- Opening ceremony (flag bearers)
- Concerns and controversies
- Asian and SEA Games records
- Closing ceremony (flag bearers)
- ASEAN Para Games (medal table)
The 2025 SEA Games (Thai: ซีเกมส์ 2025,[c] RTGS: Kila Sikem 2025, pronounced [kīː.lāː sīː.kēːm sɔ̌ːŋ.pʰān.jîː.sìp̚.hâː]), officially called the 33rd SEA Games (Thai: กีฬาซีเกมส์ ครั้งที่ 33,[d] RTGS: Kila Sikem Khrangthi 33, pronounced [kīː.lāː sīː.kēːm kʰráŋ.tîː sǎːm.sìp̚ sǎːm]) were an international multi-sport event sanctioned by the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF). The event took place from 9 to 20 December 2025 across the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, as well as Chonburi province in Thailand.[4]
The joint bid from the three provinces was awarded the Games on 13 January 2023 after Thailand was confirmed as the host country by the Southeast Asian Games Federation. This marks the first time that host cities were selected through a new bidding and election process for the SEA Games.[5]
The 2025 SEA Games marks the seventh time Thailand hosted the event. Co-host city Bangkok previously hosted 4 times (1959, 1967, 1975, and 1985), Chiang Mai hosted the 1995 edition, and Nakhon Ratchasima hosted the 2007 edition.
The original co-host Songkhla province was planned to host some events until floods caused by Cyclone Senyar struck shortly prior to the Games, resulting in all events that were to be held in Songkhla to be relocated to venues in Bangkok and Chonburi.
Hosting duties are rotated among the member countries of the SEA Games Federation. Each member country is assigned a specific year to host the event, but they have the option to withdraw or opt out of hosting in that particular edition.[6]
On 21 July 2017, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) announced its decision to withdraw support for the country's hosting of the 2019 SEA Games. The government chose to reallocate funds originally intended for the event to support the rehabilitation of Marawi, which had been devastated by the Marawi crisis.[7][8] Additionally, it was later reported that the Philippine Olympic Committee's insistence on handling all aspects of the hosting—including finances, security, and the organization of the Games, similar to how it managed the 2005 SEA Games—contributed to the PSC's decision to withdraw its support.[9]
On 10 August 2017, Charouck Arirachakaran, the Vice President and Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, stated that Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had agreed to a replacement plan for the 2019 SEA Games following the Philippines' withdrawal. The potential host provinces for the event were Chiang Mai, Chonburi, and Songkhla.[10]
However, six days later, Philippine Olympic Committee President Peping Cojuangco confirmed that it would still host the 2019 SEA Games. This decision came after Cojuangco wrote to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, appealing for reconsideration of the country's earlier withdrawal.[11]
In December 2021, Thailand was nominated as the host country for the 2025 SEA Games during the SEAGF Council and Executive Board Meetings held in Hanoi, Vietnam.[12][13][14] Five months later, the SEAGF Council and executive board officially confirmed Thailand as the host for the 2025 Games, with Bangkok initially nominated as the host city. Additionally, Malaysia and Singapore were confirmed as the host countries for the 2027 and 2029 editions of the SEA Games, respectively.[15][16]
After the confirmation, this marked the seventh time that Thailand had hosted the SEA Games. The capital city, Bangkok, hosted the inaugural SEAP Games in 1959, and subsequently in 1967, 1975, and 1985, after the event had become known as the SEA Games. The 1995 and 2007 editions were held in the Thai provinces of Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima, respectively.
On October 11, 2022, Chaipak Siriwat, the Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, revealed the framework for the bidding process for the 2025 SEA Games. He emphasized that the host cities or provinces should aim to organize the Games at a budget-friendly cost and that there would be no requirement to build new venues. Unlike the 2019 and 2021 editions, where competition venues were spread across 23 and 12 cities respectively, the number of host cities for the 2025 Games would be limited to 3 or 4.[17]
In October 2022, Prachum Boontiem, the Vice Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, nominated eight bidding parties from twelve cities or provinces interested in hosting the 2025 SEA Games. The city Bangkok as well as the provinces of Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Songkhla submitted sole bids, while Bangkok, Chonburi, Songkhla, Krabi, Phuket, Trat, Amnat Charoen, Sisaket, Ubon Ratchathani, and Yasothon were proposed as potential bidding provinces.[18][19][20]
Although the official bidding process began in October 2022, some regions had already revealed their bidding campaigns earlier: Ubon Ratchathani in April 2016, Chonburi in January 2019, and Krabi, Phuket, and Trang in February 2021.[21][22][23][24]
On January 13, 2023, the Sports Authority of Thailand selected three provinces—Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Chonburi province, and Songkhla province—to host the 33rd SEA Games, while Nakhon Ratchasima province was chosen to host the 13th ASEAN Para Games. This decision was approved by the Cabinet of Thailand in February 2023.[25][26][27] These four cities were the first in SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games history to be chosen through a bidding process.
