Bangkok: Preparations are underway for the opening ceremony of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, which will officially commence this evening at the Rajamangala National Stadium. The event will be graced by His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen, who will preside over the proceedings. The ceremony will begin at 7:00 PM and will adhere to the “Green SEA Games: Net Zero” concept, focusing on reducing pollution.
According to Thai News Agency, the ceremony’s highlights include the lighting of the Olympic torch and a performance by Thai K-Pop artist BamBam, alongside other performers such as Golf Fucking Hero, Violette Wautier, Tong Twopee, and Buakaw Banchamek. The parade, featuring athletes from 11 ASEAN nations, will be led by 11 beauty queens from the TPN pageant. Brunei’s representatives, Opal Suchata (Miss World 2025) and Antonia Porsild (1st Runner-up Miss Universe 2023), will enter the stadium first, with Thailand following last.
The Thai national team will be fronted by “View” Kulavut Vitidsarn, an Olympic silver medalist in badminton, carrying the tricolor flag. Meanwhile, “Bee” Chanjaem Suwanpheng, a 2024 Olympic bronze medalist in boxing, will also be part of the national contingent. The oath-taking will be conducted by “Bew” Phuripol Boonsorn, a sprinter, who will carry the oath flag and recite the oath with fellow athletes “Yu” Ballang Thabthimdaeng, a world champion in taekwondo, and “Thanya” Thanyaporn Phruksakorn, a shooter.
The torch lighting ceremony aims to minimize pollution impacts on nearby communities. Although the official torchbearer has not been announced, it is expected that Panipak Wongpattanakit, a two-time Olympic taekwondo gold medalist, will light the torch.