Myanmar SEA Games: A coming-out party

Myanmar officially welcomes thousands of athletes on Wednesday, December 11 for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, an event billed as a coming-out party for the former pariah nation emerging from decades of international isolation. The opening ceremony for the regional showpiece is being held in a spotless, purpose-built 30,000-capacity stadium in Naypyidaw, the utilitarian capital built by secretive generals — far from the bustle of commercial capital Yangon. Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, last hosted the games more than 4 decades ago and the return of the multi-sport event comes as political and economic reforms sweep the impoverished nation following the dissolution of the ruling junta in 2011. The SEA Games are held every two years, offering regional bragging rights and a chance for athletes from lesser sporting nations to shine in sports ranging from athletics to the obscure cane-ball game chinlone and martial arts vovinam and pencak silat.


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