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On May, the 22nd, 1958, delegates from the countries in South East Asian
peninsula attending the 3rd Asian Sport Games in Tokyo (Japan) had a meeting
and agreed to establish a sport organization named the South East Asian
Peninsula Games Federation (initial SEAP Games Federation). From the point
of view that all the nations have many similar features as life-style,
culture, climate, body physique and sports achievement, so that it is
necessary to unite, helping each other to organize a suitable sized sports
festival, for one and all, with the aim of :
1- Strengthening friendship, solidarity and understanding between countries
in the region.
2- Promoting on going sports records, technique and tactics, and creating a
condition for athletes to practice and compete in order to get better
results at Asian and Olympic games.
One year later, on June, 1959, the South East Asian Peninsula Games
Federation officially was set up in Bangkok (Thailand). At the first
meeting, a regulation and law of federation was approved. President of
Thailand Olympic Council at that time, Mr. Prahat Saruxatiara, was elected
the first Chairman of Executive Committee. The other members were from
Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and South Vietnam. The six
attending countries at the first meeting were considered as the federation’s
founders. Then, Singapore became the 7th member after it separated from
Malaysia to be independent nation in May, 9th, 1965. On January, 5th 1977,
Indonesia and Philippines joined the federation. This event led to cutting
off the label, “peninsula” and the federation had a new name “The South East
Asian Games Federation”. In November, 1997, Brunei was recognized as
official member, raising total of official members to 10.
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