By Suchada Tupchai
The SEA Games are upon us again in their 23rd
incarnation. This time around the Philippines, as host, rule the throne.
The SEA games are called “South-east Asia’s Great
Games Festival”, and are promoted as leading to harmony among
participating nations in the region. The games help push South-east Asian
sports onto a more international level and increase sports popularity. But
what do the SEA games actually offer today?
One thing that we must accept, and consider deeply, is
the lessening popularity of the SEA games. One of the main reasons for
this, which many overlook, is the lack of “harmony and solidarity”
among the 11 participating countries.
Nowadays each country is determined to get the most gold
medals, which is often accomplished through all kinds of cheating. This
alone damages international relations. It has apparently become so rampant
this year that even PM Thaksin complained about the host country’s
cheating. This is the first time that a national leader has mentioned the
cheating, and it has now turned into an international issue. The
Philippines press called Thaksin a “bitter wine”, which led Philippines
President Gloria Arroyo to call for an inquiry into the non-neutrality of
the officiating judges in all sports.
The little spitting war that has broken out during these
games leads me back to my childhood, during the golden age of the SEA
games. In those days, some schools used to close to allow children to watch
the games. Others let their students watch during their lessons. This
ignited an interest in sports and created national fervor, as everyone
cheered on the Thai team.
In those days the games really were harmonious and
weren’t just a fight for gold. Those past objectives have now been lost,
as the athletic armies try to get as many gold medals as possible to help
their nation to the top spot. The practices now employed are not only
incapable of creating harmony among the competitors, but also destroy the
once good image of the games.
This year’s SEA Games prove the advantage of the host,
which includes the introduction of sports that no one has ever heard of let
alone played. This year more than ever we see the smiles of the winner and
the tears of the loser. One thing that we will never see again in the SEA
Games is friendship. What do you get from watching the SEA Games?
