23rd SEA Games open in extravagant ceremony
By Girlie Linao, dpa
Manila - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo this afternoon declared the 23rd Southeast Asian Games open, as part of a two-hour musical and fireworks extravaganza in an open park in the capital amid tight security.
Top Filipino athletes led the parade of competitors from 11 Southeast Asian countries participating in the biennial sporting event at Manila's Rizal Park, spruced up with red, white, yellow and white decorations and lights.
Tens of thousands of spectators jammed the park as Arroyo declared the Games open after Filipino entertainers regaled the crowd with native dances and songs.
"I now hereby declare the 23rd Southeast Asian Games 2005 open," Arroyo shouted to cheers and applause of the crowd, as fireworks lit up the skies.
"Let the games begin with the joyful spirit of anticipation and enthusiasm, and end with the promise of friends to meet again," added Jose Cojuangco, chairman of the Philippine SEA Games Organising Committee.
Thousands of policemen who went on full alert as early as Thursday secured the venue amid concerns over terror attacks.
Several roads leading to the park were closed hours before the ceremony, while thousands of armed policemen, some accompanied by bomb-sniffing dogs, were deployed to guard the area.
"We are not taking any chances," said Director Vidal Querol, chief of Manila police forces. "Let us all set aside our differences and help support each other in this event."
Cambodia's Prince Norodom Ranariddh, Brunei Prince Sufri Bolkiah, Thai Princess Sievannarvari Nariratana, who leads Thailand's badminton squad, and Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn were among the guests at the opening ceremony.
Four officials of the Philippines' largest Moslem separatist rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, led by spokesman Eid Kabalu also attended the event in a rare public appearance.
"We are very honoured to have been invited to be part of this event," Kabalu said.
As the elaborate opening ceremonies were underway, other athletes were already competing in various events in Manila and the other venues, which include the central province of Cebu and nearby Bacolod City.
Host Philippines took the early lead in the medal tally, garnering four golds, four silvers and two bronzes. Malaysia followed with three golds, two silvers and three bronzes.
Vietnam, the overall champion in the 2003 Games in Hanoi, trailed with one gold, three silvers and two bronzes. Powerhouse Indonesia bagged two golds, while Thailand salvaged two silvers and five bronzes.
Singapore also broke into the medal column with one gold, while Myanmar got one bronze.
Other competing countries who have yet to break into the medal column are Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Timor Liste.
It was the third time for the Philippines to host the Games, which started in Bangkok in 1959 as the Southeast Asian Peninsular Games. The last time the Philippine hosted the Games was in 1991.
Philippine sports officials are confident that the country would do well in the Games, predicting a medal haul of up to 120 golds, which would make it the overall champion. More than 430 golds are up for grabs in the Games
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