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Multi-Sport Games

Olympic Games

The Olympic Games, organised once every four years under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is the largest sporting celebration gathering the greatest number of athletes and people from over 200 nations in one place.

The modern Olympic Games had its roots in the Olympian Games held over 2,300 years ago in the Olympia area in Greece. Due to outbreaks of war in the region, the ancient Olympic Games ended in 393 AD.

Then, over 1,500 years later, in 1896, following the proposal from a French educator, Baron Pierre de Coubertin to the international congress in Paris in 1894, the first modern Olympic Games was held in Athens, Greece. 

The modern Olympic Games now comprise of:

  • The Summer Olympic Games
  • The Winter Olympic Games
  • The Youth Summer Olympic Games
  • The Youth Winter Olympic Games

Until 1992, the Summer and Winter Olympic Games were held in the same year but since 1994, have alternated between a summer and winter edition every two years within the four-year period of each Olympiad.

For a beginner’s guide to the Olympic Games, click here.

Tokyo 2020

Rio 2016

London 2012

Beijing 2008

The first edition of the modern Olympic Games held under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was staged in Athens, Greece, in 1896. Since then, the Games which is also known as the Games of the Olympiad is held once every four years except in 1916, 1940 and 1944 where the Games were cancelled due to the First and Second World Wars respectively.

Meanwhile, the XXXII Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 first scheduled for 24 July - 9 August 2020 was postponed to 23 July – 8 August 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prior to the formation of the Federation of Malaya Olympic Council in 1953 and its subsequent recognition by the IOC in 1954, some Malayans may have participated in the Olympic Games, representing their countries of origin, such as China and India. After receiving the recognition of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1954, the Federation of Malaya Olympic Council, as it was then known, sent a contingent of 33 athletes from 6 sports to participate in the Olympic Games in 1956 in Melbourne. 

Since then, the Olympic Council of Malaysia, as it is known since 1964, has been participating in all the Olympic Games, except the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Our athletes have won a total of eleven (11) Olympic medals, with badminton being the biggest contributor (8), followed by diving (2) and cycling (1). The eleven medals consist of 7 silver medals and 4 bronze medals.

The first Olympic medal for Malaysia was won a bronze medal in Badminton, in the Men’s Doubles event at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, through brothers Razif and Jalani Sidek.

For a summary of medals won by Malaysians, click here.

The most successful Malaysian Olympian by medals won is Datuk Wira Lee Chong Wei (Badminton) with 3 silver medals. With appearances at the five (5) Olympic Games (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020), Leong Mun Yee (Diving) holds the record for the greatest number of appearances at the Olympic Games.

Beijing 2022

PyeongChang 2018

The first edition of the Winter Olympic Games was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. Since 1994, the Olympic Games have alternated between a summer and winter edition every two years within the four-year period of each Olympiad.

Malaysia first competed at the Winter Olympic Games in the 2018 edition in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The Malaysian contingent in 2018 consisted of two athletes (1 Alpine skier and 1 figure skater).

Buenos Aires 2018

The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) is an international multi-sport event organised every four (4) years by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for athletes aged between 14 to 18 years old. 

The YOG comprise of:

  • The Summer Youth Olympic Games;
  • The Winter Youth Olympic Games.

The first edition of the Youth Summer Olympic Games was held in Singapore from 14-26 August 2010. The 2022 edition of the Youth Summer Olympic Games which was due in Dakar, Senegal, had to be postponed to year 2026 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lausanne 2020

Lillehammer 2016

The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) is an international multi-sport event organised every four (4) years by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for athletes aged between 14 to 18 years old. 

The YOG comprise of:

  • The Summer Youth Olympic Games;
  • The Winter Youth Olympic Games.

The first winter edition was held in Innsbruck, Austria from 13 – 22 January 2012. Malaysia made its maiden appearance at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games. Figure skater Chew Kai Xiang was the sole Malaysian representative in Lillehammer, Norway. Four years later in Lausanne, Switzerland, Malaysia was represented by Sean Yeo and Dione Tan – both competing for short track speed skating.

Previous Olympic Games Medal Tally

In the years 1956 to 1988, 2000 and 2004 Malaysian Olympic athletes did not win any medal from previous games.

XXV Olympic Games 1992 in Barcelona - Brother Razif Sidek and Jalani Sidek won Malaysia's first Olympic medal when they won the bronze medal in the Men's Badminton Doubles.

XXVI Olympic Games 1996 in Atlanta - Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock won Malaysia's second Olympic medal when they won the silver medal in the Men's Badminton Doubles event. Rashid Sidek emulated the feat of his elder brothers four years earlier when he won the bronze medal in the Men's Badminton Singles event.

XXIX Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing - Lee Chong Wei won Malaysia's fourth Olympic medal when he won the silver medal in the Men's Badminton Singles event.

