The SEA Games 2023, which are nearing their conclusion in a couple of days, have proven to be quite an exciting event. This year, a total of 11 nations in Southeast Asia participated, with Vietnam currently leading in the medal tally. Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia and the Philippines round up the top five countries on the medal tally and with the games ending on May 17, there is little room for the table order to change.
So, given the sheer number of athletes (and countries) that have won medals, you must be wondering, just what is the prize money that all the medalists are winning at the 2023 SEA Games? Well, as it happens, we have the answer.
Southeast Asian Games 2023: What is the prize money at stake for the athletes?
For the SEA Games, the official games body does not award any prize money. Instead, it is the individual countries that award monetary prizes to the winners. This prize money varies among countries, depending on what the respective governments decide to give to their winning players.
However, for a rough estimate, we can take a look at what athletes from the Philippines received at the last SEA Games, which were held in 2021. Based on a report from Esquire, the Philippine Sports Commission gave a total of P25 million to the entire delegation that participated in Vietnam in 2021. That year, the Philippines managed to bag 41 gold medals, 57 silver medals and 80 bronze medals. Gold medalists were awarded a sum of P300,000 each, whereas silver medalists were awarded P150,000 each. Bronze medalists were given a sum of P60,000 each as prize money. The coaches were also awarded up to 50 per cent of the amount that the Gold medalists received.
The Singapore National Olympic Council also states that the top winners at the SEA Games tend to receive USD 10,000.
The SEA Games 2023’s medal tally so far
The 2023 SEA Games have seen Vietnam emerge as the top winner this year, bagging over 120 gold medals already. Here’s a quick look at the rest of the medal tally so far:
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vietnam | 123 | 100 | 98 | 321 |
| 2 | Thailand | 94 | 76 | 93 | 263 |
| 3 | Indonesia | 74 | 67 | 92 | 233 |
| 4 | Cambodia | 71 | 68 | 113 | 252 |
| 5 | Philippines | 51 | 77 | 103 | 231 |
| 6 | Singapore | 45 | 38 | 57 | 140 |
| 7 | Malaysia | 30 | 42 | 85 | 157 |
| 8 | Myanmar | 20 | 21 | 64 | 105 |
| 9 | Lao People’s Democratic Republic | 6 | 20 | 57 | 83 |
| 10 | Brunei Darussalam | 2 | 1 | 6 | 9 |
| 11 | Timor-Leste | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
SEA Games 2023: Where are they taking place?
The SEA Games 2023 are currently being held in Cambodia. The event can be watched live only via Cambodia Sports Television (CSTV).
⚛ #SEAGames2023 | Women’s Volleyball
Thailand 🇹🇭 claim their 14th straight SEA Games 🥇gold medal after beating Vietnam 🇻🇳 in the finals, 25-17, 21-25, 32-30, 25-21. pic.twitter.com/NWcVqZkH5S
— SEA Sports News (@sea_sports_news) May 14, 2023
Where will the 2025 SEA Games take place?
The SEA Games are hosted every two years. Once the Cambodia Games conclude on May 17, 2023, the next edition of the games will be hosted in Thailand in 2025.
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(Hero and feature image credits: Courtesy AFP/Nhac Nguyen)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Answer: The SEA Games 2023 are being held in Cambodia.
Answer: The last SEA Games were held in 2021 in Vietnam. The host nation Vietnam led the medal tally that year with a total of 446 medals.
Answer: Yes, soccer is a part of the SEA Games 2023, with separate events for men and women.
