At 18:45 on December 9 local time, the 25th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 25), the region’s largest sports event, officially opened by President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR), Choumaly Sayasone.

The opening ceremony was kicked off with the processions of the flags of host Laos, the SEA Games, the SEA Games 25 and 10 other participating countries. The SEA Games 25 torch lighted up after shifting through the hands of Laos’ outstanding athletes. The SEA Games flame will burn throughout the week-long sports event.

The ceremony continued with brilliant performances showing the Laos people’s hospitality, joy and friendliness for the prosperity of the region.

The newly-built national stadium in Vientiane was fully filled with representatives from the Lao state and government, guest leaders from other ASEAN countries and 11 sports delegations with nearly 4,900 athletes together with Lao residents.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his counterparts from Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand joined the ceremony with ASEAN General Secretary Surin Pitsuwan.

The Vietnamese delegation comprised 671 members, including 445 athletes and 226 officials and coaches. The host country sent 733 athletes, coaches and officials to the event.