Bidding Parties for 33rd SEA Games and 13th ASEAN Para Games Individual bids (4) Joint bids (4)- Bangkok
- Chiang Mai
- Nakhon Ratchasima (13th ASEAN Para Games)
- Songkhla
- Bangkok and Chonburi
- Bangkok, Chonburi and Songkhla (33rd SEA Games)
- Krabi, Phuket and Trang
- Amnat Charoen, Sisaket, Ubon Ratchathani, and Yasothon
During the first SEAGF council meeting for the 2025 SEA Games in June 2024, the host city contract was signed by Chadchart Sittipunt, the Governor of Bangkok, Thawatchai Srithong, the Governor of Chonburi province, and Somnuek Promkhieo, the Governor of Songkhla province.[28] The ceremony followed the model of the Olympic and Asian Games host city agreements, marking the first time a SEA Games host city contract had been signed.[29]
The handover ceremony of the SEAGF flag and the artistic performance for the 2025 SEA Games took place during the closing ceremony of the 2023 SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 17 May 2023 at the Morodok Techo National Stadium.
The artistic performance for this segment, titled Sawasdee SEA Games, meaning Hello SEA Games in Thai, was performed by Kid Buaksib, a contemporary Thai dancer and artist.[30][31][32] They were a finalist in seasons 1 and 2 of Thailand's Got Talent.
The kick-off ceremony for the 2025 SEA Games and the 2025 ASEAN Para Games was held at the Hua Mak Sports Complex in Bangkok on December 7, 2024.[33][34]
Sorawong Thienthong, Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Minister of Tourism and Sports, announced that the 2025 SEA Games and the 2025 ASEAN Para Games would be held under the themes of Green SEA Games and Sustainable Paralympics. The games aimed to achieve net-zero emissions by promoting eco-friendly transportation, utilizing sustainable products, and selecting venues that prioritized environmental protection.[35][36] This environmentally friendly vision would also be implemented in the 2025 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship held in August 2025.[37]
The 2025 SEA Games utilized existing venues across Bangkok Metropolitan Region and Chonburi province, including those used by the 1985 SEA Games, the 1998 Asian Games, and the 2007 Summer Universiade previously held in Bangkok Metropolitan Region.
Bangkok Metropolitan Region, which includes Bangkok and the neighbouring provinces of Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, and Samut Sakhon, hosted the majority of the 42 sports. Meanwhile, Chonburi hossted 15 sports. Only three events took place in outlying venues, with men's football preliminaries held in Chiang Mai, skeet shooting in Ratchaburi[38][39][40] and road bicycle racing in Nakhon Nayok and Prachinburi.
Originally, Songkhla province was intended to host 10 events.[40] However, due to flooding as a result of Cyclone Senyar in late November, it was ultimately decided to move those events to the remaining venues. It was also reported that Thailand would consider how to compensate the participating nations, as some competitors had already booked flights and accommodation in Songhkla.[41] The original intended venues for the events originally intended for Songkhla (plus other moved events) are denoted in the footnotes for this section.
Bangkok clusterThe initial estimated budget for the 2025 SEA Games and the 2025 ASEAN Para Games was ฿2.055 billion, with ฿1.683 billion requested from the government budget.[53] The budget for these events is lower than the cost of the 1998 Asian Games, which was ฿2.372 billion, but higher than the 2007 Summer Universiade, which amounted to ฿1.843 billion. Meanwhile, the costs for the 2007 SEA Games and the 2008 ASEAN Para Games were ฿1.463 billion.
The torch relay of the games began on November 16 in Bangkok.
