Nay Pyi Taw November 19
A ceremony to hand over the National Flag to the Myanmar sports contingent that will take part in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Thai-land was held at Wunnatheikdi Indoor Stadium A in Nay Pyi Taw this morning, addressed by Acting President of the Re-public of the Union of Myanmar, Chairman of State Security and Peace Commission Senior General Min Aung Hlaing who presented the Flag.
Also present were SSPC member Prime Minister U Nyo Saw, SSPC Secretary Joint Executive Chief General Ye Win Oo, SSPC members, union ministers, union level dignitaries, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the Nay Pyi Taw Command commander, deputy ministers, members of Myanmar Olympic Council, presidents and vice presidents of Myanmar sports federations, invited guests, athletes, managers, coaches of the contingent, and officials.
First, the athletes of the contingent introduced themselves team wise.
In his address the Senior General said the 33rd SEA Games to be held in Thailand from 9 to 20 December 2025 is just around the corner. He expressed belief that all the athletes are physically, spiritually and technically ready for the games.
He said as the entire people have witnessed sportsmen and sportswomen undergoing vigorous training and conducting trial runs with zeal, diligence and perseverance, they are supporting them with high hopes.
As the slogan, “Practice makes perfect, perfect brings confidence, confidence ignites courage, and courage ensures victory” it is believed that athletes now have sufficient training and are ready to partake in the games with confidence and eagerness for success.
The coming SEA Games is a good opportunity for athletes to win medals for the country and practically show their brilliant sports ability. The entire nation is expecting that all athletes of the contingent will surely grab this opportunity and bring honour to the nation. People of the entire country believe that athletes will realize their belief and expectations with all-out efforts.
The 33rd SEA Games will include 54 sports events, and Myanmar has provided time and training facilities for the sportsmen and sportswomen to take part in 38 events with greater ability. The training sessions for national selections include 14 awareness programs on medical and psychological knowledge and banned drugs. In addition, the State bore the cost of medicines, food, allowances, training equipment and other expenses.
The country has sent the athletes of the contingent to take part in 29 sports events in foreign countries for 119 times, joint training sessions in foreign countries in 16 events for 30 times, and hired five foreigner coaches at the government’s expense in enabling them to have international experience and standard qualification. In the 32nd SEA Games, Myanmar took part in 19 events and won 21 gold medals, 25 silver medals and 68 bronze medals, totalling 114, and the State awarded Ks-333,300,000 as prize money.
The contingent to the 33rd SEA Games must strive to win more medals than the previous one. Only then, will Myanmar be able to document its victory in sports history and improve its image.
He stated that as the South-east Asian Games are the highest level of sports competition in the ASEAN region, they should aim and strive to continue competing in the Asian and World Olympic Games after this competition. He noted that a sports competition is also a contest of ability that fairly demonstrates a nation’s and a people’s health, perseverance, diligence, effort, and unity.
He also advised that since it concerns the dignity of the motherland, Myanmar, and all its citizens, the goal of winning every competition must be recognized and internalized as a national duty resting on the shoulders of all members of the Myanmar sports team.
He stated that the sports sector is crucial for the longevity and health of the entire nation, emphasizing that promoting the sports sector encourages patriotism and the desire to protect the country, in line with the motto, “promoting sports is akin to defending and safeguarding the nation.”
For this reason, during their tenure, the Ministry of Health and Sports was separated into the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs on August 1, 2021. He explained that the objective is to nurture young people to become good citizens, sound in mind and body, by encouraging them to pursue sports alongside their education from a young age, thereby achieving all five aspects of physical and mental strength.
He stated that the State has continually honored athletes who brought home medals from past Asian and Southeast Asian Games by presenting them with awards, and also by granting them monthly allowances for the rest of their lives starting from the age of 60. Furthermore, on major national holidays, national sports heroes are deservedly re-
cognized and honored with titles such as the Wunna Kyaw Htin Title, the Social Excellence Award (First, Second, and Third Class). He mentioned that as of 2025, a total of 212 individuals have been honored, including 21 Wunna Kyaw Htin Titles, 65 Social Excellence Awards (First Class), 48 (Second Class), and 78 (Third Class). He added that the remaining national sports heroes to be honored will continue to be reviewed and awarded, and the male and female athletes who win medals for the State in the current competition will receive similar benefits.
He stated that the national selected athletes who will compete representing the State are now fully and firmly equipped with factors such as good health, technical mastery, high athletic performance, and excellent standards. Therefore, he reiterated his encouragement to all members of the Myanmar sports team to base their efforts on patriotism and nationalistic spirit, exerting their utmost diligence, perseverance, and effort to achieve victory in the competition and uplift the honor of the motherland.
He wished to state that the sporting achievements that emerge from this major com-petition will be deservedly recognized and honored with awards. Finally, he extended the State’s gratitude to everyone, including the Myanmar sports federations, who aided and supported in all aspects for their participation in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
He concluded by urging all members of the Myanmar sports contingent to compete with utmost effort, driven by the nationalistic resolve to uplift the dignity of the nation and the people; to cooperate and assist each other with team spirit and family spirit throughout the competition; to compete fairly and cleanly with the spirit of good global citizens, thereby fulfilling their duty as good sports goodwill ambassadors who further enhance the existing friendship among the sibling nations of the Southeast Asian region; and to strive to keep the flag of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar flying high as heroes of sport who elevate the honor of the country and the nation.
Subsequently, the Senior General presented the flag of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to the Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Jeng Phang Naw Taung, as the Victory Flag for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
Following this, the Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs briefed the Senior General on the preparations made by the Myanmar sports team competing in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
The report stated that the Senior General then went around greeting and encouraging the sports teams that will participate in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games and inspected the equipment to be used by the teams for each sport in their respective exhibition rooms, providing necessary instructions and fulfilling requirements based on the presentations made by the officials.
