From 1959 to 1975, the biennial regional sporting event was known as the South East Asia Peninsular (SEAP) Games as it only involved countries located on the penisular. This included Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Burma, Cambodia, Laos & South Vietnam.
However, with the entry of Brunei, Indonesia & Philippines in 1977, the Games evolved into the South East Asia (SEA) Games that we know of today.
Timor Leste joined the SEA Games family in 2003.
These Games are organised under the auspices of the SEA Games Federation, which is based in Bangkok, Thailand.
Logo of the SEA Games Federation
Let's look at the early medals awarded to the winners... See any similarity?
Yes! Both appear not to have ribbons attached to them. Indeed, winner's medals only started coming with ribbons from the 3rd SEAP Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Before that, they were simply presented in boxes, as the second picture suggests...
Medals from the 1st SEAP Games,
held in 1959 at Bangkok, Thailand.
A South Vietnamese footballer displays his Gold Medal from the 1st SEAP Games, still pristinely kept in its original box!
Back & Front Views of Medals from the
2nd SEAP Games, held in
Rangoon, Burma in 1961
A complete set from the 1969 SEAP Games. From left, an athlete's competitor ribbon, a GOLD Winners' medal and a Bronze Commemorative medal.
Burma would not host the SEAP Games again until 2013, when they hosted the 27th SEA Games in their new capital, Naypidaw.
Much had changed since 1969 - the names of the country and its capital and even its flag. Still, all things considered, the Myanmarese hosted a superb Games and I was very lucky to have had the chance to experience the
famed Burmese hospitality!
Chei zu tin bar te, Myanmar!
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