Unbelievable mistake at SEA Games: U22 Vietnam had to sing the national anthem a cappella

SEA Games 33 ended with numerous memorable moments, yet the error of Thailand omitting the national anthems of Vietnam and Laos during the opening game still stands as an astonishing flaw of the tournament.

SEA Games 33 has wrapped up with many remarkable sporting highlights, but alongside the glorious moments, there were unforgettable "blemishes," the most prominent being the rare national anthem mishap during the opening men's football match.

On the afternoon of December 3rd, when U22 Vietnam faced U22 Laos at Rajamangala Stadium (Bangkok), an unprecedented scene in SEA Games history occurred: the Thai organizers forgot to play the national anthems of both teams during the flag-raising ceremony. With no sound from the speakers, the Vietnamese players stood solemnly and sang the Vietnamese national anthem themselves, creating a touching yet surprising moment.

The incident quickly spread on social media, provoking dissatisfaction among regional fans. The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) later issued an official apology to Vietnam and Laos, explaining that the cause was a technical audio system failure, not related to copyright issues as rumored.

However, this was not the only mistake by the host nation. Previously, the SEA Games 33 organizers also mistakenly posted the flags of Indonesia and Thailand incorrectly on the official website, a blunder that angered many regional supporters.

Looking back at SEA Games 33, Thailand is still recognized for its organizational efforts and outstanding sporting achievements, but seemingly minor errors like forgetting the national anthem or mixing up flags left a negative impression about the professionalism of this regional event. This serves as a valuable lesson for future hosts that besides sporting results, respect and standards in international ceremonies are equally crucial.