Sports Minister Attakorn apologized to the Vietnamese and Laotian athletes over the national anthem not playing, and explained the budget issues behind the problem. The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) is addressing the situation.
On 5 Dec 2025, as Thailand prepares to host the 33rd SEA Games from 9 to 20 Dec 2025, with Bangkok and Chonburi as the main host cities, intense public criticism has emerged online about various aspects of the organizing committee’s preparations during this final stage.
Recently, "Minister Benz" Attakorn Sirilakayakorn, Minister of Tourism and Sports, revealed that a major issue occurred during the football match between Vietnam and Laos, when the national anthems of both countries failed to play before the game, forcing the players to sing their anthems live. This resulted from technical and communication failures. He and the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) have not taken the matter lightly. Thailand has formally apologized in writing to the embassies of Vietnam and Laos. He acknowledged the mistake and said he would personally attend matches involving the Vietnamese and Laotian teams to sincerely apologize. He hopes the remaining games will proceed smoothly and contribute to a successful SEA Games for Thailand. On 5 Dec, he and his team inspected readiness and management at the Chalerm Phrakiat Queen Sirikit 60th Anniversary Sports Complex in Thanyaburi district (Rangsit Khlong 6) and watched the opening match of men's baseball between Thailand and Vietnam, where he had already apologized to the Vietnamese team.
Minister Attakorn added that as Thailand’s hosting of the 33rd SEA Games approaches the official opening on 9 Dec until the closing on 20 Dec, it is natural to expect some shortcomings and criticism, especially this time, which is more intense than previous experiences due to insufficient budget reaching the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT). Although the Cabinet initially approved the competition’s budget framework, actual funds came in annually and incompletely: only 157 million baht in the first year, 883 million baht the next, plus 400 million baht from the National Sports Development Fund and some central budget. Overall, the budget has been inadequate from the start.
He further explained that the final essential budget for the opening ceremony, live broadcasting, accommodation, and transportation arrived only in October 2025. Procurement was conducted according to regulations but may not have met expectations, causing some public outcry. He emphasized that no government in the past had promised contractors work upfront; everyone hoped to win bids, sometimes subcontracting further, leading to complaints about unpaid work or assumptions about who would get contracts. All procurements follow official documentation. Currently, preparations are progressing towards the opening ceremony, and he hopes everyone will enjoy and celebrate the success of Thai athletes who are about to compete.
"This government does not shift responsibility to others. Deputy Prime Minister Thamanat Prompao fully supports and supervises the Sports Authority of Thailand to ensure preparations for Thailand’s SEA Games hosting are completed on time and successfully," the Sports Minister said.