A WELCOME TEASER FOR OPENING CEREMONY

By: WSL MSC Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia) - ICT Committee
The full-dress rehearsal of the opening ceremony of the 25th edition of the SEA Games this evening at the Main Stadium is a welcome teaser for the main event which will be held at the same venue on Dec 9. With tickets to the grand opening ceremony already sold out, the organising committee’s decision to allow fans, supporters and enthusiasts the chance to get a taste of what’s to come should certainly be lauded. Since the Main Stadium could only accommodate up to 20,000 spectators, the full dress rehearsal today will at least give the populace the chance of getting a glimpse come 9 Dec. Just to show their enthusiasm, spectators already began making their way into the stadium, situated some 16km out of the capital city of Vientiane, as early as three hours before the start. The event began with an assembly of songs before the choir of the Department of Performing Arts began their ensemble with four popular traditional songs. First up was the National Flower Cham Pa Muong Lao song, to be followed by the Land of Freedom song, the Mother Land song and then with a chorus of a number simply called, Sabaidee or welcome in Lao.
Full-dress rehearsal of the opening ceremony of the 25th edition of the SEA GamesFollowing the announcement of the arrivals of Loas dignitaries, government leaders and VIP guests, the ceremony moved into the parade of athletes who were ushered in by a chorus of the Laos Police Band. The march past then began with the contingent from Brunei Darussalam and culminates with the participants from Laos which was followed by a tumultuous roar of approval from the stand. The taking of the SEA Games oath was preceded by the raising of the Laos national flag - just before the mock run into the stadium by former athletes for the lighting of the SEA Games flame. The much anticipated main event of the cultural and artistic performance then took over with a laser show drumming in as the more than 1,600 dancers take turn to entertain the spectators - much to the satisfaction of all those who attended the event as they gave a rapturous applause at the end.