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| from straitstimes |
SEA Games: Myanmar closes successful Games, hands over to Singapore
By Chia Han Keong In Naypyidaw
Myanmar drew a close to three weeks of sporting celebration with a lavish Closing Ceremony that marked the end of the 27th SEA Games on Sunday.
The ceremony also marked the start of Singapore's hosting of the 2015 edition. In a symbolic handover gesture near the end of the ceremony, Mr Tint Hsan, chairman of the Myanmar SEA Games Organising Committee, handed over the SEA Games flag to Singapore's Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin, who is also an executive committee member of the Singapore National Olympic Council.
That is followed by a performance item specially put up Singapore Soka Association members and national athletes from gymnastics and taekwondo.
Online, yesterday also saw the launch of the 2015 Games' official website (www.seagames2015.com) and Facebook page. Other key components like the theme song, mascot and logo will be rolled out from next February.
Said Mr Tint Hsan: "Although the Asean region has so many different religions, dialects and traditions, the fact that we are able to compete in friendship throughout the SEA showed everyone the unifying power of sports."
Singapore's International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, Ng Ser Miang, handed the Myanmar SEA Games organising committee the IOC Trophy for successfully hosting the Games after a 44-year hiatus.
@ http://www.straitstimes.com/
AYPYITAW: The Myanmar SEA Games themed "Green, Clean and Friendly" came to colourul close at Wunna Theikdi Main Stadium here tonight.
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| Closing ceremony of 27th SEA Games at Wunna Theikdi Stadium in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. NSTP/Syarafiq Abd Samad |
The arrival of Myanmar President, U Thein Sein, wife Daw Khin Khin Win
and guets at the stadium were met with a fireworks display.
A large group of children who formed the 27th SEA Games logo got the closing ceremony underway.
The audience were entertained with cultural performances such as the
elephant dance and the Myanmar traditional sport 'Chinlone.'
The ceremony continued with the procession of athletes representing the 33 sports contested at the games held over 19 days.
The 33 sports are athletics, archery, badminton, basketball, billiards,
bodybuilding, boxing, canoeing, chess, chinlone, equestrian, football,
futsal, golf, hockey, judo, karate, kempo, muay thai, petanque, ping
pong, rowing, snooker, swimming, sepak takraw, sailing, shooting, silat,
taekwondo, volleyball, vovinam, weightlifting, wrestling and
traditional boat racing.
The ceremony proceeded with lowering of the flag of the SEA Games Federation (SGF) and the flag of Myanmar as the host country.
The closing of the biennial games was officiated by Myanmar Vice President, U Nyan Tun.
The 11 participating countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam and
Myanmar.
This is the third time Myanmar hosted the biggest sporting event in South East Asia after 1961 and 1969.
Malaysia's contingent of 556 athletes won 43 gold, 38 silver and 77 bronze medals to be placed fifth in the medals tally table.
Thailand were top with 107 gold, 94 silver and 81 bronze while hosts
Myanmar were second place with 85 gold, 62 silver and 85 bronze.
Vietnam were third with 73 gold, 86 silver and 86 bronze while Indonesia were fourth with 65 gold, 84 silver and 110 bronze.
Singapore will host the 28th SEA Games in 2015 while Malaysia will host the 29th SEA Games in 2017. --BERNAMA
SEA Games 2013 Grand Closing Ceremony
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| The Closing Ceremony of the SEA Games 2013 was held in Myanmar on Sunday night. (Image: thestar.com.my) |
SEA Games 2013 Grand Closing Ceremony:
As with the Opening Ceremony 11 days ago, Myanmar put on a grand and
lavish Closing Ceremony on Sunday to close out a successful 27th SEA
Games, the first time the nation has hosted the Games in 44 years.
In closing out three weeks of sporting celebration with other Southeast Asian countries, the ceremony also marked the beginning of Singapore’s hosting of the next SEA Games in 2015.
