 Flag of the SEA Games Federation | |
| Abbreviation | SEA Games |
|---|---|
| First event | 1959 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games in Bangkok, Thailand |
| Occur every | Every two years |
| Next event | 2027 Southeast Asian Games inKuala Lumpur,Sarawak,Penang andJohor, Malaysia |
| Purpose | Multi sport event for nations on the Southeast Asian subcontinent |
| Headquarters | Bangkok, Thailand |
| President | Chaiyapak Siriwat |
| SEA Games | |
|---|---|
| Games | |
TheSoutheast Asian Games, commonly known asSEA Games, is a biennialmulti-sport event involving participants from the current 11 countries ofSoutheast Asia. The games are under the regulation of the Southeast Asian Games Federation with supervision by theInternational Olympic Committee and theOlympic Council of Asia.
The SEA Games is one of the five subregional Games of theOlympic Council of Asia, the others beingSouth Asian Games,West Asian Games,East Asian Games, andCentral Asian Games.[1]
The SEA Games owes its origins to theSouth East Asian Peninsular Games orSEAP Games (abbreviated asSEAPG). On 22 May 1958, delegates from the countries in Southeast Asian Peninsula attending theAsian Games in Tokyo, Japan had a meeting and agreed to establish a sports organization. The SEAP Games was conceptualized by Luang Sukhum Nayapradit, then vice-president of theThailand Olympic Committee. The proposed rationale was that a regional sports event will help promote co-operation, understanding, and relations among countries in the Southeast Asian region.
Six countries,Burma (nowMyanmar),Cambodia,Laos,Malaya (nowMalaysia),Thailand and theRepublic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) were the founding members. These countries agreed to hold the Games biennially in June 1959 and the SEAP Games Federation Committee was formed thereafter.[2]
The first SEAP Games were held inBangkok from 12 to 17 December 1959, with more than 527 athletes and officials from 6 countries;Burma (now Myanmar), Laos, Malaya,Singapore, South Vietnam andThailand participated in 12 sports.
At the 8th SEAP Games in 1975, whileSouth Vietnam was fallen and no longer existed, the SEAP Federation considered the inclusion ofBrunei,Indonesia, and thePhilippines. These countries were formally admitted in 1977, the same year when SEAP Federation changed their name to theSoutheast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF), and the games were known as theSoutheast Asian Games. The unifiedVietnam (Socialist Republic of Vietnam) returned to the games'15th edition in 1989.Timor-Leste, one year after gainingindependence from Indonesia, was admitted at the22nd SEA Games in 2003.
The2009 SEA Games was the first time Laos has ever hosted a SEA Games (Laos had previously declined to host the 1965 SEAP Games citing financial difficulties). Running from 9–18 December, it has also commemorated the 50 years of the SEA Games, held inVientiane,Laos. The2023 SEA Games, held from 5–17 May, was the first time Cambodia has ever hosted a SEA Games (Cambodia was awarded the 1963 SEAP Games, which was cancelled due to domestic political situation).
For the 2023 SEA hosted inPhnom Penh, the organising committee implemented several first-time provisions aimed at supporting participating nations. TheGovernment of Cambodia covered the cost of food and accommodation for all athletes and sports delegates, waiving the typical daily fee previously charged to delegations. In addition, no fees were charged for broadcast rights, and tickets were free for all spectators for both the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games competitions.[3][4]
In December 2025, the president of theIndonesian Olympic Committee, Raja Sapta Oktohari, proposed to the Southeast Asian Games Federation to broaden the scope of the event by creating a parallel event he called SEA Games Plus, which would be held in even-numbered years. He argued that introducing this would support athletes in bridging the gap between regional and international events, focus on holding more Olympic sports over regional sports, and eliminating the possibility for host nations to tamper with the SEA Games charter to maximise medal hauls. He said that the Indonesian Olympic Committee had been in talks with several National Olympic Committees outside of Southeast Asia in South Asia and Oceania to participate, such asBhutan,Australia,New Zealand, andFiji.[5] This plan was confirmed and clarified by thePhilippine Olympic Committee PresidentAbraham Tolentino on 1 January 2026. The event, known as theSEA Plus Youth Games, was clarified to be a youth multi-sport tournament similar to theYouth Olympic Games for athletes aged 17 and under, and will involve all nine Southeast Asian nations, as well as one guest country from another Asian sub-region.[6][7]
The Southeast Asian Games symbol was introduced during the1959 SEAP Games in Bangkok, depicting six rings that represent the six founding members and was used until the1997 edition inJakarta. The number of rings increased to 10 during the1999 edition in Brunei to reflect the inclusion of Singapore, which was admitted into the Southeast Asian Games Federation in 1961, and Brunei, Indonesia, and the Philippines, which joined the organization in 1977. The number of rings was again increased to 11 during the2011 Games in Indonesia to reflect the federation's newest member, East Timor, which was admitted in 2003.
| Nation | Code | National Olympic Committee | Created | Debuted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Brunei | BRU | Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council | 1984 | 1977 |
 Cambodia | CAM | National Olympic Committee of Cambodia | 1983 | 1961 |
 Indonesia | INA | Indonesian Olympic Committee | 1946 | 1977 |
 Laos | LAO | National Olympic Committee of Laos | 1975 | 1959 |
 Malaysia | MAS | Olympic Council of Malaysia | 1953 | 1959 |
 Myanmar | MYA | Myanmar Olympic Committee | 1947 | 1959 |
 Philippines | PHI | Philippine Olympic Committee | 1911 | 1977 |
 Singapore | SGP | Singapore National Olympic Council | 1947 | 1959 |
 Thailand | THA | National Olympic Committee of Thailand | 1948 | 1959 |
 Timor-Leste | TLS | National Olympic Committee of Timor Leste | 2003 | |
 Vietnam | VIE | Vietnam Olympic Committee | 1952 | 1959[a] |
South Vietnam, which competed from 1959–1973.
North Vietnam never competed. Unified Vietnam has competed since 1989.| Nation | Code | as SEAP Games | as SEA Games | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | 61 | 63 | 65 | 67 | 69 | 71 | 73 | 75 | 77 | 79 | 81 | 83 | 85 | 87 | 89 | 91 | 93 | 95 | 97 | 99 | 01 | 03 | 05 | 07 | 09 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 25 | |||
| Brunei | BRU | Cancelled | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 26 | ||||||||
| Cambodia[a] | CAM | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | [b] | 22 | |||||||||||
| Indonesia | INA | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 26 | |||||||||
| Laos[c] | LAO | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 26 | ||||||||
| Malaysia[d] | MAS | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 33 | |
| Myanmar[e] | MYA | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 33 | |
| Philippines | PHI | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 26 | |||||||||
| Singapore | SGP | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 33 | |
| Thailand | THA | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 33 | |
| Timor-Leste | TLS | part ofIndonesia | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Vietnam[f] | VIE | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 26 | ||||||||
| Total | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 296 | ||
Khmer Republic (KHM) in 1971 – 1973, as
People's Republic of Kampuchea (CAM) in 1983 – 1987, Never competed as
Democratic Kampuchea (CAM) and
State of Cambodia (CAM)
Kingdom of Laos (LAO) in 1959 – 1973.
Malaya (MAL) in 1959 – 1961.
Burma (BIR) in 1959 – 1987.South Vietnam (VNM) in 1959 – 1973.North Vietnam never competed. Unified Vietnam has competed since 1989.The 1963 SEAP Games were cancelled. As the designated host,Cambodia was unable to host the event due to instability in the country, along with a disagreement with theInternational Amateur Athletic Federation. The hosting rights for the 1965 SEAP Games were passed toLaos, but they withdrew, citing financial difficulties.[13] In 2023, Cambodia was finally able to host the Games for the first time.[14]
The SEAGF Charter and Rules mandate the minimum number of sports to be staged, with sports falling under numerous categories. Prior to 2023, a host nation must have staged a minimum of 22 sports: the two compulsory sports from Category 1 (athletics and aquatics), in addition to a minimum of 14 sports from Category 2 (Olympic and Asian Games core sports), and a maximum of 8 sports from Category 3. Each sport would not offer more than 5% of the total medal tally, except for athletics, aquatics and shooting (the shot was elevated for this category in 2013). For each sport and event to be included, a minimum of four countries must participate in it. Sports competed in theOlympic Games andAsian Games must be given priority.[2][15]
This charter was modified in 2023, with the first Games with this modification in effect was the2025 edition.[16] Each edition will have a minimum of 36 sports, composed as follows: the compulsory Category 1 which comprises two subcategories: 1A, which consists of aquatics and athletics, and 1B, a minimum of 10 Olympic sports from the Summer Olympic Games. Under Category 2, the host must include a minimum of 10 other sports from the Olympic Games (summer/winter), Asian Games, and Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games or Asian Beach Games. Category 3 is now capped at a maximum of four sports.[17][18]
| Category 1 | Category 2 | Category 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | 1B | Olympic sports | Asian Games / AIMAG / ABG sports | Traditional[a] | Other or ABG Sports[b] |
| Athletics | Archery 1977–1997, 2001–2021, since 2025 | Billiards and snooker Since 1987 | Arnis 1991, 2005, 2019, 2023 | Aquathlon 2023–2025 | |
| Diving Since 1965 | Badminton | Bowling 1977–1979, 1983–2001, 2005–2007, 2011, 2015–2021, since 2025 | Bokator 2023 | Baseball5[19] 2025 | |
| Artistic swimming 2001, 2011, 2015–2017, since 2025 | Baseball 2005–2007, 2011, 2019, 2025 | Chess 2003–2005, 2011–2013, 2019–2025 | Chinlone 2013–2017, since 2023 | Bodybuilding 1987–1993, 1997, 2003–2007, 2013, 2021 | |
| Swimming | Basketball 1979–2003, 2007, since 2011 | Cricket 2017, since 2023 | Muay Thai 2005–2009, 2013, 2019–2021, since 2025 | Beach handball 2019–2021 | |
| Water polo 1965–2019, since 2023 | Boxing | Dancesport 2005–2007, 2019–2023 | Traditional boat race 1993, 1997–1999, 2003–2007, 2011–2015, 2023–2025 | Contract bridge 2011 | |
| Canoeing 1985, 1995, 2001, 2005–2007, 2011–2015, 2019–2021, 2025 | Esports Since 2019 | Kenpō 2011–2013 | Duathlon 2007, 2021–2025 | ||
| Cycling 1959–1979, since 1983 | Finswimming 2003, 2009–2011, 2021-2023 | Kun Khmer 2023 | Floorball 2015, 2019, 2023–2025 | ||
| Equestrian 1983, 1995, 2001, 2005–2007, 2011–2017, since 2025 | Futsal 2007, 2011–2013, 2017, 2021, since 2025 | Vovinam 2011–2013, 2021–2023 | Lawn bowls 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2017–2019, 2027 | ||
| Fencing 2003–2007, 2011, since 2015 | Indoor hockey 2017–2019, since 2023 | Obstacle racing 2019, 2023 | |||
| Field hockey 1971–1979, 1983, 1987–1989, 1993–2001, 2007, 2013–2017, since 2023 | Ju-jitsu 2019–2025 | Paragliding 2011, 2025 (as demonstration sport) | |||
| Football | Kickboxing 2019–2025 | Pétanque Since 2001 | |||
| Golf 1985–1997, 2001, since 2005 | Kurash 2019–2021 | Polo 2007, 2017–2019, 2025 | |||
| Gymnastics 1979–1981, 1985–1997, 2001–2007, 2011, since 2015 | Netball 2001, 2015–2019, since 2025 | Shuttle cock 2007–2009 | |||
| Handball 2005–2007, 2021, 2025 | Pencak silat 1987–1989, 1993–1997, since 2001 | Soft tennis 2011, 2019, 2023 | |||
| Judo 1967–1997, since 2001 | Roller sports 2011 | Waterskiing 1987, 1997, 2011, 2015–2019, since 2025 | |||
| Karate 1985–1991, 1995–1997, 2001–2013, since 2017 | Rugby union 1969, 1977–1979, 1995, 2007 | ||||
| Modern pentathlon 2019, 2025 | Sambo 2019 | ||||
| Rowing 1989–1991, 1997, 2001–2007, 2011–2015, 2019–2021, 2025 | Sepak takraw 1967–1969, since 1973 | ||||
| Rugby sevens 2015–2019, since 2025 | Squash 1991–2001, 2005–2007, 2015–2019, since 2025 | ||||
| Sailing 1961, 1967–1971, 1975–1977, 1983–1997, 2001, 2005–2007, 2011–2019, since 2023 | Wushu 1991–1993, 1997, since 2001 | ||||
| Shooting 1959–2021, since 2025 | Xiangqi 2021–2023 | ||||
| Skateboarding 2019, 2025 | |||||
| Softball 1981–1983, 1989, 2003–2005, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2025 | |||||
| Sport climbing 2011, 2025 | |||||
| Surfing 2019 | |||||
| Table tennis | |||||
| Taekwondo Since 1985 | |||||
| Tennis 1959–2011, since 2015 | |||||
| Triathlon 2005–2007, since 2015 | |||||
| Volleyball 1959–1997, since 2001 | |||||
| Weightlifting 1959–1997, 2001–2013, since 2017 | |||||
| Wrestling 1987, 1997, 2003–2013, since 2019 | |||||
| Figure skating 2017–2019, since 2025 | |||||
| Ice hockey 2017–2019, since 2025 | |||||
| Short track speed skating 2017–2019, since 2025 | |||||
Corrected after balancing the data of theOlympic Council of Asia and other archived sites which had kept the previous Southeast Asian Games medal tables. Some information from the aforementioned sites are missing, incorrect and or not updated.[20][21][22][23][24][25][26]
Last Uptdated after the2025 SEA Games
| Rank | NOC | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thailand | 2,686 | 2,281 | 2,313 | 7,280 |
| 2 | Indonesia | 2,072 | 1,987 | 2,101 | 6,160 |
| 3 | Malaysia[1] | 1,433 | 1,420 | 1,990 | 4,843 |
| 4 | Vietnam[2] | 1,356 | 1,178 | 1,331 | 3,865 |
| 5 | Philippines | 1,230 | 1,418 | 1,855 | 4,503 |
| 6 | Singapore | 1,097 | 1,151 | 1,587 | 3,835 |
| 7 | Myanmar[3] | 594 | 805 | 1,144 | 2,543 |
| 8 | Cambodia[4] | 159 | 202 | 425 | 786 |
| 9 | Laos | 79 | 131 | 439 | 649 |
| 10 | Brunei | 18 | 60 | 175 | 253 |
| 11 | Timor-Leste | 3 | 10 | 46 | 59 |
| Totals (11 entries) | 10,727 | 10,643 | 13,406 | 34,776 | |
Various individuals have won multiple medals at the Games, including the preceding Southeast Asian Peninsular Games.
As of 2019, Singaporean swimmerJoscelin Yeo has won the most Southeast Asian Games medals with 55 (40 gold, 12 silver, 3 bronze). She reached this milestone during the2005 Games, overtaking the previous record of 39 gold medals set by another Singaporean swimmer,Patricia Chan.
One unique characteristic of the event is that there are no official limits to the number of sports and events to be contested, and the range can be decided by the organizing host pending approval by the Southeast Asian Games Federation. This has seen as many as 50 to 56 sports for the2025 and2019 editions, respectively. Aside from mandatory sports, the host is free to drop or introduce other sports or events (SeeSEA Games sports).[27] This leeway has resulted in hosts maximizing their medal hauls by dropping sports disadvantageous to themselves relative to their peers and the introduction of obscure sports, often at short notice, thus preventing most other nations from building credible opponents.[28][29][30] Several nations have called for amending the charter of the games to address the issue.[31][32] In 2023, the SEA Games charter was modified in an effort to make the number of sports in each edition more standardized, reducing the host's leeway to remove several sports, maximize medal hauls by introducing obscure local sports, and tamper with the competition's rules.[17][33]
|
|
|
|
| SEAP Games |  | |
|---|---|---|
| SEA Games |
| |
1 Cancelled due to hosting issues and theVietnam War.2 Postponed to 2022 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.3Songkhla was removed from co-host due to the floods caused byCyclone Senyar. | ||
| Nations at theSEA Games | |
|---|---|