The opening ceremony of the 2025 SEA Games was held on 9 December 2025 at Rajamangala Stadium and opened by King Vajiralongkorn.[46]
Over the years, the SEA Games programme have faced criticism for being a "gold-medal mine" for host countries. Hosts have had the freedom to exclude Olympic and Asian Games sports that are disadvantageous to them while including non-Olympic sports or events that increase their medal chances. In some extreme cases, obscure sports have been selected to give the host country an advantage.[54][55][56][57][58][59][60]
To avoid the situations seen in recent editions of the SEA Games, Thailand proposed a series of amendments to the SEAGF Charter and Rules in Section 34 during the 2013 edition.[61] Although the Charter and Rules have been amended multiple times since then, host countries were still allowed to allocate their optional sports programs without oversight from the SEAGF.[62] However, following the controversy surrounding the sports program in recent editions, the host countries for the three editions between 2025 and 2029—Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore—agreed to propose further amendments to the Charter and Rules.[63][64] The new amendments were unanimously approved by SEAGF members at the SEAGF Council meeting during the 2023 SEA Games.[65][66] The 2025 edition was be the first to implement the new rules.
Section 34 of the amended SEAGF Charter and Rules stipulates that starting with the 2025 edition, the SEA Games program will include a minimum of 36 to 41 sports. This will consist of 12 compulsory sports under Category I, which are included in both the Olympic and Asian Games, a minimum of 25 Olympic and Asian Games sports under Category II, and a maximum of 4 additional sports under Category III. The medal events in Categories I and II must align with the Olympic and Asian Games programs, while events in Category III sports cannot exceed eight and must be selected from a pre-established list, which is determined a few years in advance.[62][65][66][67]
Following the selection of the host cities, the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) initially announced that the 2025 SEA Games would feature forty-three sports, in accordance with the Games' charter. All of these sports are included in the Thailand National Games, and the host cities and provinces are equipped to provide the necessary venues and facilities to accommodate these events.[26][27] Under this plan, Teqball would make its debut at the 2025 SEA Games.[68]
2025 SEA Games sports programme (first shortlists)During the first SEAGF council meeting for the 2025 SEA Games in June 2024, the organizing committee proposed hosting forty sports, and the member countries agreed to finalize a second shortlist for the sports programme.[69][70]
2025 SEA Games sports programme (second shortlists)After the 2021 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Bangkok and Chonburi were cancelled on 20 August 2024 due to the organizers' failure to meet obligations, local athletes affected by the cancellation were given the chance to compete in other international tournaments, including the 2025 SEA Games.[71][72][73][74] In September 2024, the sports programme was confirmed to include nine additional sports: ju-jitsu, karate, weightlifting, and wushu, all of which were reinstated.[75][76][77] Other sports added included bowling, chess (including makruk), cricket, extreme sports, and squash.[78][79]
2025 SEA Games sports programme (third shortlists)During the second SEAGF council meeting for the 2025 SEA Games in October 2024, the organizing committee finalized a sports programme featuring 569 medal events in fifty sports.[80][81] Many traditional disciplines within these sports were included, such as the compound bow and recurve bow in archery; canoe sprint in canoeing; dressage, eventing, and show jumping in equestrian; épée, foil, and sabre in fencing; field hockey and indoor hockey in hockey; combat and kata in judo; ne-waza, fighting, and duo in ju-jitsu; kumite and kata in karate; ring and tatami in kickboxing; triathle and biathle in modern pentathlon; combat and waikru in muaythai; regu, quadrants, and hoop in sepak takraw; pistol, rifle, and shotgun in shooting; kyorugi and poomsae in taekwondo; duathlon and aquathlon in triathlon; freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling in wrestling; and sanda as well as taolu in wushu.
