over the host country’s preparedness.
Asked by reporters about growing doubts regarding the country’s Games preparations, the sports minister, who also chairs the 33rd SEA Games organising committee, stated that the opening ceremony on December 9 would answer all questions.
“Let’s wait and see on December 9, both the opening ceremony and the organisation of the Games.
“As the organising committee chairman, we resolved to relocate all sport events from Songkhla to Bangkok and Chon Buri instead. There is no change to the competition schedule, though,” said Atthakorn at Government House on Tuesday.
On the issue that the schedule for some sports has yet to be finalised despite the competition approaching, the minister said it was due to adjustments to the athletes’ list and withdrawals by certain countries.
Addressing criticism of a perceived lack of publicity prior to the start of the Games, Atthakorn said: “We’ve expedited our full efforts to publicise the tournament. We firmly believe people in Bangkok and Chon Buri, especially sports fans, are now well aware of the upcoming competition. There has been additional effort to campaign for good conduct as the host country.
“Over the past couple of months, our country has been through many things, including the severe flooding in Hat Yai district (of Songkhla province). Such incidents may have drawn attention from the public and the media alike.”
Regarding the economic impact of hosting the Games, the minister revealed the event was expected to bring in not less than 15 billion baht from participating athletes, officials and foreign sports fans throughout its entire period.
There are 50 official sports, three demonstration disciplines (air sports, flying disc and tug of war) and one “value-added” sport featured in the 2025 Games, with 574 gold medals up for grabs.
