Summary of the 33rd SEA Games Turmoil: ASEAN Sports Disrupted by Power Outages and Neglected Athletes, Undermining Thailands Image

Summary of the 33rd SEA Games chaos, an ASEAN sports event troubled by issues from the very first day, shaking the host's image. Even before the opening ceremony began, problems arose including power outages at the competition venues and athletes being neglected, prompting many Thais to question whether the country was truly ready to host.

This year's SEA Games, the 33rd edition, is hosted by Thailand.

The atmosphere before the competition was filled with anticipation from both Thai citizens and neighboring countries, eager to see how Thailand would showcase its readiness in sports, management, and hosting on this important regional stage.

However, as soon as the first day of competition began, those expectations were disrupted by multiple errors, leading the public to inevitably question the preparedness of the event organizers.

The first day of the SEA Games sparked controversy.

On 4 Dec 2025 GMT+7, the opening day of the 33rd SEA Games hosted by Thailand, the event started off with a 'misstep from the first step.' Before the football matches began, TNN reporters noted that the lighting at Rajamangala Stadium malfunctioned, causing several lights to go out. There were no backup bulbs available, forcing staff to urgently borrow lighting from the 80th Birthday Stadium in Korat. This led to criticism questioning why a regional event lacked spare equipment at the venue.

Later, at the opening match between Laos and Vietnam at 16:00 GMT+7, a sound system error prevented the national anthems of both teams from being played as required. Athletes had to sing their anthems live on the field, creating discomfort and confusion. Vietnamese media widely criticized Thailand, calling this an 'error unacceptable at an international level.'

The organizers allowed free entry with pre-registered seat selection. However, during the match between Thailand and Timor-Leste, many fans found that the seats they booked did not exist in the stadium, forcing them to search for new seats or sit in different zones. Most fans saw this as a reflection of poor preparation.

Behind the scenes of the opening and closing ceremonies leading to the event being canceled.

Ton Ruangrit Santisuk, a nationally renowned lighting and show designer, posted on Facebook expressing his frustration about being removed from the role of director for the SEA Games opening and closing ceremonies. He revealed that the organizers replaced his team with a new crew starting mid-October.

In mid-March 2025 GMT+7, Ton received a call from a respected senior inviting him to be director of the opening and closing ceremonies. Although hesitant due to no prior experience working with government agencies, he ultimately accepted the role.

Initially, the team had only four people and nine months remained before the event. Ton personally covered all expenses to hire the team to create stage models, design show structures, and prepare presentations for senior approval. After receiving the green light, they began serious work.

Over the past four months, Ton revealed his team faced budget constraints and were later instructed to move the venue from Sanam Luang to Rajamangala Stadium, forcing them to re-measure and redesign everything. By the end of September 2025 GMT+7, after a government change, Ton sensed trouble as warnings came intermittently. However, senior officials provided no unusual information.

In early October 2025 GMT+7, Ton was informed that a new senior SEA Games team inspected Rajamangala Stadium and met with the previous team, but no clear answers about progress were given. After waiting two more weeks without clarity, Ton told the seniors that if no response came soon, his team would stop work and cancel artist bookings, as they could not risk uncertainty. By mid-October 2025 GMT+7, the team officially ceased work and to date have received no formal cancellation or confirmation from officials.

The fate of neglected athletes.

Meanwhile, Mew Pornpawee, a female badminton player with four SEA Games gold medals, three World Tour titles, ranked 6th worldwide and number 1 in Thailand, revealed on Thairath Sport’s "Clear Rim Sen" program her withdrawal from the Thai national team for the 33rd SEA Games hosted by Thailand.

This followed an incident where the badminton team’s allowances were cut to just 6,000 baht after players Kulwut Vititsarn and May Ratchanok Intanon missed scheduled physical tests.

However, coach Top Phakawat Wilailuk said anyone who knows the rules of the Badminton Association of Thailand would understand. The athletes did not neglect duties but were occupied competing for the nation, as badminton tournaments occur weekly.

Consequently, Mew Pornpawee withdrew from the 2025 SEA Games because she could not comfortably work with the sports development department and was disappointed by the lack of communication about when athletes could make up their physical tests for the SEA Games program.

“When I left the association, I was unhappy with the training and management system. I felt I could not improve in that environment, so I had to change and find a new one. I had to pay all expenses myself and make many sacrifices, but I accepted it because I know my badminton career has only a few years left.”

The SEA Games will run from 9 to 20 Dec 2025 GMT+7, raising questions about what other problems Thailand might face in the next two weeks. The issues on the first day are not minor mistakes but worrying signs that Thailand, as the SEA Games host, must urgently improve to prevent further damage to the country's and the Thai sports community’s reputation.