Additionally, some disciplines were introduced for the first time, such as baseball5 in baseball, canoe slalom in canoeing, coastal rowing in rowing, hockey5s in hockey, and obstacle laser-run in modern pentathlon.[82][83][84] Meanwhile, practical shooting made its return, having last been included in 2005.[85] Furthermore, air sports (including paragliding and paramotor), flying disc (including disc golf and ultimate) and tug of war were featured as demonstration sports.[86][87]
2025 SEA Games sports programme (finalists) 2025 SEA Games sports programme (demonstration events)[88]During the third SEAGF council meeting for the 2025 SEA Games in December 2024, the organizing committee replaced ten medal events from the finalist list announced in October 2024 with new events across various sports, including dragon boat, rhythmic gymnastics, judo, esports, pencak silat, and woodball. Additionally, one medal event was removed from mountain biking, while six new medal events were introduced in athletics, road cycling, and sailing. As a result, the total number of events increased to 574, still falling short of the previous record of 580 set at the 2023 SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.[89][90] One medal event in sailing was later cancelled, thus setting the final events number to 573.[91]
During the first SEAGF coordination committee meeting for the 2025 SEA Games in February 2025, the organising committee approved the inclusion of mixed martial arts (MMA) in the Games, following a request from the SEA Games Federation. It was added under a new category called "value creation sports'". This decision arose from an agreement among Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore—the hosts of upcoming SEA Games—which mandates that only sports featured in the current edition can be included in future events. Therefore, MMA was introduced to secure its eligibility for future competitions. However, it will not contribute to the official medal tally, as it is designated as a demonstration sport.[92]
The fifty-sport programme of the 2025 SEA Games surprised the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) by including the most internationally recognised sports, with 49 out of the 50 sports also contested in the Olympic Games, Asian Games, and Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. This marked a historic first for the SEA Games.[93][94]
Surfing was the only core Summer Olympic sport to not be included in these games. Canoeing and rowing, as well as skateboarding and sport climbing, were combined into single categories, reducing the total count to twenty-eight sports. Additionally, two Winter Olympic sports were featured: ice hockey and ice skating, with figure skating and short-track speed skating categorized together. Furthermore, three optional sports for the 2028 Summer Olympics—baseball/softball, cricket, and squash—were also included, bringing the total number of Olympic sports in these games to thirty-three.
Moreover, six sports included in the programme of the 2026 Asian Games—esports, jujitsu, kabaddi, karate, sepak takraw, and wushu—were added. In addition, twelve sports that were originally planned for the canceled 2021 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games were also incorporated, including billiards/snooker, bowling, chess, floorball, futsal, indoor hockey, kickboxing, muaythai, netball, pencak silat, pétanque, and teqball. However, futsal and indoor hockey were categorized under their respective parent sports, football and hockey, respectively, reducing the count of these additional sports to ten.
Ten sports—aquathlon, baseball5, chinlone, dragon boat, duathlon, hockey5s, jet skiing, practical shooting, water skiing/wakeboarding, and woodball—were not included in the upcoming Olympic and Asian Games, nor the canceled Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, but were featured in the upcoming World Games and Youth Olympic Games, as well as in past Asian Games and SEA Games. Baseball5, along with hockey5s, and aquathlon combined with duathlon, are categorised under their parent sports, such as baseball, hockey, and triathlon. Dragon boat, along with jet skiing combined with water skiing/wakeboarding, chinlone, and practical shooting, fall under related sports such as canoeing and rowing, extreme sports, sepak takraw, and shooting, with woodball being the only independent sport included.
Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of medal events contested in each discipline.
2025 SEA Games sports programme (medal events)[88] 2025 SEA Games sports programme (demonstration events)[88] 2025 SEA Games sports programme (value creation events)[88]- Mixed martial arts (6)
The closing ceremony of the 2025 SEA Games is scheduled to held on 20 December 2025 at Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok.[46] The SEAGF flag will be handed over to Malaysia, the host country of the 2027 edition. The handover segment will include performances by Malaysia artistes Marsha Milan, Amir Jahari, and Mimifly.[95]
All eleven National Olympic Committee (NOC) members of the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) took part in the games. Since its debut in 2003, Timor-Leste participated for the first time as a full ASEAN member state, with its official access to the association since 26 October 2025.[96][97][98]
Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of delegations representing in each NOC.
