NAKHON RATCHASIMA – After fierce battles on various fronts in over a fortnight, the 24th Southeast Asian Games comes to an end with celebration of friendship as closing rites theme among Asean neighbors today.
Curtain falls on the Games at dusk with Thailand taking the overall championship which it will defend during the 25th edition of the Games in Vientane, Laos in 2009.
The host has set another spectacle for the closing ceremony, featuring performances with a cast of thousands to dazzle the guests and the crowd at the His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary Stadium.
Seven different performances with separate themes have been prepared to highlight the ceremony starting at 6 p.m. (7 p.m. in Manila).
First is “The Creation of Spirit”, then “The Creation of Friendship,” “The Creation of Celebrations,” “The Creation of Sports Ceremony,” “The Creation of Hope,” “The Creation of Live World,”and “The Creation of Happiness and Prosperity.”
After the first four performances, the athletes parade into the field for the lowering of the SEA Games flag, the handover ceremony and the extinction of the SEA Games flame.
The SEAG organizing committee chairman is to declare the games close at about 8 p.m., putting an end on Thailand’s third hosting of the Games after 1985 in Bangkok and 1995 in Chiang Mai. – Nelson Beltran