SINGAPORE: The 28th Southeast Asian Games opened in a blaze of color and pageantry at Singapore’s new national Stadium on Friday, providing the sports world with a brief moment of celebration after a week of soccer-related scandal.
In keeping with tradition, the Games were declared open by the host nation’s head of state, Singaporean president Tony Tan, after a spectacular opening ceremony showcasing the region’s cultural diversity and spectacular economic growth.
About 50,000 spectators filed into the gleaming new stadium at Singapore’s $1 billion SportsHub for the two-hour multi-million-dollar ceremony which ushered the region’s biggest multi-sports event into the tiny city-state.
More than 4,000 athletes from the eclectic group of 11 nations that make up Southeast Asia marched into the stadium, led by Brunei and followed by Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, East Timor and Vietnam.
The host nation Singapore came in last, with teenage swimmer Quah Zheng Wen, who is attempting to win an unfathomable 12 gold medals at the Games, carrying his country’s flag.
The SEA Games flag was raised and Micky Lin, the captain of Singapore’s netball team, read the athletes’ oath.
The ceremony centered on the aspirations of a young child who dared to dream big and create a brighter future, a narrative drawing heavily on Singapore’s transformation from a sleepy British colonial outpost to a global financial powerhouse that is now home to many of the world’s mega-rich.
The torch relay began in the city center at the iconic Marina Bay and was passed between generations of Singapore’s best athletes.
Finally, the torch was handed to Fandi Ahmad, Singapore’s most celebrated footballer, who made over 100 appearances for his country and scored 55 goals.
He was joined by his 17-year-old son Irfan, who is a member of the Singaporean team competing at the SEA Games, and together they lit the cauldron, setting off a dazzling fireworks display at the stadium and in other parts of the city.
Like all regional multi-sports events, the SEA Games struggles for mainstream recognition outside its own borders, but for the 11 competing countries, the stakes could hardly be high.
Held every two years since 1959, the SEA Games feature a rich mixture of sports, many that are on the Olympic program but also a few that keep faith with the region’s unique sporting interests, including the exotic pencak silat, sepak takraw and dragon boat racing.
Singapore last hosted the Games in 1993 but specifically asked to stage the SEA Games this year as part of its 50th anniversary of independence from Malaysia.
The year-long celebrations have taken on added poignancy following the death in March of Singapore’s first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew.
More than 400 gold medals will be handed out before the Games close on June 16. Over a dozen gold medals have already been decided with the host-nation winning seven, Vietnam four, Thailand two and Malaysia one.
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SEA Games open in Singapore with spectacular ceremony
SEA Games open in Singapore with spectacular ceremony
Badosa slams online ‘disrespect’ after Dubai injury retirement
- She took to social media to hit back at an individual who said she disrespected the game
- “You have no idea what it’s like to live with a chronic injury and still choose to keep going,” Badosa wrote
DUBAI:Paula Badosa lashed out on Wednesday at a “disrespectful” comment online and vowed to prolong her injury-hit career after a right thigh issue forced the former world number two to retire from her match at the already depleted Dubai Tennis Championships.
The Spaniard had worked her way back into the top 10 in the world last year with strong displays after a string of injuries, including a chronic back problem, left her contemplating early retirement in 2024.
Badosa went up 4-1 against Elina Svitolina in her second round match in Dubai on Tuesday, but lost the next five games and dropped the first set, before the 28-year-old called for treatment and then decided to throw in the towel.
She later took to social media to hit back at an individual who said she disrespected the game.
“You have no idea what it’s like to live with a chronic injury and still choose to keep going,” Badosa wrote.
“To wake up everyday not knowing how your body will respond, searching for solutions, and fighting for something you love and give everything even when it’s so difficult.”
Badosa said she faced “endless nightmares” while trying to find lasting solutions, but being able to step onto the tennis court was worth the trouble.
“So I’ll keep trying,” she said.
“Because it’s all about trying and that won’t change. I’ll always try one more time. I’m doing this for my passion ... If there’s even a 1 percent chance to keep going, I’ll take it. That’s just how I see and understand life.”
WIDER DEBATE
Badosa’s comments reignited a wider debate on players having to deal with hurtful social media comments.
“For me the only disrespect here is to open social media and read messages like this,” Badosa added.
“Then we complain if we see players suffering and having mental health issues, but I’m not surprised with the amount of hate and ‘experts’ we have here.”
The WTA told Reuters that protecting players and the wider tennis family from vile online threats and abuse remained a high priority for the governing body of the women’s game.
Australia’s Destanee Aiava said last week that she would quit the sport this year, describing tennis culture as “racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile” as she highlighted the online negativity she had received.
Several women’s players have spoken about similar issues, with Svitolina saying she received death threats following her Canadian Open defeat last season, blaming the “shameful” behavior on disgruntled bettors.
Angry gamblers were responsible for 40 percent of the detected abuse at players, a survey by the WTA and the International Tennis Federation published last year revealed.
“I’d say it’s not just betting, it’s overall cyberbullying all the time,” world number six Amanda Anisimova said.
“Commenting on everything, like my body all the time, every single day. It’s difficult.
“I don’t think that people realize the extent of it, how much of an effect it can have on someone.”
The Spaniard had worked her way back into the top 10 in the world last year with strong displays after a string of injuries, including a chronic back problem, left her contemplating early retirement in 2024.
Badosa went up 4-1 against Elina Svitolina in her second round match in Dubai on Tuesday, but lost the next five games and dropped the first set, before the 28-year-old called for treatment and then decided to throw in the towel.
She later took to social media to hit back at an individual who said she disrespected the game.
“You have no idea what it’s like to live with a chronic injury and still choose to keep going,” Badosa wrote.
“To wake up everyday not knowing how your body will respond, searching for solutions, and fighting for something you love and give everything even when it’s so difficult.”
Badosa said she faced “endless nightmares” while trying to find lasting solutions, but being able to step onto the tennis court was worth the trouble.
“So I’ll keep trying,” she said.
“Because it’s all about trying and that won’t change. I’ll always try one more time. I’m doing this for my passion ... If there’s even a 1 percent chance to keep going, I’ll take it. That’s just how I see and understand life.”
WIDER DEBATE
Badosa’s comments reignited a wider debate on players having to deal with hurtful social media comments.
“For me the only disrespect here is to open social media and read messages like this,” Badosa added.
“Then we complain if we see players suffering and having mental health issues, but I’m not surprised with the amount of hate and ‘experts’ we have here.”
The WTA told Reuters that protecting players and the wider tennis family from vile online threats and abuse remained a high priority for the governing body of the women’s game.
Australia’s Destanee Aiava said last week that she would quit the sport this year, describing tennis culture as “racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile” as she highlighted the online negativity she had received.
Several women’s players have spoken about similar issues, with Svitolina saying she received death threats following her Canadian Open defeat last season, blaming the “shameful” behavior on disgruntled bettors.
Angry gamblers were responsible for 40 percent of the detected abuse at players, a survey by the WTA and the International Tennis Federation published last year revealed.
“I’d say it’s not just betting, it’s overall cyberbullying all the time,” world number six Amanda Anisimova said.
“Commenting on everything, like my body all the time, every single day. It’s difficult.
“I don’t think that people realize the extent of it, how much of an effect it can have on someone.”
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