Participating National Olympic Committees[99]^ WD: Cambodia initially planned to participate with a 333-member delegation across 21 sports; however, due to rising security concerns related to the Cambodian-Thai border tensions, the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) later reduced the contingent to 150 athletes, coaches, and officials competing in 13 sports.[100][101] On 10 December 2025, one day after the opening ceremony, Cambodia announced the complete withdrawal of its delegation from the Games, citing escalating border clashes and safety fears expressed by athletes’ families.[102][103] Despite the withdrawal, around 30 Cambodian athletes and officials had already taken part in the opening ceremony on 9 December, but the delegation exited the competition before any events began.[104]
During the Chef de Mission meeting in August 2025, the Organizing Committee confirmed that gender verification tests would be conducted for athletes. The procedures and methods for testing are determined by each individual sports federation, as the SEAGF operate independently and are not governed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). All regulations regarding testing are set by the Organizing Committee.[105][106]
In addition, strict passport verification was implemented for all athletes. This comes in response to incidents at the 2023 SEA Games, where some Cambodian naturalized athletes competed using documents other than their national passports, with certificates issued by their respective nations allowing participation.[107][108] For the 2025 Games, athlete documentation was to be thoroughly checked upon entry into Thailand, during the competition, and upon departure. Any cases of document falsification or attempts to field athletes representing countries other than their own would result in immediate action, preventing such violations from occurring during this edition of the Games.[109][110]
In the following calendar for the 2025 SEA Games, each blue box represents an event competition, such as a qualification round, on that day. The yellow boxes represent days during which medal-awarding finals for a sport were held. On the left, the calendar lists each sport with events held during the Games, and at the right how many gold medals were won in that sport.[111]
All times and dates use Thailand Standard Time (UTC+7)* Host nation (Thailand)
2025 SEA Games medal table[112]RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal1 Thailand*2331541135002 Indonesia911121303333 Vietnam87811102784 Malaysia57571172315 Singapore5261872006 Philippines50731542777 Myanmar32149738 Laos2927389 Brunei135910 Timor-Leste0178Totals (10 entries)5765727991,947 2025 SEA Games television broadcasters in Southeast Asia Country Broadcaster TV Radio Online Ref. Brunei Astro Astro Arena Astro Go, Sooka [113] Indonesia MNC Media RCTI, MNCTV, GTV, iNews, Sportstars Vision+ [114][115] Philippines Cignal TV TV5, One Sports, One Sports+, RPTV Radio Philippines Network Cignal Play, Cignal Super, Pilipinas Live Malaysia Radio Televisyen Malaysia, Sarawak Media Group, Astro TV Okey, Sukan RTM, TVS, Astro Arena RTM Klik, TVS Inspire, Astro Go, Sooka [113][116] Myanmar Forever Group, Myanmar Radio and Television, HEY Play MRTV-4, Channel 7, Readers Channel, MRTV Sports (HTV Sports Channel), MRTV, MRTV Entertainment Pyone Play Pyone Play, MRTV Singapore Mediacorp Channel 5 MeWatch Thailand NBT, T Sports 7, One 31, Thairath TV, PPTV HD 36, TrueVisions NBT, T Sports 7, One 31, Thairath TV, PPTV HD 36 MCOT Radio Network, NBT Radio TrueVisions Now Vietnam FPT, VTV, VTC, THVL, HTV, MyTV, VTVCab, Hanoi Radio Television, TV360 VTV2, VTV5, VTV7, VTV Cần Thơ, VTV5 Tây Nam Bộ, THVL3, THVL4, ON Sports, ON Sports News, ON Sports+, ON Football, ON Golf, HTV1, HTV3, HTV Key, HTV7, HTV9, HTV Thể Thao, HanoiTV1, HanoiTV2 VOH FPT Play, VTVgo, THVLi, VTVprime, MyTV, HTVm, VTV Thể Thao (YouTube), Hà Nội ON, TV360 [117][118][119][120][121]The Sport Authority of Thailand (SAT) originally organiszd a design competition for the emblem, motto, and mascot for the 2025 SEA Games and the 2025 ASEAN Para Games. The submitted designs were required to be visually appealing, modern, unique, and reflect Thai identity. The submission period was from 20 September to 25 October 2023.[122][123] The official awarding ceremony took place at the Chaloem Phrakiat Building at the Hua Mak Sports Complex in Bangkok on 23 November 2023.[124][125]
The official emblem for the 2025 SEA Games, designed by Teeranop Wangsillapakun, the creative director and founder of TNOP Design, was commissioned by the Design Subcommittee of the Thailand Creative Culture Agency under the National Soft Power Strategy Committee.[126][127]
This emblem replaced an earlier design selected through a competition. The initial emblem, created by Ruengwit Phutharaporn, was inspired by the pla kat, or Siamese fighting fish, Thailand's national aquatic animal.[128][129]
The official motto for the 2025 SEA Games, Ever Forward (Thai: ก้าวไปข้างหน้าไม่หยุดยั้ง, RTGS: Kaopai Khangna Mai Yutyang, pronounced [kâːwː.pāj kʰâːŋ.nâː mâj jùt.jáŋ]), replaced the previous winning slogan from a design competition, Amity of ASEAN, designed by Phonchit Sachaiyan.[130] Notably, it bears a resemblance to the motto of the Asian Games, Ever Onward, which was established by Guru Dutt Sondhi, the founder of the games.
