29th SEA Games officially open in Kuala Lumpur

Fireworks explode at the start of the opening ceremony for the 29th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) at Bukit Jalil stadium in Kuala Lumpur on August 19, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MANAN VATSYAYANA

KUALA LUMPUR—The opening ceremony of the 29th SEA Games kicked off with a stunning light show at the National Stadium in the Kuala Lumpur Sports City.

The procession of the flags of the 11 participating countries together with 320 flags of Malaysia accompanied by a musical performance followed next. Then came the parade of contingents and athletes from the participating countries.

The opening ceremony took place at National Stadium, which is part of the newly-refurbished sporting facilities of the Kuala Lumpur Sports City.

Present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

The 29th edition of the Games until Aug 30 brings together some 4,900 athletes from 11 countries, namely Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Timor Leste and hosts Malaysia.

At stake is 404 gold medals in 38 sports, with ice skating, ice hockey, indoor hockey and cricket being held for the first time.

Going into the opening ceremony of the biennial extravaganza that carries the theme ‘Rising Together’, Malaysia – with a 111-gold target – has already clinched seven gold, four silver and five bronze medals to top the KL Games medals table so far.

The country’s contingent of 844 athletes are counting on the home ground advantage to better the 62 gold medal haul and fourth placing in Singapore two years ago.