Near the end of the ceremony, the chairman of the Myanmar SEA Games Organising Committee, Mr. Tint Hsan, handed over the SEA Games flag to the Singaporean Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin, who is also on the Singapore National Olympic Council as an executive committee member.
Following the symbolic handover, a special performance was put on by Singapore Soka Association members and national athletes from gymnastics and taekwondo.
The online launch occurred yesterday of the 2015 Games’ official website, www.seagames2015.com, and Facebook page. The theme song, mascot, and logo will be rolled out beginning next February, reported The Straits Times.
Mr. Tint Hsan said: “Although the Asean region has so many different religions, dialects and traditions, the fact that we are able to compete in friendship throughout the SEA showed everyone the unifying power of sports.”
Ng Ser Miang, Singapore’s International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, handed the Myanmar SEA Games organising committee the IOC Trophy for successfully hosting the SEA Games after a 44 year gap.
In the final medal tally of the 27th SEA Games 2013, Thailand finished at the top with 107 gold, followed by Myanmar with 86 gold, Vietnam with 73, Indonesia with 65, Malaysia with 43, Singapore with 34, the Philippines with 29, Laos with 13, Cambodia with 8, Timor-Leste with 2, and Brunei with 1.
Thailand also won the most total medals overall, winning 282 gold, silver, and bronze medals in the Games. Indonesia got the second-most total medals, winning at total of 260 gold, silver, and bronze.
By Tristan Phillips | December 22, 2013 at 4:38 PM @ Free District
Vietnam finishes in 3rd place as 27th SEA Games close
Nhan Dan Online – Vietnam retained third place for the second time
among the 11 countries competing at the 27th Southeast Asian Games (SEA
Games), which came to a successful end on December 22 after eleven days
of competition.
- See more at:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/sports/article/fireworks-and-dance-show-myanmars-new-face-at-sea-games#sthash.V2JYMvXz.dpufNAYPYIDAW, Dec 22 — A blaze of fireworks and colour brought the
curtain down on the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar today — an event
which marked the formerly cloistered country’s return to the
international stage.
A spectacular closing ceremony illuminated by fireworks, animation and
thousands of dancers delighted the crowd at the 30,000-capacity stadium
in the sprawling capital Naypyidaw.
The raising of the Singapore flag — the city-state will host the regional showpiece in 2015 — marked the end of 11 official days of competition which saw Thailand top the medals table with 107 golds.
The event was hailed as Myanmar’s ‘coming out’ party and was given to the hosts as a reward for reforms overseen by President Thein Sein, who was present at the closing and opening ceremonies.
Concerns over Myanmar’s readiness to host a large international standard event had been raised ahead of the Games, while the distances between venues in the vast capital also raised eyebrows.
But Myanmar has basked in its host status and a rare moment in the international limelight after years in isolation under military rule.
“Some local and international observers thought Myanmar could not host the SEA Games,” said the president’s spokesman Ye Htut on his Facebook page. “They were wrong.”
The closing ceremony saw thousands of dancers perform scenes from Myanmar’s history to an animated background broadcast on vast screens flanking one side of the stadium.
At one point hundreds of teenage boys and girls delighted the crowd with a synchronised demonstration of chinlone — a local cane-ball game — which was followed by scores of elaborately-dressed drummers pounding a rhythm for an array of dancers.
The opening and closing ceremonies were supported in cash and know-how by China — which confirmed its own re-emergence onto the international platform with the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
A SEA Games official thanked China at the closing ceremony for its “tremendous support” which officials said amounted to US$33 million (RM108 million).
While little known outside the region, the Games are a source of local bragging rights for the 11 competing nations and give athletes from lesser sporting nations the chance to shine.
While Thailand topped the medals, winning many leading track and field events as well as the flagship men’s football gold, Myanmar came in a respectable second with 86 gold medals.
