SEA Games

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SEA Games

In 1958 delegates from Southeast Asian nations met during the Asian Games in Tokyo and agreed to establish a sport organization. Under the rationale that a regional sports even will promote cooperation, understanding and relations among countries in the Southeast Asian region they established the Southeast Asian Peninsular Games which first took place in Thailand in 1959 with 5 participating countries. More countries joined the games in later years and as regional relations improved and formalised the games developed into the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) which in 2014 included the 11 member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus Timor-Leste as participating nations. The games are now under the regulation of the Southeast Asian Games Federation. Each SEA Games is followed by an ASEAN Para Games under the regulation of the ASEAN Para Sports Federation, including all the same participating nations, and for physically challenged athletes. Although competitive, the shared experience of sport is an exemplary means of connecting people, and such events are powerful vehicles for uniting people from different cultures all over the world.

SEA Games