2025 ASEAN Para Games

Bidding and election

On 11 October 2022, Chaipak Siriwat, the Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand (NOCT), revealed the framework for the bidding process for the 2025 SEA Games. He emphasised that the host cities or provinces should aim to organise the Games at a budget-friendly cost and that there would be no requirement to build new venues. Unlike the 2019 and 2021 editions, where competition venues were spread across 23 and 12 cities respectively, the number of host cities for the 2025 Games would be limited to 3 or 4.^[1]

In October 2022, Prachum Boontiem, the Vice Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), nominated eight bidding parties from twelve cities or provinces interested in hosting the 2025 SEA Games. The city Bangkok as well as the provinces of Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Songkhla submitted sole bids, while Bangkok, Chonburi, Songkhla, Krabi, Phuket, Trat, Amnat Charoen, Sisaket, Ubon Ratchathani, and Yasothon were proposed as potential bidding provinces.^[2][3][4]

Although the official bidding process began in October 2022, some regions had already revealed their bidding campaigns earlier: Ubon Ratchathani in April 2016, Chonburi in January 2019, and Krabi, Phuket, and Trang in February 2021.^[5][6][7][8]

On 13 January 2023, the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) selected three provinces—Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Chonburi province, and Songkhla province—to host the 33rd SEA Games, while Nakhon Ratchasima province was chosen to host the 13th ASEAN Para Games. This decision was approved by the Cabinet of Thailand in February 2023.^[9][10][11] These four cities were the first in SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games history to be chosen through a bidding process.

Venues

The 2025 ASEAN Para Games will utilise existing venues across Nakhon Ratchasima province, including those used by the 2007 SEA Games, the 2008 ASEAN Para Games, the 2023 World Abilitysport Games, and 2024 World Abilitysport Youth Games. The latter two events, governed by World Abilitysport, are the largest multi-sport events after the Paralympic Games for athletes who use wheelchairs, amputees, and those with neurological conditions, particularly cerebral palsy. The only exception is ten-pin bowling, which will be held at an outlying venue in Bangkok due to the lack of a suitable competition venue in Nakhon Ratchasima.^[22]

Steering and Organizing Committees for the Games

Current chairman: Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (Steering) and Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn (Organizing).

Similar to the 2007 SEA Games and the 2008 ASEAN Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, the committees for the competition are divided into two main bodies. The Steering Committee, chaired by the Prime Minister of Thailand, is responsible for setting policies, providing recommendations, and allocating budgets to the Organizing Committee. Meanwhile, the Olympic Organizing Committee, chaired by the Minister of Tourism and Sports (MOTS), is tasked with managing the operations of the competition, coordinating with various subcommittees, and overseeing the budget allocated by the Steering Committee.^[23][24]

In December 2024, the Steering Committee recognised the organisational structure of the Organizing Committee for the Games.^[25] Unlike the previous games, the chairpersons of the subcommittees are all from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) and the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), with no representatives from the National Olympic Committee of Thailand (NOCT).^[26]

Budget

The initial estimated budget for the 2025 SEA Games and the 2025 ASEAN Para Games is ฿2.055 billion.^[27] The funding for the events will come from several sources: ฿1.683 billion is being requested from the government budget. Additional revenue includes ฿20 million from sponsorships and ฿180 million from goods and services, such as sports equipment and beverages. Ticket sales are expected to generate ฿20 million. Registration fees for the SEA Games will contribute ฿134.40 million, while registration fees for the ASEAN Para Games will bring in ฿16.80 million.^[28][29]

The budget for these events is lower than the cost of the 1998 Asian Games, which was ฿2.372 billion, but higher than the 2007 Summer Universiade, which amounted to ฿1.843 billion. Meanwhile, the costs for the 2007 SEA Games and the 2008 ASEAN Para Games were ฿1.463 billion.

Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony of the 2025 ASEAN Para Games was held on 20 January 2026 at 80th Birthday Stadium and was officially opened by Prince Chalermsuk Yugala, the representative of King Vajiralongkorn.

Sports

Eight of six returns: para-archery, para-bowling, para-cycling, para-shooting wheelchair fencing, and wheelchair tennis.

During the ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) workshop in March 2024, the organising committee proposed a sports programme featuring twenty sports, exceeding the previous record of sixteen set at the 2017 ASEAN Para Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.^[30][31] Later, para-bowling was removed due to the lack of available venues in the host city.^[32][33] Additionally, two more sports will be included as demonstration sports.^[34] Nevertheless, para-bowling was reinstated, with the decision made to host the competition in Bangkok.^[35]

Wheelchair fencing and para-shooting made their return, having last been included in 2008 and 2015, respectively. Para-cycling and para-bowling also returned, having last been featured in 2017. Para-archery and wheelchair tennis returned as well, having last been included in 2022.

Esports was initially set to debut at the 2025 ASEAN Para Games. However, during the 34th APSF Executive Committee meeting in March 2025, the organising committee decided to remove it from the sports programme. As a result, these Games now feature nineteen sports with a total of 536 events, making it the largest ASEAN Para Games in history. This breaks the previous record of 488 events set at the 2008 ASEAN Para Games, which was also held in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.^[22]

The nineteen-sport program of the 2025 ASEAN Para Games includes 16 out of the 22 core Paralympic sports, with the exclusion of para-equestrian, para-canoeing, para-climbing, para-rowing, para-triathlon, para-taekwondo, and wheelchair rugby. Additionally, it includes bowling, chess and football 7-a-side.

Wheelchair rugby and lawn bowls were demonstration events.^{[citation needed]}

Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of medal events contested in each discipline.

Closing ceremony

The closing ceremony of the 2025 ASEAN Para Games was held on 20 January 2026 at 80th Birthday Stadium. The APSF flag was handed over to Malaysia, the host country of the 2027 edition.

Design competition

The Sport Authority of Thailand (SAT) organised a design competition for the emblem, motto, and mascot for the 2025 SEA Games and the 2025 ASEAN Para Games. The submitted designs were required to be visually appealing, modern, unique, and reflect Thai identity. The submission period was from 20 September to 25 October 2023.^[41][42] The official awarding ceremony took place at the Chaloem Phrakiat Building at the Hua Mak Sports Complex in Bangkok on 23 November 2023.^[43][44]

Emblem

The official emblem for the 2025 ASEAN Para Games, designed by Teeranop Wangsillapakun (TNOP DESIGN).^{[citation needed]}

Motto

The official motto for the 2025 ASEAN Para Games, Create Pride Together (Thai: สร้างความภูมิใจไปด้วยกัน, RTGS: Sang Khwam Phumchai Pi Duaikan, pronounced [sâːŋ kÊ°wāːm pʰūːm.tɕāj pāj dûaj.kān]), designed by Thawan Ditsathutham.^{[citation needed]}

Mascot

The official mascots for the 2025 ASEAN Para Games, designed by Teeranop Wangsillapakun, the creative director and founder of TNOP Design, were commissioned by the Design Subcommittee of the Thailand Creative Culture Agency (THACCA) under the National Soft Power Strategy Committee.

The mascots consisted of a group of two characters called The San, each vibrant and full of energy. They came in purple and orange, representing the diversity of Thai society. Each character was designed using geometric patterns inspired by the structural lines of traditional Thai motifs, blending modernity with Thai identity. Together, they symbolised celebration, creativity, cultural connection, and the promotion of diversity in sports and society.^{[citation needed]}

On 7 October 2025, a new version of The San was revealed; the number of mascots was reduced to one, with Sao being retained. It was also recoloured to the Thai flag, to represent national pride. The original two San designs would be retained for merchandise.^[45]