XXX Olympic Games 2012 in London - Lee Chong Wei won Malaysia's fifth Olympic medal when he won the silver medal in the Men's Badminton Singles event. Pandelela Rinong Pamg won Malaysia's sixth Olympic medal when she won the bronze medal in the Women's 10m Platform diving.

XXXI Olympic Games 2016 in Rio - Lee Chong Wei won Malaysia's seventh Olympic medal when he won the silver medal in the Men's Badminton Singles event for his last appearance in Olympics. - Pandelela Rinong and Jun Hoong won Malaysia's eighth Olympic medal when they won the silver medal in the Women's Synchronised 10m Platform. - Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying delivered the ninth Olympic medal for Malaysia as they won the silver medal in the Badminton Mixed Doubles. - Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong won Malaysia's tenth Olympic Medal when they won the silver medal in the Men's Badminton Doubles event. - Azizulhasni Awang won Malaysia's eleventh Olympic medal as he won the bronze medal for the Men's Keirin Cycling event.  

Year Host Gold Silver Bronze Total

2021

Tokyo, Japan

-

1

1

2

2016

Rio de Janerio, Brazil

-

3

1

4

2012

London, Great Britain

-

1 1

2

2008

Beijing, China

-

1

-

1

2004

Athens, Greece

-

-

-

0

2000

Sydney, Australia

-

-

-

0

1996

Atlanta, Georgia

-

1

1

2

1992

Barcelona, Spain

-

-

1

1

1988

Seoul, South Korea

-

-

-

0

1984

Los Angeles, USA

-

-

-

0

1980

Moscow, Russia

-

-

-

0

1976

Montreal, Canada

-

-

-

0

1972

Munich, Germany

-

-

-

0

1968

Mexico City, Mexico

-

-

-

0

1964

Tokyo, Japan

-

-

-

0

1960

Rome, Italy

- -

-

0

1956

Melbourne, Australia / Stockholm, Sweden

-

-

-

0

No. Year Games City, Country Chef de Mission
1 1896 I Olympic Games Athens, Greece Did Not Participate
2 1900 II Olympic Games Paris, France Did Not Participate
3 1904 III Olympic Games St. Louis, USA Did Not Participate
4 1908 IV Olympic Games London, Great Britain Did Not Participate
5 1912 V Olympic Games Stockholm, Sweden Did Not Participate
6 1916 VI Olympic Games (cancelled) Berlin, Germany Did Not Participate
7 1920 VII Olympic Games Antwerp, Belgium Did Not Participate
8 1924 VIII Olympic Games Paris, France Did Not Participate
9 1928 IX Olympic Games Amsterdam, Netherlands Did Not Participate
10 1932 X Olympic Games Los Angeles, USA Did Not Participate
11 1936 XI Olympic Games Berlin, Germany Did Not Participate
12 1940 XII Olympic Games (cancelled) Tokyo, Japan Did Not Participate
13 1944 XIII Olympic Games (cancelled) London, Great Britain Did Not Participate
14 1948 XIV Olympic Games London, Great Britain Did Not Participate
15 1952 XV Olympic Games Helsinki, Finland Did Not Participate
16 1956 XVI Olympic Games Melbourne, Australia / Stockholm, Sweden Herman Marie de Souza
17 1960 XVII Olympic Games Rome, Italy Lim Kee Seong
18 1964 XVIII Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan Dato' Donald Stephens
19 1968 XIX Olympic Games Mexico City, Mexico Khaw Kai Boh
20 1972 XX Olympic Games Munich, Germany Dato' Hj Harun Idris
21 1976 XXI Olympic Games Montreal, Canada YM Raja Tan Sri Azlan Shah
22 1980 XXII Olympic Games Moscow, Russia Did Not Participate
23 1984 XXIII Olympic Games Los Angeles, USA YM Tunku Adnan bin Tunku Besar Burhanuddin
24 1988 XXIV Olympic Games Seoul, South Korea YAM Tunku Imran Ibni Tuanku Ja'afar
25 1992 XXV Olympic Games Barcelona, Spain Tan Sri Dato Elyas Omar
26 1996 XXVI Olympic Games Atlanta, Georgia Dato' Dr Abdullah Fadzil Che Wan
27 2000 XXVII Olympic Games Sydney, Australia Tan Sri P. Alagendra
28 2004 XXVIII Olympic Games Athens, Greece Datuk Dr. M. Jegathesan
29 2008 XXIX Olympic Games Beijing, China Dato’ Ho Koh Chye
30 2012 XXX Olympic Games London, Great Britain Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid
31 2016 XXXI Olympic Games Rio de Janerio, Brazil Tan Sri Mohamed Al Amin Abdul Majid
32 2020 (2021) XXXII Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan Datuk Lee Chong Wei
33 2024 XXXIII Olympic Games Paris, France Datuk Haji Hamidin Haji Mohd Amin

No.