It had been accused of cherry-picking non-Olympic sports such as chinlone to ensure a strong showing on home soil. — AFP
@ .themalaymailonline.com
Looking for Video File from Youtube ; The Closing Ceremony of 27th Sea Game Myanmar
In closing out three weeks of sporting celebration with other Southeast Asian countries, the ceremony also marked the beginning of Singapore’s hosting of the next SEA Games in 2015.
Near the end of the ceremony, the chairman of the Myanmar SEA Games Organising Committee, Mr. Tint Hsan, handed over the SEA Games flag to the Singaporean Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin, who is also on the Singapore National Olympic Council as an executive committee member.
Following the symbolic handover, a special performance was put on by Singapore Soka Association members and national athletes from gymnastics and taekwondo.
The online launch occurred yesterday of the 2015 Games’ official website, www.seagames2015.com, and Facebook page. The theme song, mascot, and logo will be rolled out beginning next February, reported The Straits Times.
Mr. Tint Hsan said: “Although the Asean region has so many different religions, dialects and traditions, the fact that we are able to compete in friendship throughout the SEA showed everyone the unifying power of sports.”
Ng Ser Miang, Singapore’s International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, handed the Myanmar SEA Games organising committee the IOC Trophy for successfully hosting the SEA Games after a 44 year gap.
In the final medal tally of the 27th SEA Games 2013, Thailand finished at the top with 107 gold, followed by Myanmar with 86 gold, Vietnam with 73, Indonesia with 65, Malaysia with 43, Singapore with 34, the Philippines with 29, Laos with 13, Cambodia with 8, Timor-Leste with 2, and Brunei with 1.
Thailand also won the most total medals overall, winning 282 gold, silver, and bronze medals in the Games. Indonesia got the second-most total medals, winning at total of 260 gold, silver, and bronze.
By Tristan Phillips | December 22, 2013 at 4:38 PM @ Free District
Vietnam finishes in 3rd place as 27th SEA Games close
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| The dazzling display of fireworks opens the ceremony (danviet.vn) |
The final medal tally sees Thailand on top with 107 gold, 94 silver and
81 bronze medals. Host Myanmar came in second at 86-62-85 and Vietnam
finished third at 73-86-86. The rest finished in this order: Indonesia,
Malaysia, Singapore, the Phillipines, Laos, Cambodia, Timor-Leste and
Brunei.
The closing ceremony of the games took place at Wunna Theikdi Stadium
in Nay Pyi Taw with Myanmar President U Thein Sein and his wife in
attendance.
A dazzling display of fireworks opened the ceremony, which was followed
by songs and dances highlighting peace, friendship, youth and Myanmar’s
traditional culture. After the parade of athletes from all
participating countries across 33 sports, Minister for Sports U Tint
Hsan, who is also chairman of the Myanmar National Olympic Committee
Union and head of the 27th SEA Games Organising Board read a brief
report on the gathering, then Myanmar Vice President U Nyan Tun
officially declared the event closed.
Another spectacular fireworks display lit up the Nay Pyi Taw night sky
and an impressive modern song and dance performance by athletes,
students and artists from Singapore, the country slated to host the 28th
SEA Games, closed the ceremony.
SEA Games 27 was the largest event of its kind, with 33 sporting events and 460 sets of medals.
Vietnam sent a 750 member-strong delegation to the event, including 519 athletes who competed in 29 of the 33 official events.
Fireworks
and dance show Myanmar’s new face at SEA Games - See more at:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/sports/article/fireworks-and-dance-show-myanmars-new-face-at-sea-games#sthash.V2JYMvXz.dpuf
Fireworks and dance show Myanmar's new face at Sea Games
 |
| Fireworks explode during the closing ceremony of the 27th Sea Games in Naypyitaw Dec 22 2013 - Reuters Picture |
The raising of the Singapore flag — the city-state will host the regional showpiece in 2015 — marked the end of 11 official days of competition which saw Thailand top the medals table with 107 golds.