The official mascots for the 2025 SEA Games, designed by Teeranop Wangsillapakun, the creative director and founder of TNOP Design, were commissioned by the Design Subcommittee of the Thailand Creative Culture Agency (THACCA) under the National Soft Power Strategy Committee.[126][127]
The mascots consisted of a group of five characters called The San, in red, green, pink, yellow, and blue, representing the diversity of Thai society. Each character was designed using geometric patterns inspired by the structural lines of traditional Thai motifs, blending modernity with Thai identity. Together, they symbolized celebration, creativity, cultural connection, and the promotion of diversity in sports and society.[131][132][133]
On 7 October 2025, a new version of The San was revealed; the number of mascots was reduced to one, with Chan being retained. It was also recolored to the Thai flag, to represent national pride. The original five San designs would be retained for merchandise.[134]
These mascots replaced an earlier design selected through a competition. The initial mascot, named Mawin, was designed by Tawich Jitthiang and depicted a Waree Kunchorn, a mythical creature from the Himavanta. This creature has the body of an elephant, along with fish-like features, including fins along its backbone, leg fins attached to each of its four legs, and a fishtail.[135]
Sponsors of the 2025 SEA Games[136] Official Main Sponsors Official Gold Sponsors Official Silver Sponsors Official Bronze SponsorsThe official theme song of the Games was "1%", performed by Violette Wautier alongside F.Hero in the Thai version and TWOPEE in the English version.
Numerous allegations of biased officiating and missed calls were reported in multiple sports. In pencak silat, one of Malaysia's coaches assaulted a judge after Nor Farah binti Mazlan lost to Thailand's Chongthima Rueanthong in the quarterfinals of the women's Class B tanding event due to a tiebreaker rule, as both competitors ended with a 60-60 tie. However, the winner was decided due to the former's number of fouls. According to the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Filipino judge was safe after the assault and had filed a formal protest to the organizing committee.[146]
The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) noted multiple "hometown decisions" in favor of Thai boxers and disputed losses of Filipino and Filipina athletes. One notable example was the bout between Indonesia's Hasanah Huswatan and the Philippines' Nesthy Petecio in the semifinals of the women's 63kg category, where Hasanah won in a 3-2 split decision that surprised both Thai and Filipino officials. ABAP also flagged Thailand's representation in the finals of 16 out of the 17 categories, which they described as "disproportionate."[147] Thailand went on to win 14 gold medals in the sport. After the boxing event, ABAP revealed that they plan to have an inquiry with World Boxing, the sport's international federation on the irregularities during the tournament, which also affected other countries such as Singapore and Vietnam.[148]
In the women's football final between Vietnam and the Philippines, the referee ruled out a goal by Nguyễn Thị Bích Thùy in the 29th minute for offside, despite claims of the attempt being clearly onside based on multiple replays, with some even showing up to three players not counting the goalkeeper standing below Bích Thùy.[149] Similarly, the men's football bronze medal match saw Faris Danish of Malaysia commit a handball inside the penalty area that was not called by the referee, denying the Philippines a potential penalty. Due to both men's and women's tournaments not having a video assistant referee (VAR) system, both calls were upheld. The Filipinas would go on to defeat Vietnam on penalties and break their streak of four consecutive women's football gold medals, while Malaysia won bronze in the men's tournament.