Year

Flag Bearer

Sport

1

1956

Tan Kim Bee

Weightlifting

2

1960

Shahrudin Mohamed Ali

Athletics

3

1964

Kuda Ditta

Athletics

4

1968

Nashatar Singh Sidhu

Athletics

5

1972

Ali Bakar

Football

6

1976

Ahmed Ishtiaq Mubarak

Athletics

7

1984

Sabiahmad Abdullah Ahad

Shooting

8

1988

Nordin Mohamed Jadi

Athletics

9

1992

Razif Sidek

Badminton

10

1996

Nor Saiful Zaini Nasir-ud-Din

Hockey

11

2000

Mirnawan Nawawi

Hockey

12

2004

Bryan Lomas

Diving

13

2008

Mohd Azizulhasni Awang

Cycling

14

2012

Pandelela Rinong

Diving

15

2016

Lee Chong Wei

Badminton

16

2020 (2021)

Lee Zii Jia & Goh Liu Ying

Badminton

17

2024

Bertrand Rhodict Lises & Nur Shazrin Mohamad

Diving & Sailing


From 1913 to 1934, ten Far East Championships were held in Asia. However, due to outbreak of World War II, the championships had to be suspended. After the war, a number of Asian countries gained their independence and their economies and cultures developed. This resulted in an increasing desire among the people of these countries to become less isolated from each other and to strengthen regional ties. To keep abreast of the changes taking place, the Indian Prime Minister of the day, Jawaharal Nehru, proposed at a conference on relations between Asian countries that an Asian sport meet be held in 1974.

In August 1948, during the 14th Olympic Games held in London, India proposed to sports leaders of the Asian teams the idea of holding the Asian Games. An agreement was made to form the Asian Athletic Federation and plans were laid to hold the first Asian Athletic Championships in New Delhi, India, in 1949 A Preparatory Committee was appointed to draft the charter for the Asian Amateur Athletic Federation. In February 1949, the Asian Amateur Athletic Federation was formally established and the name was changed to the Asian Athletic Federation.

It was agreed that the 1st Asian Games would be held in New Delhi in 1950, but the games had to be postponed and were eventually held in 1951 Since that time, the Asian Games have been held on a regular basis every four years, in between the Olympic Games.

Subsequently, other nations shared the same pride of playing host to the Asian Games. The objective of the Games is to deepen friendship and promote sports and international exchange among the people of Asia. The Asian Games follow the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) credo of & quote, ever Onward & quote. During their four-decade history, Asian Games have been advancing in all aspects. The quality of athletes, officials, sporting facilities has been developing through time. New sports events have been added to the Games. At the same time, magnificent, traditional sports played by peoples in the region have also been introduced in order to preserve and even have them spread to other parts of the world.

Jakarta & Palembang 2018

Incheon 2014

Guangzhou 2010

Doha 2006

These are the Asian Games Malaysia has participated in.

Year Host Gold Silver Bronze

Total

Rank

2018

Jakarta /Palembang

7

13

16

36

14

2014

Incheon

5

14

14

33

14

2010

Guangzhou

9

18 13

41

10

2006

Doha

8

17

17

42

9

2002

Busan

6

8

16

30

11

1998

Bangkok

5

10

14

29

11

1994

Hiroshima

4

2

13

19

12

1990

Beijing

2

2

4

8

13

1986

Seoul

0

5

5

10

8

1982

New Delhi

1

0

3

4

14

1978

Bangkok

2

1

3

6

12

1974

Tehran

0

1

4

5

14

1970

Bangkok

5

1

7

13

11

1966

Bangkok

7

5

6

18

9

1962

Jakarta

2

3

9

14

8

1958

Tokyo

0 0

3

3

10

1954

Manila

0

0

0

0

-

1951

New Delhi

-

-

-

-

-

Year Name of Chef de Mission Games Location
1951 Did Not Participate New Delhi, India
1954 N. M. Vasagam Manila, Philippines
1958 S.M. Yong Tokyo, Japan
1962 Oh Boon Tat Jakarta, Indonesia
1966 Tan Sri Abdul Jamil Rais Bangkok, Thailand
1970 Lee Kuan Yew Bangkok, Thailand
1974 Y.B. Tunku Adnan Tunku Besar Burhanuddin Tehran, Iran
1978 Y.B. Dato' Mohamad Rahmat Bangkok, Thailand
1982 Y.B. Dato' Wan Mansor New Delhi, India
1986 Y.A.A. Tan Sri Dato’ Abd Hamid Haji Omar Seoul, South Korea
1990 Dato’ Alexander Lee Yu Lung Beijing, China
1994 Dato’ Haji Taha Ariffin Hiroshima, Japan
1998 1. Prof. Dato’ Dr. Zakaria Ahmad
2. Ms. Norminshah Sabirin
Bangkok, Thailand
2002 Dato’ Mohd Khalid Mohd Yunus Busan, South Korea
2006 Dato’ A. Sani Karim Doha, Qatar
2010 Dato’ Zolkples Embong Guangzhou, China
2014 RAdm Dato’ Pahlawan Danyal Balagopal Abdullah (rtd) Incheon, South Korea
2018 Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi Jakarta-Palembang, Indonesia
2022
(postponed
2023)
Dato' Chong Kim Fatt Hangzhou, China

No.

Year

Flag Bearer

Sport

1

1962

 

 

2

1966

 

 

3

1970

Nashatar Singh Sidhu

Athletics

4

1974

 

 

5

1978

 

 

6

1982

 

 

7

1986

 

 

8

1990

 

 

9

1994

 

 

10

1998

Abdul Mutalib Abdul Razak

Shooting

11

2002

Shalin Zulkifli

Bowling

12

2006

Josiah Ng

Cycling

13

2010

Koo Kien Keat

Badminton

14

2014

Nicol David

Squash

15

2018

Syakilla Salni Binti Jefry Krisnan@Krisnamurthy

Karate

The Commonwealth Games was proposed by Englishman, Astley Cooper in 1891 as a festival. Reverend J Astley Cooper was largely responsible for the concept of a sporting contest amongst the countries of the British Commonwealth.

He wrote an article in 1891 for the magazine Greater Britain, in which he suggested that a festival combining sporting, military and literary events that would draw closer the ties and increase the goodwill and understanding of the Empire. His suggestion generated a great deal of interest in Britain and the British Colonies.

The holding of the first recorded Games between Empire athletes coincided with the celebrations in connection with the Coronation of His Majesty King George the Fifth in 1911, and was known as the ‘Festival of Empire’.

A large and representative Committee, with the Earl of Plymouth as Chairman, arranged at the Crystal Palace Grounds in London a series of entertainments and exhibitions pertaining to the progress and development of the British Empire.

When the Olympic Games were in progress in Amsterdam in 1928, the splendid feelings of friendliness between the Empire athletes at that Olympiad strengthened the ideas for the revival of Empire meetings. In view of Canada’s victory in 1911, it was appropriate that it should have been through the initiative of a Canadian – M. M Robinson – that the British Empire Games took definite shape, and were revived at Hamilton, Canada in 1930.

Support was forthcoming from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, with the result that strong teams were sent to Canada. Teams also came from Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda, British Guiana, Newfoundland and South Africa.

The success of the first British Empire Games at Hamilton in 1930 provided full proof of the existence of the spirit of comradeship and cooperation between members of the British nation and the world over and will go down in the history of British sport as the achievement of all that is best in the sporting traditions of the British race.

During these Games, at a council of representatives of Great Britain and the Dominions and Colonies, it was decided that similar meetings should be held every four years in between the Olympic Games and that a British Empire Games Federation should be formed. Accordingly, when teams throughout the Empire were gathered together at the Tenth Olympiad at Los Angeles in 1932, the formation of the British Empire Games Federation was further discussed and the Federation was subsequently constituted.

In 1952 the Federation was retitled “British Empire and Commonwealth Games Federation”. In Jamaica 1966 it became the “British Commonwealth Games Federation and in 1974 at Christchurch, the title was again changed to the “Commonwealth Games Federation”.

In general construction, the Commonwealth Games are designed on the Olympic model, not in competition, but entirely complementary to the older series of Games, and, organised as they are between the Olympic celebrations, the experience gained should be of real help to the Commonwealth athletes when facing the sterner trial of the great international meetings. The Commonwealth champions of today may well be the Olympic challengers of tomorrow.

Additionally, the para-sport programme at the Commonwealth Games is fully integrated into the sports schedule of the Commonwealth Games. Further, a medal won by a para-athlete contributes to a nation's medal tally in exactly the same way as those won by able-body athletes. 

Events for Athletes with a Disability were first included on the Commonwealth Games programme as an exhibition sport at the Victoria 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada. However, it was at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, where para-athletes were fully integrated into their national teams, making them the first fully inclusive international multi-sport Games.

The Commonwealth Games consists of:

  • The Commonwealth Games
  • The Commonwealth Youth Games

Birmingham 2022

Gold Coast 2018

Glasgow 2014

Delhi 2010

Melbourne 2006

The Commonwealth Games is an international Multi-Sport Games, organised under the auspices of the Commonwealth Games Federation, which was first held in 1930. The Games is held once every four years with the exception of 1942 and 1946 when the Games were cancelled due to the Second World War.

Countries from the Commonwealth are eligible to participate in the Commonwealth Games. Apart from many Olympic sports, the games also include some sports which are played predominantly in Commonwealth countries but which are not part of the Olympic programme, such as lawn bowls, netball, cricket and squash.[9]

Malaysia first participated in the Commonwealth Games (then 4th British Empire Games) in 1950 as Malaya and while we missed the 5th British Empire Games in 1954 in Vancouver due to financial constraints, Malaysia has been a regular participation nation of the Commonwealth Games. The only exception is the 13th Commonwealth Games 1986 which was held in Edinburg. Malaysia boycotted the 13th Commonwealth Games in support of the member organisations of Africa, because of the failure of the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to impose economic sanctions on South Africa.

In the 1950, 1958 and 1962 Games, Malaysia participated as Malaya. Additionally, in the 1958 and 1962 Games, North Borneo (now Sabah and Sarawak) also competed as an individual “country”. Both became states of the newly formed Malaysia in 1963.

Malaysia (or Malaya) has won medals in every Commonwealth Games since the 1950, with Tho Fook Hung and Koh Eng Tong winning Malaya’s first two gold medals in the Games. Both athletes were from the sport of Weightlifting.

Badminton and Weightlifting are the two most successful sports for Malaysia in the Commonwealth Games. Badminton has contributed a total of 29 gold medals while Weightlifting has bagged 10 gold medals. 

The most successful Malaysian at a Commonwealth Games by medals won is Datuk Wira Lee Chong Wei (Badminton) with 5 gold medals and 1 silver medal.


Year Host Gold Silver Bronze

Total

Rank

2022

Birmingham, England

7

8

8

23

10

2018

Gold Coast, Australia

7

5

12

24

12

2014

Glasgow, Scotland

6

7

6

19

12

2010

Delhi, India

12

10 14

36

7

2006

Melbourne, Australia

7

12

10

29

8

2002

Manchester, England

7

9

18

34

8

1998

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

10

13

12

35

4

1994

Victoria, Canada

2

2

2

6

14

1990

Auckland, New Zealand

2

2

0

4

10

1986

Edinburgh, Scotland

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

DNP

1982

Brisbane, Australia

1

0

1

2

13

1978

Edmonton, Canada

1

2

1

4

12

1974

Crishtchurch, New Zealand

1

0

3

4

15

1970

Edinburgh, Scotland

1

1

1

3

15

1966

Kingston, Jamaica

2

2

1

5

12

1962

Perth, Australia

0

0

1

1

17

1958

Cardiff, Wales

0 2

0

2

15

1950

Auckland, New Zealand

2

1

1

4

17

Year Name of Chef de Mission Games Location
1950 Under Singapore Delegate Auckland, New Zealand
1954 DID NOT PARTICIPATE Vancouver. Canada
1958 Mr. Khaw Kai Boh Cardiff, Wales
1962 Mr. On Boon Tat Perth, Australia
1966 Mr. On Boon Tat Kingston, Jamaica
1970 Mr. Sum Kok Seng Edinburgh, Scotland
1974 Tunku Adnan Christchurch, New Zealand
1978 Mr. Thong Poh Yen Edmonton, Canada
1982 Tan Sri Khir Johari Brisbane, Australia
1990 Tan Sri Dato' Elyas  Bin Omar Auckland, New Zealand
1994 Mr. Ally T. H. Ong Victoria, Canada
1998 Dato' Khalid Mohd Yunus Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2002 Mr. W. Y. Chin Manchester, England
2006 Dato' Seri Kee Yong Wee Melbourne, Australia
2010 Tan Sri Abdul Halil Abd Mutalif Delhi, India
2014 Dato' Ong Poh Eng Glasgow, Scotland
2018 Huang Ying How Gold Coast, Australia
2022 Y.B. Dato' Shahrul Zaman Yahya Birmingham, England

No.

Year

Flag Bearer

Sport

1

1962

 

 

2

1966

 

 

3

1970

 

 

4

1974

 

 

5

1978

 

 

6

1982

 

 

7

1986

 

 

8

1990

 

 

9

1994

 

 

10

1998

Mohd. Zaki Sadri

Athletics

11

2002

Wong Choong Hann

Badminton

12

2006

Shahrulneeza Mohd. Razali

Cycling

13

2010

Siti Zalina Ahmad

Lawn Bowls

14

2014

Fatehah Mustapha

Cycling

15

2018

Muhammad Hakimi Ismail

Athletics

16

2022

Aifa Azman / Bonnie Bunyau Gustin

Squash / Powerlifting

The origins of athletic competition lie in the mists of time when tribal members competed in the everyday skills of survival. The fastest and strongest were lauded, for it was they who ensured the tribe’s continued existence, in times of peace and in times of war.

Certainly, Laung Sukhumanaipradit is hardly a household name, yet as a vice president of the Olympic Committee, he first floated the idea of a smaller sports event comprising the nations of the Southeast Asian peninsula, during the Third Asian Games held in Tokyo in 1958. At a meeting held on 22 May the same year, representatives from Burma (Myanmar), Laos and Malaysia met with their Thai hosts to explore the possibilities.

There was a certain logic to the idea. The countries of the region had many similarities. Modest of population and on a comparable economic footing, they shared common sports participation as well as roughly equal standards of achievement. Such an event would serve as a stepping stone for Southeast Asian athletes to raise their standards so as to be more competitive when they met more advantaged athletes in the larger arenas of the Asian and Olympic Games.

The meeting resulted in the formation of the Southeast Asian Peninsula (SEAP) Games Federation in June 1959, the founder members being Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam – hence the six interlocked rings that formed the Games logo. The first president of the Federation was General Prabhas Charusatiara of Thailand and Luang Mayapradit was elected vice president with Dr Kalya Israsena taking the role of honorary secretary. Other pioneer members of the committee included Ms U Paing of Burma, His Highness Sisowath Essaro of Cambodia, Mr Nakkhla Souvannong of Laos, Mr Thong Poh Nyen of Malaysia and Mr Bguyen Phuoc Vong of Vietnam.

In deference to their efforts in bringing the whole concept to fruition, Thailand was given the honour of hosting the inaugural SEAP Games in 1959. Formally declared open by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand in Bangkok’s National Stadium, some 800 athletes and officials took part in 12 sporting disciplines: Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Cycling, Football, Tennis, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball and Weightlifting. The atmosphere of friendly competition added to the whole experience and the SEAP Games was definitely ‘off and running’.

The Federation had already decided that in future “the honour of hosting the SEAP Games shall be entrusted to the member organisation of each country in rotation in alphabetical order”. Thus the hosts for the II SEAP Games were the Burmese, and President Win Maung of the Union of Burma inaugurated the 1961 meet at Rangoon. Cambodia did not take part in the inaugural Games but joined the fray in the second Games at Rangoon in 1961 which had a full turnout of the seven countries. Again, more than 800 athletes and officials took part and shared in the friendly ambience of athletic rivalry and social interaction.

The year 1963 saw a hiccup in planning though, as due to unsettling in-country conditions – and a disagreement with the International Amateur Athletic Federation – the designated hosts Cambodia were not able to host the event. The III SEAP Games then passed to Laos as hosts, but they begged off the 1965 event citing financial difficulties. Fortunately, though, Malaysia steeped into the breach which, by right, should have been held in 1963 and the eight days sporting extravaganza was held in Kuala Lumpur with around 1,300 athletes and officials taking part. By now the SEAP Games Federation had gained another member with Singapore’s independence from the Malaysian Federation in August that year.

The incapability of Cambodia, Laos and South Vietnam to take on the job of hosting the Games in the foreseeable future raised some concern among the other member countries. Even the participation of these countries was limited to token squads. In 1967, Cambodia again declined to host the Games, but Thailand took over and some 1,200 participants gathered in Bangkok. The next scheduled hosts were Vietnam, but they too had to reluctantly inform the Federation that troubles in the country prevented them from fulfilling their obligations, and the V SEAP Games returned to Rangoon. Singapore, the youngest member of the family, made the first move to alleviate the situation. In 1969 at Rangoon the Fifth Games were held, they proposed changing the SEAP Games name to SEA (South East Asia ) Games.

No names were mentioned but it was clear that Singapore thought of reinforcements from Indonesia and Philippines to help lift the sagging fortunes of the series. These two countries, which were more advanced in the affairs of international sport that the original members of the SEAP Games Federation, would not only be able to help out in the hosts' job which was going abetting but also enter contestants of a higher standard in some events.

Thailand held on to their belief that the SEAP Games should be a small family affair and that going out of the peninsular would defeat the original purpose of the Games. An expanded Games would also not be in the real spirit of close neighbours.

Two years later, when Kuala Lumpur’s turn to officially host the VI SEAP Games for the second time in six years, Malaysia joined hands with Singapore to resubmit the name change proposal. Again, there was no success.

The Games continued in their original framework but the serious competition was provided only by Thailand, Burma, Malaysia and Singapore. Cambodia and later Khmer, Laos and South Vietnam sent competitors who were mostly full-time soldiers with little or no training in the events they were entered.

The four “active” countries who had to carry the burden of hosting the Games were further depleted when Burma showed no further interest in helping out after hosting the 1969 Games, due to the deteriorating economy in their country.

Singapore hosted the VII SEAP Games for the first time with a full turnout of seven countries being held at the new and modern National Stadium in 1973. However, when Bangkok took its turn as host for the VII SEAP Games two years later, only four members organisations turned up – political problems in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam prevented their participation and cast serious doubts on their ability to take part in upcoming events anytime soon.

An idea that had flamed so boldly into life less that two decades before now seemed liable to be extinguished, crippled by regional political problems and the increasing cost burden of hosting the event so regularly – Thailand had already hosted the Games three times, and Burma and Malaysia twice apiece. A lifeline was needed.

