Retracing history: Birth of SEA Games
The SEA Games originated from the SEAP (South East Asian Peninsular) Games. When it was held for the first time in Bangkok in 1959, only six countries participated: Laos, Malaysia, Burma (Myanmar), Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand.
Thailand was the major force, finishing atop the medal table six times in the first eight SEAP Games.
With a mission to promote cooperation, understanding and relations among countries in the region, the movement extended to outside the peninsula, prompting Brunei, Indonesia and The Philippines to join.
The event changed to the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, which made its debut in Bangkok in 1975. Indonesia stole the show as the top gold medal winner the first time it participated in 1977 and continued to hold the top spot until Thailand wrested the crown away in 1985 on its own soil.
After enjoying another period of glory, Indonesia relinquished the trophy in 1995. The 1997 edition was the last time Indonesia won the most medals as Thailand and Malaysia shared the honors in 1999 and 2001 respectively. On both occasions, Indonesia finished in an unprecedented third on the medal standings.
The 2003, the SEA Games welcomes the new nation of East Timor, which was formerly controlled by Indonesia, bringing the number of participating countries to 11. The other ten are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
It is the first time Vietnam has been chosen to host the event, which is being staged in Hanoi (21 sports) and Ho Chi Minh City (11 sports). -- JP
Previous hosts cities of the Games
1959 Bangkok, Thailand
1961 Rangoon, Burma
1965 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1967 Bangkok, Thailand
1969 Rangoon, Burma
1971 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1973 Singapore
1975 Bangkok, Thailand
1977 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1979 Jakarta, Indonesia
1981 Manila, Philippines
1983 Singapore
1985 Bangkok, Thailand
1987 Jakarta, Indonesia
1989 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1991 Manila, Philippines
1993 Singapore
1995 Chiang Mai, Thailand
1997 Jakarta, Indonesia
1999 Brunei
2001 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2003 Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam