Highlights of the 2015 SEA Games opening ceremony

SINGAPORE — The opening ceremony of the 28th SEA Games Opening Ceremony today (June 5) was a smorgasbord of lights and sounds, with stunning visual displays, aerial props and vibrant costumes.

Both former and present national athletes joined in the celebrations, with Singapore’s favourite football son Fandi Ahmad selected to light up the games cauldron alongside his son, and current Young Lions player, Irfan Fandi.

Kicking off the opening ceremony was The Big Singapore Welcome segment, which comprised 1,400 performers from various organisations such as the Singapore Soka Association and Eurasian Association. Visually stunning art forms were exhibited to create a larger-than-life garden city diorama showcasing Singapore’s rich cultural diversity.

The ceremonial proceedings were up next with the official mascot, Nila, parachuting from the sky followed by the entrance of the 11 flag bearers and the athletes’ parade. Team Singapore was the last contingent to march out, drawing the largest cheers from the crowd.

President Tony Tan Keng Yam declared the Games officially open following a speech by the chairman of the SEA Games organising committee, Mr Lawrence Wong, who is also Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Ministry of Communications and Information.

After the SEA Games and Federation flags were raised and oaths by the athletes and officials were read out, the show began.

Act 1: DNA

The opening act showcased 750 participants from schools and organisations to perform an arrangement involving light displays using floor projections and LED medallions. The highlight was the entrance of five animals, such as a lion, an egret and a dragon, to represent positive values.

Act 2: Imagination

Inspired by the imaginative abilities of children in the region, the second act involved 150 participants from primary schools and the army, showcasing the individual stories of seven children handpicked from an open audition of 5,000 children. Projection mapping was being used to tell the stories.

Act 3: Youth Expression

This act follows up from the previous one as the children grow up into youths. It displays the challenges faced by young individuals who slowly fall into conflict, and the virtues of resolving them and emerging stronger. 840 participants, including local artists from various music genres took part.

Act 4: Sports and the City

The penultimate act of the ceremony recognised and honoured the athletes from the 11 participating countries. 1,300 participants in the act also paid tribute to former sporting legends from Singapore and the dedication of the coaches and families behind them.

Act 5: Singapore in the Stadium

The final act brought back the attention of the audience to the Republic, with performers from the previous acts re-appearing. A compilation video of Singapore’s preparations for the 28th SEA Games was also shown, followed by a symbolic “Bridge of Friendship” for the athletes to walk on, to officially welcome them.

It was then time for the official light up of the SEA Games cauldron. The first torch bearer, Clement Neo (Traditional dragon boat) arrived via boat at the water sports centre outside the National Stadium with the torch before passing it on to national badminton player Liang Xiao Yu. The route saw a total of 13 athletes from different generations, including athletics star Shanti Pereira, ex-national hockey player Annabel Pennefather and national shuttler Derek Wong. Ex-national footballer Fandi Ahmad – fresh from his Malaysia FA Cup win as coach of the Lions XII – together with his son Irfan Fandi, did the honours to ignite the flame of the SEA Games cauldron.