The event was hailed as Myanmar’s ‘coming out’ party and was given to the hosts as a reward for reforms overseen by President Thein Sein, who was present at the closing and opening ceremonies.
Concerns over Myanmar’s readiness to host a large international standard event had been raised ahead of the Games, while the distances between venues in the vast capital also raised eyebrows.
But Myanmar has basked in its host status and a rare moment in the international limelight after years in isolation under military rule.
“Some local and international observers thought Myanmar could not host the SEA Games,” said the president’s spokesman Ye Htut on his Facebook page. “They were wrong.”
The closing ceremony saw thousands of dancers perform scenes from Myanmar’s history to an animated background broadcast on vast screens flanking one side of the stadium.
At one point hundreds of teenage boys and girls delighted the crowd with a synchronised demonstration of chinlone — a local cane-ball game — which was followed by scores of elaborately-dressed drummers pounding a rhythm for an array of dancers.
The opening and closing ceremonies were supported in cash and know-how by China — which confirmed its own re-emergence onto the international platform with the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
A SEA Games official thanked China at the closing ceremony for its “tremendous support” which officials said amounted to US$33 million (RM108 million).
While little known outside the region, the Games are a source of local bragging rights for the 11 competing nations and give athletes from lesser sporting nations the chance to shine.
While Thailand topped the medals, winning many leading track and field events as well as the flagship men’s football gold, Myanmar came in a respectable second with 86 gold medals.
@ .themalaymailonline.com
Looking for Video File from Youtube ; The Closing Ceremony of 27th Sea Game Myanmar
NAYPYIDAW,
Dec 22 — A blaze of fireworks and colour brought the curtain down on
the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar today — an event which marked the
formerly cloistered country’s return to the international stage.
A spectacular closing ceremony illuminated by fireworks, animation and thousands of dancers delighted the crowd at the 30,000-capacity stadium in the sprawling capital Naypyidaw.
The raising of the Singapore flag — the city-state will host the regional showpiece in 2015 — marked the end of 11 official days of competition which saw Thailand top the medals table with 107 golds.
The event was hailed as Myanmar’s ‘coming out’ party and was given to
the hosts as a reward for reforms overseen by President Thein Sein, who
was present at the closing and opening ceremonies.
Concerns over Myanmar’s readiness to host a large international standard event had been raised ahead of the Games, while the distances between venues in the vast capital also raised eyebrows.
But Myanmar has basked in its host status and a rare moment in the international limelight after years in isolation under military rule.
“Some local and international observers thought Myanmar could not host the SEA Games,” said the president’s spokesman Ye Htut on his Facebook page. “They were wrong.”
The closing ceremony saw thousands of dancers perform scenes from Myanmar’s history to an animated background broadcast on vast screens flanking one side of the stadium.
At one point hundreds of teenage boys and girls delighted the crowd with a synchronised demonstration of chinlone — a local cane-ball game — which was followed by scores of elaborately-dressed drummers pounding a rhythm for an array of dancers.
The opening and closing ceremonies were supported in cash and know-how by China — which confirmed its own re-emergence onto the international platform with the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
A SEA Games official thanked China at the closing ceremony for its “tremendous support” which officials said amounted to US$33 million (RM108 million).
While little known outside the region, the Games are a source of local bragging rights for the 11 competing nations and give athletes from lesser sporting nations the chance to shine.
While Thailand topped the medals, winning many leading track and field events as well as the flagship men’s football gold, Myanmar came in a respectable second with 86 gold medals.
It had been accused of cherry-picking non-Olympic sports such as chinlone to ensure a strong showing on home soil. — AFP
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/sports/article/fireworks-and-dance-show-myanmars-new-face-at-sea-games#sthash.zWb0tsWU.dpuf
A spectacular closing ceremony illuminated by fireworks, animation and thousands of dancers delighted the crowd at the 30,000-capacity stadium in the sprawling capital Naypyidaw.
