Southeast Asian Games
The Southeast Asian Games (also known as the SEA Games) is a biennial multi-sport event involving participants from the current 11 countries of Southeast Asia. SEA Games is under regulation of the Southeast Asian Games Federation with supervision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia. It is ranked among the Top 50 Open Water Swims In Asia.
History
The Southeast Asian Games owes its origins to the Southeast Asian Peninsular Games or SEAP Games. On 22 May 1958, delegates from the countries in Southeast Asian peninsula attending the 3rd Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan had a meeting and agreed to establish a sport organization. The SEAP Games was conceptualized by Laung Sukhumnaipradit, then Vice-President of the Thailand Olympic Committee. The proposed rationale was that a regional sports event will help promote cooperation, understanding and relations among countries in the Southeast Asian region.
Thailand, Burma (now Myanmar), Malaya (now Malaysia), Laos, South Vietnam and Cambodia (with Singapore included thereafter) were the founding members. These countries agreed to hold the Games biannually. The SEAP Games Federation Committee was formed.
The first SEAP Games were held in Bangkok from 12–17 December 1959 comprising more than 527 athletes and officials from Thailand, Burma, Malaya (now Malaysia), Singapore, South Vietnam and Laos participating in 12 sports.
At the 8th SEAP Games in 1975, the SEAP Federation considered the inclusion of Indonesia and the Philippines.The two countries were formally admitted in 1977, the same year when SEAP Federation changed their name to Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF), and the games were known as the Southeast Asian Games. Brunei was admitted at the 10th SEA Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, and East Timor at the 22nd SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
In December 2005, the Philippines hosted the Games for the third time, after 1981 and 1991 editions. With its 113 gold medals, it copped the overall championship for the first time since it joined in 1977.
The 2009 Games (running from 9–18 December) was the first time Laos has ever held a Southeast Asian Games (Laos had previously declined hosting the 1965 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games citing financial difficulties). 2009 also commemorated the 50 years of the SEA Games, held in Vientiane, Laos. The games commenced and progressed largely smoothly, however, praises and commendations were expressed by many athletes, sports officials and the press- Laos now joins the list of countries that have successfully hosted the South East Asian Games.
The 2011 Games (running from 11–22 November) was held for the fourth time in Indonesia. The Open Water Swimming events were held successfully on Putri Island. Christopher Guesdon was the technical and safety director.
Participating Countries
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- Brunei
- Indonesia
- Philippines
- Timor-Leste.
External Links
- Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honors Susanne Guesdon
- Top 50 Open Water Swims in Asia
- SEA Games Federation Office
- Wikipedia entry on the SEA Games
- Double Victories For Ba Anh Tu Chau And Heidi Gan
- Indonesian Swimming Federation Honoured By Hall Of Fame
- The Astonishing Aquatic Ambiance Of Indonesia
- Open Water Swimming International Competitions
- World Open Water Swimming Association
- Open Water Swimming
- Daily News of Open Water Swimming
- Indonesia's PRSI Voted Into The Hall Of Fame
- Marathon Swimming at the Olympics
- Open Water Swimming Not Included
- No Open Water Swimming At The Asian Games
- PRSI Expresses Its Gratitude For Its Hall Of Fame Honour
- Moving The Sport In Malaysia
