Opening of the 17th Southeast Asian University Games
On the evening of December 10, in Palembang, Indonesia, the opening ceremony of the 17th Southeast Asian University Games (AUG 17) was held, hosted by Indonesia.
According to a VNA correspondent in Indonesia, the opening ceremony was attended by Indonesian Vice President H.Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, many high-ranking Indonesian officials, international guests and nearly 3,000 officials, coaches and athletes from 11 countries in the region, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Laos and Timor Leste.
With the theme "One Heart, One ASEAN", the opening ceremony of the 17th Southeast Asian University Games was grand, vibrant and imbued with Indonesian cultural identity.
After the parade of athletes and coaches from 11 countries across the stage, the flame of the 17th Southeast Asian University Games was lit on the cauldron, demonstrating the spirit and youthfulness of the youth and students of ASEAN countries.
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| The Vietnamese student sports delegation before the opening ceremony of the congress. (Photo: Hoang Hoa/Vietnam+) |
The audience at the Opening Ceremony also enjoyed a colorful fireworks display and a special art program imbued with the traditions of Indonesia and its people performed by artists, actors and thousands of Indonesian youth and students.
At the Games, teams will compete in 20 events with 225 sets of medals. The Vietnamese student sports delegation has 50 athletes participating, competing in 6 events: athletics, swimming, table tennis, Taekwondo, Karatedo, and chess. On the morning of December 11, the Vietnamese Karatedo team will enter the first day of competition.
At the 16th Southeast Asian University Sports Festival held in Laos, the Vietnamese student sports delegation had 258 athletes competing in 12 events and won 119 medals, including 56 gold medals, 35 silver medals and 28 bronze medals, ranking second overall (Malaysia ranked first, with 180 medals).
According to Vietnam+
