Fireworks explode over the Morodok Techo National Stadium during the closing ceremony of the 32nd South-East Asia Games in Morodok Techo National Stadium outside Phnom Penh Cambodia, on May 17, 2023. - AP
PHNOM PENH (Xinhua): The 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games came to an end here on Wednesday (May 17) night, with Vietnam topping the final medal table.
With the motto of "Sport: Live in Peace", the closing ceremony, held at the 60,000-seat Morodok Techo National Stadium, featured musical performances, a Kun Bokator martial arts performance, a parade of athletes, speeches, and the extinguishment of the Games' fire with a fireworks display.
Cambodia handed over the SEA Games Federation flag to Thailand, the host of the 33rd edition in 2025.
"This success is part of the spirit of solidarity, understanding, friendship and integration in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)," said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
The Prime Minister also expressed his thanks to China for building the Morodok Techo National Stadium, which was the centerpiece venue for the opening and closing ceremonies.
Vietnam topped the overall medal tally with 136 gold, 105 silver and 118 bronze medals, followed by Thailand with 108-96-108, Indonesia with 87-80-109, and hosts Cambodia with 81-74-127.
The games brought together a total of 8,725 athletes, coaches, arbitrators, and delegates from 11 South-East Asian countries - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
