Concerns and controversies at the 2025 SEA Games

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2025 SEA Games

There are numerous concerns and controversies about the 2025 SEA Games, which is schedule to take place from 9 to 20 December 2025 across the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, as well as the provinces of Chonburi and Songkhla, Thailand.

Organizational issues

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Political issues

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Suspension and change of the government

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See also: 2025 Thai political crisis

Participation of Cambodian athletes

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See also: 2025 Cambodian–Thai border crisis

The potential participation of Cambodian athletes in the 2025 SEA Games became a subject of controversy amid the 2025 Cambodian–Thai border crisis. In July 2025, Sorawong Thienthong, Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Minister of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) at the time, suggested the possibility of boycotting Cambodia following a cross-border attack that resulted in Thai casualties.[1][2] However, Chaiyapak Siriwat, President of the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF), emphasized that Thailand, as host of the SEA Games, had no authority to bar Cambodia or any member nation from participating, as decisions must comply with the Olympic Charter, which upholds political neutrality, non-discrimination, and the right of all nations to compete.[3]

Cambodia initially submitted an entry of 1,515 athletes and officials before the clashes, though reports later claimed the number had been reduced to 57. Vath Chamroeun, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), denied the reports, stating that Cambodia would send a larger contingent.[4][5][6] At the Chef de Mission meeting in August 2025, Chaiyapak confirmed that Cambodia had registered around 600 athletes and more than 100 officials. Due to security concerns, however, the Organizing Committee requested that Cambodia reduce its delegation to no more than 200 athletes to ensure adequate safety arrangements.[7]

Preparation concerns

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Ban and reinstatement of pétanque

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The Thailand Pétanque Association (PAT) was initially sanctioned by the World Pétanque and Bowls Federation (WPBF) and the Fédération Internationale de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal (FIPJP) due to issues regarding the association president's qualifications, which prevented Thai athletes from participating in international competitions. In response, the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) established a central committee to oversee athlete selection and organize pétanque for the 2025 SEA Games.[8][9]

Conflicts arose over athlete selection, as the SAT continued to support athletes from the original association, delaying any resolution. In September 2025, WPBF and FIPJP formally banned the organization of pétanque events at the Games and announced that any nation sending athletes to compete would face a two-year suspension from all international competitions.[10][11][12] Then, Pimol Srivikorn, President of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand (NOCT), and Chaiyapak Siriwat, Vice President of the NOCT, traveled to WPBF and FIPJP headquarters in Paris, France, to negotiate with WPBF and FIPJP to resolve the issue.[13] Concurrently, Deputy Prime Minister Thamanat Prompow sent a letter affirming the Thai government's commitment to follow FIPJP guidelines and support the inclusion of pétanque in the 2025 SEA Games. The SAT also issued clarifications addressing prior communication errors that had caused misunderstandings. Following these actions, WPBF and FIPJP President Claude Azéma approved the inclusion of pétanque at the 2025 SEA Games, allowing the sport to proceed as planned.[14]

Naming of muaythai competition

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A debate arose regarding the naming of the combat sport, concerning the use of the term "muay" versus "muaythai".[15] The issue gained public attention around August 2025 when Phai Lik, a member of the House of Respresentatives from Kamphaeng Phet and the president of the Kickboxing Association of Thailand (KAT), publicly urged organizers to confirm the use of the name "muaythai". He argued that this name had been recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA), aligns with the government's soft power policy, and serves as an affirmation of national identity, particularly after Cambodia used the name "kun khmer" during its host year.[16]

Subsequently, on September 10, 2025, Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, the Minister of Tourism and Sports (MOTS), addressed the issue in the House of Representatives, confirming that the government was proposing the matter to the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) for consideration and to advocate for the official use of the term "muaythai".[17]

However, in early October 2025, following reports that the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) was preparing to propose the name change, Chaiyapak Siriwat, CEO of the SEAGF, clarified on October 5, 2025, that the sport would retain the name "muay". He stated this name is stipulated in the SEA Games charter and cannot be altered, although he affirmed that the competition's operations and judging would be managed by IFMA and Thai officials.[18]