Malaysia tendered a suggestion – extend the Federation to include other countries in the Southeast Asian region. To back up its proposal, Malaysia offered to again host the Games on the proviso that Brunei, Indonesia and Philippines be invited to take part. A solution had been found and on 5 February 1977, these three new members were officially welcomed into the Federation. Present on this occasion were Ferry Sonneville of Indonesia and Colonel Nereo Andolong of the Philippines.

Still, it was not plain sailing. Behind the scenes persuasion on the eve of the meeting by Olympic Council of Malaysia President, Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah got Thailand to withdraw some reservations about a change in name for the Games. Thailand, with good reason, viewed the Games with some sentiment. They were instrumental in starting the series and did not wish to let their early work go to waste.

With fresh life breathed into the biennial event, the only cosmetic change required was to drop the word “Peninsula” from the federation’s title – the emblem and the sequential numbering of the Games would remain to perpetuate the objectives, aspirations and contributions of the original founders. The IX SEA Games (the first to bear that title ) was held in Kuala Lumpur in 1977 with seven countries participating.

Indonesia and the Philippines have been of full value to the movement since becoming members. As new members of the club, Indonesia hosted the X SEA Games in Jakarta in 1979, and the Philippines hosted for the first time in 1981 in Manila when over 2,000 athletes and officials took part. The XII Games were to be held in Brunei to start anew the alphabetical schedule of hosts, but Singapore took over when the tiny nation begged off because of its preparations for the celebration of its forthcoming independence from the United Kingdom.

Since that time the Games have gone from strength to strength, the XIII being held in Bangkok, XIV in Jakarta and the XV in Kuala Lumpur in 1989, which saw the return of Laos and Vietnam for the first time under the new title. With nine out of the ten member countries participating, it was not only the largest in the history of the Games to date but also in the number of athletes and officials with a total of 3,160 on hand.

Manila hosted the next SEA Games, followed by Singapore when 4,6ll athletes and officials were on hand. The XVIII SEA Games in Chiang Mai broke new ground in that it was the first time the Games had been held outside the capital city of the host nation; it was also the first time that all 10 member nations – the last re-entry being Cambodia – turned up to compete.

The XIX SEA Games was held in Jakarta with a record number of 6007 athletes and officials participated. A total of 34 sporting disciplines with 1,432 medals were offered in this Game. It was a far cry from the first Games held in Thailand 38 years ago when 800 pioneers turned up to contest 12 sporting events.

After much coaxing from the Southeast Asia Games Federation Council, Brunei Darussalam accepted to host the XX SEA Games for the first time. In view of the facilities available, a total of 21 sporting disciplines will be offered during the Games from 7th – 15th August 1999. Polo will be introduced for the first time in the Games.

The XVIII SEA Games in Chiang Mai saw the full turn-out of 10 member nation for the first time, but the progress in improving the quality of participation in the Asian and Olympic Games from the SEA family is slow. Since the birth of SEAP Games, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia have won a Silver and Bronze medal each and Indonesia a Gold, Silver and Bronze in the Olympic Games.

Whether these successes would have been achieved if there were no SEAP / SEA Games is difficult to say but there are more people knocking on the door for Asian and Olympic selection after participating in the SEA Games.

Another welcome development in the prominence given to the region’s endogenous sports and its potential in being accepted for competition in the Asian Games.

Sepak Takraw was accepted for the SEAP Games competition in 1965 and it has been in every Games programme since then except in 1969 when the Games were held in Rangoon. The name Sepak Takraw itself was coined at a Federation Meeting in Kuala Lumpur in 1965, combining the Malaysian and Thai names for the traditional sport. It has since enjoyed international status as a competitive sport and has been a demonstration sport in the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.

Silat Olahraga, a martial art of the region, and traditional boat races were SEA Games events for the first time in Jakarta in 1987. They are in the program since then. Silat Olahraga has made giant strides outside the SEA Games framework and there are World Championships with good participation from European countries as well.

In the 1989 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, bodybuilding has been paired off as one event with weight lifting and the traditional boat race taking refuge under yachting. Wushu another martial art and squash were first introduced in the Manila XVI SEA Games 1991. In the 1989 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, bodybuilding has been paired off as one event with weight lifting and the traditional boat race taking refuge under yachting. Athletics and swimming are compulsory sports.

For the first thirteen SEAP/SEA Games (1959 – 1985), the average number of events in the Games is 16. Since then, the average rose to 28 events which Jakarta offered the highest number in 1997. The lowest number of events is 12 with 67 gold medals made up for the first Games in 1959 while the highest is 34 with 438 gold in the 1997 programme in Jakarta.

Somewhere up above, Laung Sukhumanaipradit must be smiling contentedly. His vision has grown into not only the region’s major sporting attraction but, despite problems along the way, has done much to foster a closer, mutual understanding between the nations of Southeast Asia.

Vietnam 2021

Philippines 2019

These are the South East Asian Games Malaysia has participated in.

