The colourful opening ceremony drew 33,000 fans to Rajamangala National Stadium in Bang Kapi district for a ceremony that blended high tech and Thai tradition, with headlining performers including Kunpimook “BamBam” Bhuwakul from the K-pop group GOT7.
Her Majesty the Queen was among the Thai athletes who paraded in the ceremony as she will be competing in sailing as part of the Thai team in the keelboat SSL47 event, reports the Bangkok Post.
The loudest cheers of the night came when the Thai athletes entered the stadium, led by badminton star Kunlavut Vitidsarn and boxer Janjaem Suwannapheng as the flagbearers.
In his opening remarks, His Majesty the King welcomed athletes and representatives of the participating nations. He said he wished the Games, which represent unity among Southeast Asian nations, would be staged successfully and fairly and strengthen friendship across the region.
Thailand’s contingent of 1,531 athletes - 833 men and 698 women - is the largest at the event, which will feature 8,266 athletes competing 574 medal events across 50 sports in Bangkok and Chonburi from Dec 9 to 20.
Athletes from 11 Southeast Asian nations are participating in the games. They represent Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Timor Leste, Vietnam and Thailand.
Cambodia has drastically reduced its contingent to 84 athletes, citing concerns over security and safety.