References

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  1. ^ มาก็ไม่ปลอดภัย! ‘สรวงศ์’ เตรียมหารือ บอยคอตต์กัมพูชาจากซีเกมส์หรือไม่ [Not Safe Even If They Come! Sorawong to Discuss Possible Boycott of Cambodia from the SEA Games.]. Daily News (Thailand) (in Thai). 24 July 2025. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  2. ^ Matichon (29 July 2025). สรวงศ์ ชี้ รอมติที่ประชุมกก.ซีเกมส์ เคาะแบน กัมพูชา ร่วมแข่งขัน 21 ส.ค.นี้ [Sorawong Says Will Await SEA Games Committee’s Resolution to Ban Cambodia from Competing on 21 August.]. Matichon (in Thai). Archived from the original on 29 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  3. ^ ผิดกฎบัตรโอลิมปิก! "บิ๊กแนต ชัยภักดิ์" มนตรีซีเกมส์ ย้ำไทย ไม่มีสิทธิ์แบน กัมพูชา ในซีเกมส์ 2025 [Violation of the Olympic Charter! SEA Games Council President ‘Big Nat’ Chaiyapak Reaffirms Thailand Has No Authority to Ban Cambodia from the 2025 SEA Games.]. Thai Rath (in Thai). 27 July 2025. Archived from the original on 29 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  4. ^ 1,500 คนหายไปไหน! "กัมพูชา" ส่งนักกีฬาลุย "ซีเกมส์ 2025" ที่ไทย เหลือแค่ 57 คน [Where Did 1,500 Athletes Go? Cambodia to Send Only 57 Competitors to the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand.]. Thai Rath (in Thai). 4 August 2025. Archived from the original on 29 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  5. ^ กัมพูชา ปฎิเสธส่งนักกีฬาแข่งซีเกมส์ 57 คนไม่เป็นความจริง [Cambodia Denies Report of Sending Only 57 Athletes to the SEA Games.]. PPTV (Thai TV channel) (in Thai). 5 August 2025. Archived from the original on 19 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  6. ^ กัมพูชา ส่งนักกีฬา 1,515 คน ร่วมแข่งซีเกมส์ ที่ไทยเป็นเจ้าภาพปลายปีนี้ [Cambodia to Send 1,515 Athletes to Compete at the SEA Games Hosted by Thailand Later This Year.]. Prachachat (in Thai). 24 June 2025. Archived from the original on 29 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  7. ^ "ไทย" ตัดสินใจแล้ว หลัง "กัมพูชา" ขอส่งนักกีฬา 600 คน ลุยซีเกมส์ 2025 ท่ามกลางข้อพิพาทชายแดน [Thailand Makes Decision After Cambodia Requests to Send 600 Athletes to the 2025 SEA Games Amid Border Dispute.]. Thai Rath (in Thai). 21 August 2025. Archived from the original on 29 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  8. ^ 'ชัยภักดิ์'ยันซีเกมส์ที่ไทยปลายปีนี้ จัดเปตองได้แน่นอน เจรจาสหพันธ์ลงตัว [Chaiyapak Confirms Pétanque Will Be Held at This Year’s SEA Games in Thailand After Successful Federation Negotiations.]. Thai Post (in Thai). 5 May 2025. Archived from the original on 7 August 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  9. ^ ไทม์ไลน์มหากาพย์!ก่อนถึงจุดสิ้นสุด'ทอยแก่น'ในซีเกมส์ [Epic Timeline: The Road to the End of ‘Toy Kaen’ in the SEA Games.]. Naewna (in Thai). 23 September 2025. Archived from the original on 29 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  10. ^ "World body bans pétanque from SEA Games in Thailand". Thai Public Broadcasting Service. 22 September 2025. Archived from the original on 29 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Thailand to 'clarify misunderstandings' after SEA Games petanque ban". France 24. 23 September 2025. Archived from the original on 29 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  12. ^ สหพันธ์เปตองโลก สั่งแบนห้ามจัดแข่งใน “ซีเกมส์ 2025” เซ่นปมฉาวนายกสมาคมฯ [World Pétanque Federation Prohibits Pétanque at the 2025 SEA Games Following Association President Controversy.]. Thai Rath (in Thai). 23 September 2025. Archived from the original on 29 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  13. ^ กู้ศักด์ศรีประเทศ! อลป.ไทยบินถกเปตองโลกลุ้นปลดแบนซีเกมส์ [Restoring National Pride! Thai Olympic Officials Fly to Negotiate with World Pétanque Federation to Lift SEA Games Ban.]. Naewna (in Thai). 27 September 2025. Archived from the original on 29 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  14. ^ โอลิมปิคไทย เผยข่าวดี สหพันธ์เปตองนานาชาติ ไฟเขียวจัดแข่งในซีเกมส์ [World Pétanque Federation Approves Pétanque at the SEA Games, Confirms Thai Olympic Committee.]. Khaosod (in Thai). 29 September 2025. Archived from the original on 29 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  15. ^ “ฝ่ายจัด” ตอบแล้ว ปม “ซีเกมส์ 2025 ที่ไทย” ใช้ชื่อ “มวย” ไม่ใช้ “มวยไทย” [Organizers Respond to Controversy Over Using "Muay" Instead of "Muaythai" at SEA Games 2025 in Thailand.]. Thai Rath (in Thai). 25 June 2025. Archived from the original on 2 November 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  16. ^ “ไผ่ ลิกค์” ชี้ต้องใช้ “มวยไทย” ในกีฬาซีเกมส์ครั้งที่ 33 อย่าให้กัมพูชาบิดเบือน ["Phai Lik" Insists: "Muaythai" Must Be Used in 33rd SEA Games, Warns Against Cambodian Distortion.]. Thai Rath (in Thai). 23 August 2025. Archived from the original on 27 September 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  17. ^ รมต.กีฬา ยันปัญหาเปตองเคลียร์จบ ผลักดันใช้ชื่อ 'มวยไทย' ในซีเกมส์ [Sports Minister Confirms Petanque Issue Resolved, Pushes for 'Muaythai' in SEA Games.]. Siamsport (in Thai). 10 September 2025. Archived from the original on 2 November 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  18. ^ บิ๊กแน๊ต ยันใช้ชื่อ ‘มวย’ ในศึกซีเกมส์ 2025 เฟ้นสุดยอดนักชกชิงชัย 16 ทอง ['Big Nat' Confirms 'Muay' for SEA Games 2025; Top Fighters to Compete for 16 Gold.]. Matichon (in Thai). 5 October 2025. Archived from the original on 12 October 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.