2005 Southeast Asian Games

SEA Games infobox
Name = 23rd Southeast Asian Games

Size = 200
Events = 393
Optional caption = Theme: “One Heritage, One Southeast Asia”
Nations participating = 11
Athletes participating = 5336| Opening ceremony = November 27, 2005
Closing ceremony = December 5, 2005
Officially opened by = Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Philippines
Athlete’s Oath = Mikaela “Mikee” Cojuangco-Jaworski
(Equestrian)
Judge’s Oath = Caesar Mateo
Torch lighter = Mary Antoinette Rivero
(Taekwondo)
Ceremony venue = Quirino Grandstand, Rizal ParkThe 23rd Southeast Asian Games (also known as the 2005 SEAG) were held in the Philippines from November 27th to December 5th in 2005. The games were participated by the eleven (11) nations of Southeast Asia. This was the first time that the opening and closing ceremonies were held in a large open field, despite the fact that Manila has many stadiums and/or arenas. The organization decided to hold the games at an open space to accommodate the large number of participants and spectators. As a result, the 2005 SEAG ranks as having the largest audience having reached 200,000 people during the opening and closing ceremonies. These games were also noted for having the most number of delegates in the history of the SEA Games, and despite the games was not held on multi-sports stadium, the games considered as the most successful and beautiful ceremonies in the history of SEA Games, beating recent games edition including 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. In the end, all participating countries received medals. The event was meant to tighten ties among Southeast Asian countries as a region and as a preparation as well for the upcoming Asian Games and Olympic Games .

Events in men’s football actually started on November 20th, prior to the opening ceremony. Water polo events began on November 21st, womens’ football on November 23rd, sailing on November 26th, and tennis on November 26th.

The first gold medal of the games was awarded to Singapore on November 25th when their water polo team came out undefeated during the round-robin tournament round. The Philippine team took the silver medal in that event, and Malaysia brought home the bronze.

East Timor received its first ever medal as a sovereign nation in the Philippine indigenous sport of Arnis.

The Games were also considered a valuable opportunity for athletes to gain competition experience and preparation for the upcoming Asian Games and Olympic Games. It was purposely created to strengthen friendship, solidarity and understanding among neighboring countries in the region.

This was the third SEA Games to be hosted by the Philippines. The last two times the Philippines hosted the games were in 1981 (see 1981 Southeast Asian Games), and again in 1991 (see 1991 Southeast Asian Games). Although the majority of events took place in/around Manila, logistical hurdles required the unusual step of spreading-out the events across the country; to ten other cities. This arrangement was not seen favorably by the participating countries who anticipated travel and accommodation issues to arise; a worry which was confirmed soon after their arrival.

Medal tally

(“Host nation highlighted.”)

Venues

Metro Manila served as the main hub of the Games, though several events also took place in Bacolod City, Cebu City, Los Baños and Canlubang in Laguna, Tagaytay City in Cavite province, Angeles City in Pampanga, and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales.

Competition venues

Non-competition venues

* Philippine International Convention Center (Phil. Organizing Committee and Main Press Centre)
* Century Park Hotel (International Broadcast Centre)
* Cebu City Sports Complex (Cebu Organizing Committee & Pre-opening ceremony)
* Negros Occidental Activity Center (Bacolod-Negros Organizing Committee)
* Rizal Park (Opening and Closing Ceremonies)
* Ninoy Aquino International Airport
* Mactan-Cebu International Airport
* Bacolod City Domestic Airport
* Subic Bay International Airport

3rd ASEAN ParaGames

The 3rd ASEAN ParaGames were held in Manila from December 14th to December 20th, 2005. This was the sporting event earmarked for physically challenged athletes in the Southeast Asian regional level. The ParaGames are held after every Southeast Asian Games (patterned after the Paralympics traditionally held days after the Olympic Games). Most of the events were held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Some new sports for the athletes were introduced and demonstrated by both foreign and local participants.

ee also

*Games records at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games
*Scandals of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games
*2005 ASEAN ParaGames

References

External links

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20070111054323/http://www.2005seagames.com.ph/ www.2005seagames.com.ph: The Official Website of the 23rd SEA Games Philippines 2005]
* [http://www.cebuseagames.com/ Cebu SEA Games Organizing Committee]
* [http://www.bacolodseagames.com/ Bacolod-Negros SEA Games Organizing Committee]
* [http://www.psc.gov.ph/ Philippine Sports Commission]
* [http://www.olympic.ph/ Philippine Olympic Committee]
* [http://www.3rdaseanparagames.org.ph/ Official Website of the 3rd ASEAN ParaGames – Manila 2005]
* [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/seagames2005/ Channel NewsAsia SEA Games 2005 Special]
* [http://www.internationalgames.net/seagames.htm Southeast Asian Games Information]
* [http://www.rpsports.com RPSports.com]

sequence
prev=2003
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
list=Southeast Asian Games
next=2007
Nakhon Ratchasima, Bangkok, Chonburi, Thailand