The raising of the Singapore flag — the city-state will host the regional showpiece in 2015 — marked the end of 11 official days of competition which saw Thailand top the medals table with 107 golds.
Concerns over Myanmar’s readiness to host a large international standard event had been raised ahead of the Games, while the distances between venues in the vast capital also raised eyebrows.
But Myanmar has basked in its host status and a rare moment in the international limelight after years in isolation under military rule.
“Some local and international observers thought Myanmar could not host the SEA Games,” said the president’s spokesman Ye Htut on his Facebook page. “They were wrong.”
The closing ceremony saw thousands of dancers perform scenes from Myanmar’s history to an animated background broadcast on vast screens flanking one side of the stadium.
At one point hundreds of teenage boys and girls delighted the crowd with a synchronised demonstration of chinlone — a local cane-ball game — which was followed by scores of elaborately-dressed drummers pounding a rhythm for an array of dancers.
The opening and closing ceremonies were supported in cash and know-how by China — which confirmed its own re-emergence onto the international platform with the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
A SEA Games official thanked China at the closing ceremony for its “tremendous support” which officials said amounted to US$33 million (RM108 million).
While little known outside the region, the Games are a source of local bragging rights for the 11 competing nations and give athletes from lesser sporting nations the chance to shine.
While Thailand topped the medals, winning many leading track and field events as well as the flagship men’s football gold, Myanmar came in a respectable second with 86 gold medals.
It had been accused of cherry-picking non-Olympic sports such as chinlone to ensure a strong showing on home soil. — AFP
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/sports/article/fireworks-and-dance-show-myanmars-new-face-at-sea-games#sthash.zWb0tsWU.dpuf
NAYPYIDAW,
Dec 22 — A blaze of fireworks and colour brought the curtain down on
the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar today — an event which marked the
formerly cloistered country’s return to the international stage.
A spectacular closing ceremony illuminated by fireworks, animation and thousands of dancers delighted the crowd at the 30,000-capacity stadium in the sprawling capital Naypyidaw.
The raising of the Singapore flag — the city-state will host the regional showpiece in 2015 — marked the end of 11 official days of competition which saw Thailand top the medals table with 107 golds.
The event was hailed as Myanmar’s ‘coming out’ party and was given to
the hosts as a reward for reforms overseen by President Thein Sein, who
was present at the closing and opening ceremonies.
Concerns over Myanmar’s readiness to host a large international standard event had been raised ahead of the Games, while the distances between venues in the vast capital also raised eyebrows.
But Myanmar has basked in its host status and a rare moment in the international limelight after years in isolation under military rule.
“Some local and international observers thought Myanmar could not host the SEA Games,” said the president’s spokesman Ye Htut on his Facebook page. “They were wrong.”
The closing ceremony saw thousands of dancers perform scenes from Myanmar’s history to an animated background broadcast on vast screens flanking one side of the stadium.
At one point hundreds of teenage boys and girls delighted the crowd with a synchronised demonstration of chinlone — a local cane-ball game — which was followed by scores of elaborately-dressed drummers pounding a rhythm for an array of dancers.
The opening and closing ceremonies were supported in cash and know-how by China — which confirmed its own re-emergence onto the international platform with the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
A SEA Games official thanked China at the closing ceremony for its “tremendous support” which officials said amounted to US$33 million (RM108 million).
While little known outside the region, the Games are a source of local bragging rights for the 11 competing nations and give athletes from lesser sporting nations the chance to shine.
While Thailand topped the medals, winning many leading track and field events as well as the flagship men’s football gold, Myanmar came in a respectable second with 86 gold medals.
It had been accused of cherry-picking non-Olympic sports such as chinlone to ensure a strong showing on home soil. — AFP
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/sports/article/fireworks-and-dance-show-myanmars-new-face-at-sea-games#sthash.zWb0tsWU.dpuf
A spectacular closing ceremony illuminated by fireworks, animation and thousands of dancers delighted the crowd at the 30,000-capacity stadium in the sprawling capital Naypyidaw.
