The Thailand Sports Organizing Committee (THASOC) sent an official letter to the President of the Vietnam Olympic Committee, offering a sincere apology for several incidents that occurred during the organization and broadcast of SEA Games 33.

In the letter, Dr. Gongsak Yodmani - Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand and Secretary-General of THASOC - admitted and clarified two serious errors. He emphasized the host nation’s openness, sense of responsibility, and commitment to ensuring similar incidents do not recur.

“We once again extend our sincere apologies to the President of the Vietnam Olympic Committee and all concerned parties for any discomfort caused. This reflects our responsibility and goodwill in preserving the image and reputation of the region’s most prestigious sporting event,” the letter stated.

THASOC admitted to inaccurately portraying Vietnam’s map during the third performance act titled “We Are One – Connected by the SEA”, part of the SEA Games 33 Opening Ceremony held on December 9 at Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok.

In this segment, the map of Vietnam failed to include the Paracel Islands (Hoang Sa), the Spratly Islands (Truong Sa), and Phu Quoc Island - an omission that struck a particularly sensitive chord.

The organizers acknowledged the high sensitivity of the issue, given that it relates directly to Vietnam’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and recognized the discomfort it caused for the Vietnamese delegation.

In addition, THASOC also apologized for a separate technical error during the live broadcast of the 3x3 basketball matches, where flags of multiple participating countries - including Malaysia, Laos, the Philippines, and Vietnam - were mistakenly displayed, leading to public concern and frustration from the affected nations.

THASOC stressed that they do not take these errors lightly and will work closely with all relevant parties to correct the issues. They also pledged to strengthen technical oversight and quality control to prevent any recurrence.

The Thai host committee affirmed its commitment to ensuring that every detail of the event is handled with care, precision, and respect for all participating nations - upholding professionalism and fairness throughout SEA Games 33.

Dai Nam