Year Host Gold Silver Bronze

Rank

2021

VIETNAM

39

45

90

5

2019

PHILIPPINES

56

57

71

5

2017

MALAYSIA

143

90

86

1

2015

SINGAPORE

62

58 66

4

2013

MYANMAR

43

38

79

5

2011

INDONESIA

59

50

82

4

2009

LAOS

40

40

59

4

2007

THAILAND

68

52

96

2

2005

PHILIPPINES

61

49

64

4

2003

VIETNAM

43

44

58

5

2001

MALAYSIA

111

75

85

1

1999

BRUNEI

57

45

42

2

1997

INDONESIA

55

68

75

3

1995

THAILAND

31

49

69

4

1993

SINGAPORE

43

45

65

5

1991

PHILIPHINES

36

38

66

4

1989

MALAYSIA

67 59

76

2

1987

INDONESIA

36

41

65

4

1985

THAILAND

26

26

33

4

1983

SINGAPORE

16

25

40

6

1981

PHILIPPINES

16

27

31

4

1979 INDONESIA 18 24 36 5
1977 MALAYSIA 25 42 44 4
1975 THAILAND 27 49 49 5
1973 SINGAPORE 30 35 50 3
1971 MALAYSIA 41 43 55 2
1969 MYANMAR (then known as Burma) 16 24 39 4
1967 THAILAND 23 29 43 3
1965 MALAYSIA 33 36 29 2
1963 CANCELLED - - - -
1961 MYANMAR (then known as Burma) 12 15 17 3
1959 THAILAND 8 15 11 3
No. Year Place Chef de Mission
1 1959 Bangkok Thong Poh Nyen
2 1961 Rangoon V. Rajaratnam
3 1965 Kuala Lumpur Dr. Aziz Durairatnam
4 1967 Bangkok Dr. Aziz Durairatnam
5 1969 Rangoon Dato’ Ling Beng Siew
6 1971 Kuala Lumpur Dato’ Yeop Mahidin
7 1973 Singapore Tan Sri Abdul Jamil Rais
8 1975 Bangkok Ahmad Sabki bin Jahidin
9 1977 Kuala Lumpur Dato’ Mohamad Rahmat
10 1979 Jakarta Dato’ Mohamad Rahmat
11 1981 Manila Dato’ Mohamad Rahmat
12 1983 Singapore Noh Abdullah
13 1985 Bangkok Dato’ Mohd. Zaman Khan
14 1987 Jakarta Dato’ Elyas Bin Omar
15 1989 Kuala Lumpur Haji Kamalul Ariffin Haji Abd. Rahim
16 1991 Manila Dr. P.S. Nathan
17 1993 Singapore Dato’ Haji Khalid Yunus
18 1995 Chiang Mai Tan Sri Dato’ Mohd Khir Johari
19 1997 Jakarta Dato’ Seri Megat Junid Bin Megat Ayob
20 1999 Brunei Sieh Kok Chi
21 2001 Kuala Lumpur Datuk Mazlan Ahmad
22 2003 Hanoi Cik Hajah Norminshah Sabirin
  2003 Ho Chi Minh Dato’ Ho Koh Chye
23 2005 Manila Ms. Low Beng Choo
24 2007 Korat Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad
25 2009 Vientiane Dato’ Dr. Ramlan Bin Abd. Aziz
26 2011 Jakarta, Indonesia Datuk Naim Bin Mohamad
  2011 Palembang, Indonesia Dato' Syed Mustaffa Bin Syed Ali
27 2013 Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar Dato' Wira Amiruddin Embi
28 2015 Singapore Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria
29 2017 Kuala Lumpur Datuk Marina Chin (F)
30 2019 Manila, Philippines Datuk Haji Megat Zulkarnain Tan Sri Omardin
31 2021 Hanoi, Vietnam Datuk Wira Nur Azmi Ahmad

No.

Year

Flag Bearer

Sport

1

1983

 

 

2

1985

 

 

3

1987

Malek Noor       

Body Building

4

1989

 

 

5

1991

 

 

6

1993

 

 

7

1995

 

 

8

1997

 

 

9

1999

Sapok Biki

Boxing

10

2001

Nur Herman Majid

Athletics

11

2003

R. Puvaneswaran

Karate

12

2005

Nabihah Ali, Ho Ro Bin & Siva Ravichandran

Gymnastic, Wushu & Golf

13

2007

Roslinda Samsu

Athletics

14

2009

Yeoh Ken Nee

Diving

15

2011

Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi

Shooting

16

2013

Sazali Samad

Body Building

17

2015

Leong Mun Yee &

Khairul Anuar

Diving & Archery 11

18

2017

Cheong Jun Hoong, Azizulhasni Awang & Al Jufferi Jamari

Diving, Cycling &

Pencak Silat

19

2019

Rafiq Ismail

Bowling

20

2021

Nur Dhabitah Sabri

Diving