Games opened in splendid style
Games opened in splendid style
By Dwi Atmanta
CHIANG MAI, Thailand (JP): The cool atmosphere of this northern Thailand city turned warm yesterday with the grandiose cultural performance that launched the 18th Southeast Asian Games.
Watched by the 20,000 people who packed the 700th Anniversary Stadium, and millions others in the region via live TV, the flame from the cauldron lit the spirits of athletes from 10 countries, who will be competing in various sports branches for the next eight days.
Thai's young sports prodigies, Kiattisak Senamuang and Tammarin Tanasukarn, were the torch bearers, doing a lap of honor before ascending the steps towards the cauldron.
After a few moments of silence, they lit the tails of two dragon statues. The dragons opened their mouths and transferred the fire to the cauldron.
A thunderous reception from the crowd flared up in the chilly night.
Chiang Mai, surrounded by Doi Suthep Mountain, enters its coolest month in December, with the climate dropping to under 12 degree Celcius at night. A meteorological official, Decha Chulthura, said the climate is colder than usual because of cool winds from China.
The cool climate may be just perfect for the athletes.
Host Thailand and defending champion Indonesia will be vying for the overall championship title of the SEA Games. The eight other participants are Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.
Competition is good, but as Thai athlete Ratapong Sirisanon pronounced at the opening ceremony on behalf of all 2,166 athletes present, sportsmanship is the only rule of the game.
The procession of athletes was preceded by a musical performance featuring the 140-piece Chiang Mai Wind Orchestra and 200 singers. The country's 20 acclaimed singers chanted the SEA Games song to add life to the colorful 30 million baht ($1.25 million) ceremony.
A centuries-old, traditional northern Thailand welcome followed the choir. The display featured a drum beating demonstration and a musical performance on bamboo instruments. An estimated 1,670 performers, including 300 students from the northern Thai hill tribes, joined the show.
A march involving more than 3,000 flag waving athletes and officials from the 10 participating teams grabbed the spotlight afterward. Dressed up in colorful clothes, the smiling participants marched around the gravel track in alphabetic order.
The host team came out last but with most electrifying welcoming applause from the crowd. Many of the home fans gave a standing ovation to their favorites athletes.
A magnificent silence broke the noise a few seconds when Crown Prince Maha Vijalalongkorn, who represented King Bhumibol Adulyadej, declared the games open.
The Crown Prince then released three white racing pigeons into the open air. Then 1,995 other doves were released.
The organizers said it took them almost a year to collect, select and nurture the doves, the symbol of peace.
Choochai Lertpongasidorn, who was responsible for nurturing the special pigeons before they were released by the Prince, said the birds will return.
"They will not run away after the release. I have trained them to fly back to the house they used to be fed at," Choochai said. The white doves were raised at Ammuay Yodsuks' house, a Thai member of Parliament from Chiang Mai.
The Chiang Mai authorities have given schools in the city a two-week holiday for the duration of the SEA Games. Many took advantage of this yesterday to turn up for the opening gala.
Traffic leading to the stadium came almost to a standstill preceding and during the ceremony yesterday.
Those who made it were truly entertained.
Glaring fireworks and a laser show closed the gala show.
And after a nights rest, the athletes will begin doing battle for the honor of their country and their sports today.