SE Asian Games strengthen peace and unity in region
SE Asian Games strengthen peace and unity in region
By Dwiatmanta
CHIANG MAI, Thailand (JP): A summit meeting seems insufficient
to keep peace and unity alive in Southeast Asia.
Not only the heads of the Southeast Asian governments need to
gather to talk on how to maintaining peace and unity, but people
in the region literally have to break into a sweat to fulfill
this everlasting agenda.
Here in Chiang Mai, 700 kilometers north of Bangkok, the
flexing muscles, pumping adrenalin and jubilation of some 2,000
sportsmen and women will draw the attention of more than 300
million people of the region for the whole next week.
It was the spirit of peaceful co-existence that inspired
Supaksorn Supawat Jongsiri to compose a modern dance performance
which is to adorn the opening ceremony of the 18th Southeast
Asian Games today.
"I believe that peace and unity can be achieved through sports
activities," Supaksorn, a renowned movie director, said of his
performance titled "War and Peace" to be presented at the
ceremony. Supaksorn is the director of both the opening and
closing ceremonies.
Dancers
Some 320 dancers will dress in black and white, representing
good and evil respectively in Supaksorn's composition. The
complex choreography, which was originally devoted to 10 heroines
of Chiang Mai, will be highlighted in interminable fight between
the black and white.
Supaksorn, 41, will suffuse the 12-minute performance with
sophisticated light and sound effects, a job he is familiar with
from making films.
"Good and evil fight against each other forever, and it is we
who decide the winner," he said. He implied that even sportsmen
and women should battle it out against evil before considering
themselves the defenders of the peace and unity.
Despite the guarantee from the SEA Games Organizing Committee
to run the competition run in a fair manner, complaints and
protests about Games ruling marred the run-up of the biennial
event.
Thai movie star "Bird" Tongchai McIntyre will join the quest
for peace and unity in his performance named "Welcome to the
Golden Stars."
Bird, named best actor at the Thai Grammy Awards for his film
"Sunset at Chao Praya," will represent all Thais in the final
performance along with 1,300 Chiang Mai students in a song. One
of the verses reads: "We come together to see everyone winning,
peacefully united as one."
A total of 6,133 dancers will crowd around the soccer field at
the newly built 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai during
the opening ceremony. Supaksorn said that about 50 million baht
(US$2 million) have been spent on both the opening and closing
ceremonies.
The opening ceremony will start with several compositions
performed by the Chiang Mai Wind Orchestra.
Right after a big parade by the 10 contingents of the Games,
Thailand's Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will declare the
sporting event open.
Thailand has chosen footballer Kiattisak Senamuang and female
tennis singles player Tammarin Thanasukan, representing the
country's young stars, to light the flame. Badminton past
champion Charoen Wattanasin will become the first torch bearer
during the flame lighting procession.
The handing over of the torch from the old star to his young
successors reflects Thailand's continuing quest for excellence in
sports. The host team is now seeking its second win over
Indonesia since 1977.
The medal race will swing into action properly on Sunday, with
27 gold medals at stake in track and field, billiard, diving,
fencing, equestrian events, cycling and yachting race.