During the event held on the evening of December 9 at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, the ceremony featured a digital projection of maps representing Southeast Asian nations as each delegation marched into the arena.

However, the map shown for Vietnam only included the mainland portion of the country. Notably absent were Hoang Sa (Paracel Islands), Truong Sa (Spratly Islands), and Phu Quoc Island.

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The Vietnam national sports delegation during the SEA Games opening ceremony. Photo: S.N

The error was immediately noticed by both TV viewers and attendees at the stadium, raising alarm due to the sensitivity surrounding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The leaders of the Vietnamese delegation took swift action at the event, reaching out to the Vietnamese Embassy in Bangkok for support. An official response is expected to be released on December 10.

This map controversy follows a series of surprising and troubling organizational errors by the SEA Games 33 host committee.

At the same ceremony, the organizers mistakenly displayed Singapore's national flag for the 1997 SEA Games, which were actually held in Indonesia.

Earlier, the same organizers had published the women's futsal schedule with incorrect national flags, mistakenly switching Vietnam’s flag with Thailand’s, and Laos’ with Indonesia’s.

These repeated mistakes have cast a shadow over the host nation's preparations and stirred concern among participating countries.

Dai Nam