The 34th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) will take place in Malaysia in 2027, and its subsequent edition will be hosted by neighbouring Singapore in 2029.
On its Facebook page, the Olympic Council of Malaysia announced today, 12 May, that the Southeast Asian Games Federation had “unanimously awarded” the 34th edition of the tournament to the country.
A joint statement was also issued by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and Sport Singapore (SportSG), which announced that Singapore would hold the tournament in 2029.
Here’s what we know about the 34th and 35th editions of the SEA Games to be held in Malaysia and Singapore
Malaysia takes over from Brunei
Malaysia last hosted the SEA Games in 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, making it a decade by the time the 34th edition is held in the country.
Although the 2027 tournament was originally scheduled to take place in Brunei, the coastal country pulled out of the SEA Games in 2021. Malaysia then stepped in to fill the spot.
Unique opportunity for Singapore, says minister
The SNOC and SportSG said that Singapore’s bid was accepted by the SEA Games Federation at a meeting held in Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, on 12 May.
“We are pleased that we will host the prestigious regional sporting event in Singapore again. The SEA Games holds special memories and experiences for Singapore and our Southeast Asian neighbours,” said SNOC President Tan Chuan-Jin in a Facebook post.
“The camaraderie and rivalry we share are distinct and Singapore is once again happy to organise the 35th SEA Games to relive these moments,” Chuan-Jin added.
In another Facebook post, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said that it gives “our Team Singapore athletes an opportunity to compete against some of the best in the region, with strong home ground support.”
“It’s also a great time to showcase our hospitality, and further strengthen the ties with our Southeast Asian neighbours,” Tong added.
Singapore’s best-ever performance in the SEA Games since the 1975 South East Asian Peninsular Games in Thailand was in 2015, the last time it hosted the Games. In the event, the country won 84 gold, 73 silver and 102 bronze medals for a total of 259 medals.
About SEA Games
The 31st SEA Games is currently underway in Hanoi, delayed from 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be followed by the 32nd edition in Cambodia in 2023 and the 33rd Games will be hosted by Thailand in 2025.
The biennial tournament was first held in 1959 as the SEA Peninsular Games.
(Main and Featured images: Esmonde Yong/ Unsplash)
This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Singapore