The Thailand Pétanque Association (PAT) was initially sanctioned by the World Pétanque and Bowls Federation (WPBF) and the Fédération Internationale de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal (FIPJP) due to issues regarding the association president's qualifications, which prevented Thai athletes from participating in international competitions. In response, the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) established a central committee to oversee athlete selection and organise pétanque for the 2025 SEA Games.[150][151]
Conflicts arose over athlete selection, as the SAT continued to support athletes from the original association, delaying any resolution. In September 2025, WPBF and FIPJP formally banned the organisztion of pétanque events at the Games and announced that any nation sending athletes to compete would face a two-year suspension from all international competitions.[152][153][154] Then, Pimol Srivikorn, President of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand (NOCT), and Chaiyapak Siriwat, Vice President of the NOCT, traveled to WPBF and FIPJP headquarters in Paris, France, to negotiate with WPBF and FIPJP to resolve the issue.[155] Concurrently, Deputy Prime Minister Thamanat Prompow sent a letter affirming the Thai government's commitment to follow FIPJP guidelines and support the inclusion of pétanque in the 2025 SEA Games. The SAT also issued clarifications addressing prior communication errors that had caused misunderstandings. Following these actions, WPBF and FIPJP President Claude Azéma approved the inclusion of pétanque at the 2025 SEA Games, allowing the sport to proceed as planned.[156]
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino was frustrated on the organizers' inability to finalize the eligibility rules on the basketball tournament as of 28 November 2025, derailing the preparations of the Philippine national teams.[157]
In August 2025, it was reported that players only needed to have the appropriate passport; however, this was only clarified in November.[158][159] The Philippine Basketball Association submitted rosters assuming such rules were to be in effect over the standard FIBA eligibility rules.[159]
On 24 November 2025, it was confirmed that naturalized players, alongside any other player who obtained the relevant passport after age 16, were not eligible to play in the standard 5x5 tournaments.[160][161][162] This is stricter than the FIBA eligibility rules, which allows at least one player satisfying either criteria to be on a roster.[162]
During the first match of the men's football game between Vietnam and Laos, a technical error prevented the national anthems of both teams from being played as scheduled at Rajamangala Stadium.[163]
The governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, Dr. Kongsak Yodmanee, acknowledged full responsibility for the mistake and expressed a “deepest apology” for the incident. The committee also ensured such issues would never happen again throughout the tournament.
In the Games' official website, the organizing committee displayed the wrong flags for the futsal competition, where they used the Vietnamese flag to represent Thailand, while the Indonesian flag was replaced by Laos.[164]
The organizing committee then made another serious error when they mistook the Singaporean flag for the Indonesian flag at the opening ceremony on the evening of 9 December. In particular, in the section looking back at the history of the SEA Games broadcast on the big screen at the opening ceremony of the 33rd SEA Games on the evening of 9 December, when introducing the 1997 SEA Games held in Indonesia, the organizing committee of the host country Thailand used the Singapore flag that was taken from footage of the 1997 opening ceremony.[165]
The potential participation of Cambodian athletes in the 2025 SEA Games became a subject of controversy amid the 2025 Cambodian-Thai border crisis. In July 2025, Sorawong Thienthong, Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Minister of Tourism and Sports at the time, suggested the possibility of banning Cambodia following a cross-border attack that resulted in Thai casualties.[166][167] However, Chaiyapak Siriwat, President of the Southeast Asian Games Federation, emphasised that Thailand, as host of the SEA Games, had no authority to bar Cambodia or any member nation from participating, as decisions must comply with the Olympic Charter, which upholds political neutrality, non-discrimination, and the right of all nations to compete.[168]
Cambodia initially submitted an entry of 1,515 athletes and officials before the clashes, though reports later claimed the number had been reduced to 57. Vath Chamroeun, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, denied the reports, stating that Cambodia would send a larger contingent.[169][170][171] At the Chef de Mission meeting in August 2025, Chaiyapak confirmed that Cambodia had registered around 600 athletes and more than 100 officials. Due to security concerns, however, the Organizing Committee requested that Cambodia reduce its delegation to no more than 200 athletes to ensure adequate safety arrangements.[172] Following a second round of clashes on 8 December and their participation in the opening ceremony the next day, Cambodia withdrew all athletes from the competition on 10 December, citing political and safety concerns.[173]
- 2025 ASEAN Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima
- SEAP Games in Thailand:
- 1959 SEAP Games in Bangkok
- 1967 SEAP Games in Bangkok
- 1975 SEAP Games in Bangkok
- SEA Games in Thailand:
- 1985 SEA Games in Bangkok
- 1995 SEA Games in Chiang Mai
- 2007 SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima
- Asian Games in Thailand:
- 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok
- 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok
- 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok
- 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, similar premise where Saudi Arabia boycotted from the event due to Blue Diamond Affair.
- 2025 SEA Games on Facebook
- 2025 SEA Games's channel on YouTube