The raising of the Singapore flag — the city-state will host the regional showpiece in 2015 — marked the end of 11 official days of competition which saw Thailand top the medals table with 107 golds.
Concerns over Myanmar’s readiness to host a large international standard event had been raised ahead of the Games, while the distances between venues in the vast capital also raised eyebrows.
But Myanmar has basked in its host status and a rare moment in the international limelight after years in isolation under military rule.
“Some local and international observers thought Myanmar could not host the SEA Games,” said the president’s spokesman Ye Htut on his Facebook page. “They were wrong.”
The closing ceremony saw thousands of dancers perform scenes from Myanmar’s history to an animated background broadcast on vast screens flanking one side of the stadium.
At one point hundreds of teenage boys and girls delighted the crowd with a synchronised demonstration of chinlone — a local cane-ball game — which was followed by scores of elaborately-dressed drummers pounding a rhythm for an array of dancers.
The opening and closing ceremonies were supported in cash and know-how by China — which confirmed its own re-emergence onto the international platform with the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
A SEA Games official thanked China at the closing ceremony for its “tremendous support” which officials said amounted to US$33 million (RM108 million).
While little known outside the region, the Games are a source of local bragging rights for the 11 competing nations and give athletes from lesser sporting nations the chance to shine.
While Thailand topped the medals, winning many leading track and field events as well as the flagship men’s football gold, Myanmar came in a respectable second with 86 gold medals.
It had been accused of cherry-picking non-Olympic sports such as chinlone to ensure a strong showing on home soil. — AFP
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/sports/article/fireworks-and-dance-show-myanmars-new-face-at-sea-games#sthash.zWb0tsWU.dpuf
NAYPYIDAW,
Dec 22 — A blaze of fireworks and colour brought the curtain down on
the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar today — an event which marked the
formerly cloistered country’s return to the international stage.
A spectacular closing ceremony illuminated by fireworks, animation and thousands of dancers delighted the crowd at the 30,000-capacity stadium in the sprawling capital Naypyidaw.
The raising of the Singapore flag — the city-state will host the regional showpiece in 2015 — marked the end of 11 official days of competition which saw Thailand top the medals table with 107 golds.
The event was hailed as Myanmar’s ‘coming out’ party and was given to
the hosts as a reward for reforms overseen by President Thein Sein, who
was present at the closing and opening ceremonies.
Concerns over Myanmar’s readiness to host a large international standard event had been raised ahead of the Games, while the distances between venues in the vast capital also raised eyebrows.
But Myanmar has basked in its host status and a rare moment in the international limelight after years in isolation under military rule.
“Some local and international observers thought Myanmar could not host the SEA Games,” said the president’s spokesman Ye Htut on his Facebook page. “They were wrong.”
The closing ceremony saw thousands of dancers perform scenes from Myanmar’s history to an animated background broadcast on vast screens flanking one side of the stadium.
At one point hundreds of teenage boys and girls delighted the crowd with a synchronised demonstration of chinlone — a local cane-ball game — which was followed by scores of elaborately-dressed drummers pounding a rhythm for an array of dancers.
The opening and closing ceremonies were supported in cash and know-how by China — which confirmed its own re-emergence onto the international platform with the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
A SEA Games official thanked China at the closing ceremony for its “tremendous support” which officials said amounted to US$33 million (RM108 million).
While little known outside the region, the Games are a source of local bragging rights for the 11 competing nations and give athletes from lesser sporting nations the chance to shine.
While Thailand topped the medals, winning many leading track and field events as well as the flagship men’s football gold, Myanmar came in a respectable second with 86 gold medals.
