Ito ang iniulat kahapon ni Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit kung saan pormal na iprinisinta nito ang liham na pirmado ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo upang tanggapin ang pagho-host ng bansa noong Sabado kasabay ng SEAG Federation Council meeting dito.
"It gives me great to inform you that in accordance with Article 22 of the SEA Games constitution, the Council of the SEA Games Federation, at its meeting (held on 13th April 2002 at the Daewoo Hotel, Hanoi), unanimously decided to award the XXIII SEA Games in 2005 to the Philippine Olympic Committee," wika naman ni Vietnamese Minister Nguyen Danh Thai, ang incumbent SEAG Federation head.
At bilang tugon, sinabi naman ni Dayrit na "On behalf of the POC, the Philippine Government and the Filipino people, I would like to invite all the youth of Southeast Asia to meet in Manila for the 2005 Games. This will be the third time that the Philippines will hosting the Games and we are proud to welcome all of you again in the spirit of Olympism and brotherhood."
Dumalo sa nasabing pulong ang mga delegado mula sa 10 bansa sa rehiyon.