It had been accused of cherry-picking non-Olympic sports such as chinlone to ensure a strong showing on home soil. — AFP
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/sports/article/fireworks-and-dance-show-myanmars-new-face-at-sea-games#sthash.zWb0tsWU.dpuf
A spectacular closing ceremony illuminated by fireworks, animation and thousands of dancers delighted the crowd at the 30,000-capacity stadium in the sprawling capital Naypyidaw.
The raising of the Singapore flag — the city-state will host the regional showpiece in 2015 — marked the end of 11 official days of competition which saw Thailand top the medals table with 107 golds.
Concerns over Myanmar’s readiness to host a large international standard event had been raised ahead of the Games, while the distances between venues in the vast capital also raised eyebrows.
But Myanmar has basked in its host status and a rare moment in the international limelight after years in isolation under military rule.
“Some local and international observers thought Myanmar could not host the SEA Games,” said the president’s spokesman Ye Htut on his Facebook page. “They were wrong.”
The closing ceremony saw thousands of dancers perform scenes from Myanmar’s history to an animated background broadcast on vast screens flanking one side of the stadium.
At one point hundreds of teenage boys and girls delighted the crowd with a synchronised demonstration of chinlone — a local cane-ball game — which was followed by scores of elaborately-dressed drummers pounding a rhythm for an array of dancers.
The opening and closing ceremonies were supported in cash and know-how by China — which confirmed its own re-emergence onto the international platform with the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
A SEA Games official thanked China at the closing ceremony for its “tremendous support” which officials said amounted to US$33 million (RM108 million).
While little known outside the region, the Games are a source of local bragging rights for the 11 competing nations and give athletes from lesser sporting nations the chance to shine.
While Thailand topped the medals, winning many leading track and field events as well as the flagship men’s football gold, Myanmar came in a respectable second with 86 gold medals.
It had been accused of cherry-picking non-Olympic sports such as chinlone to ensure a strong showing on home soil. — AFP
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/sports/article/fireworks-and-dance-show-myanmars-new-face-at-sea-games#sthash.zWb0tsWU.dpuf
Fireworks explode during the closing ceremony of the 27th SEA Games in Naypyitaw December 22, 2013. — Reuters picNAYPYIDAW,
Dec 22 — A blaze of fireworks and colour brought the curtain down on
the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar today — an event which marked the
formerly cloistered country’s return to the international stage.A spectacular closing ceremony illuminated by fireworks, animation and thousands of dancers delighted the crowd at the 30,000-capacity stadium in the sprawling capital Naypyidaw.
The raising of the Singapore flag — the city-state will host the regional showpiece in 2015 — marked the end of 11 official days of competition which saw Thailand top the medals table with 107 golds.
Concerns over Myanmar’s readiness to host a large international standard event had been raised ahead of the Games, while the distances between venues in the vast capital also raised eyebrows.
But Myanmar has basked in its host status and a rare moment in the international limelight after years in isolation under military rule.
“Some local and international observers thought Myanmar could not host the SEA Games,” said the president’s spokesman Ye Htut on his Facebook page. “They were wrong.”
The closing ceremony saw thousands of dancers perform scenes from Myanmar’s history to an animated background broadcast on vast screens flanking one side of the stadium.
At one point hundreds of teenage boys and girls delighted the crowd with a synchronised demonstration of chinlone — a local cane-ball game — which was followed by scores of elaborately-dressed drummers pounding a rhythm for an array of dancers.
The opening and closing ceremonies were supported in cash and know-how by China — which confirmed its own re-emergence onto the international platform with the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
A SEA Games official thanked China at the closing ceremony for its “tremendous support” which officials said amounted to US$33 million (RM108 million).
While little known outside the region, the Games are a source of local bragging rights for the 11 competing nations and give athletes from lesser sporting nations the chance to shine.
While Thailand topped the medals, winning many leading track and field events as well as the flagship men’s football gold, Myanmar came in a respectable second with 86 gold medals.
It had been accused of cherry-picking non-Olympic sports such as chinlone to ensure a strong showing on home soil. — AFP
