KUALA LUMPUR, 20 Aug 2017:
Malaysia put up a spectacular 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games (KL2017) opening ceremony that drew appreciative remarks from spectators who filled the National Stadium as well as netizens.
The Aug 19-30 biennial sporting extravaganza was opened by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V in a blaze of colour and light that culminated in the dramatic lighting of the Games cauldron and a dazzling fireworks display in the skies above the 90,000-capacity arena.
“Congratulations Malaysia on a spectacular SEA Games 2017 opening ceremony. Malaysia Boleh,” British high commissioner Vicki Treadell tweeted on the two-hour show that was executed with clockwork precision.
Thailand’s Bangkok Post described the ceremony as a dazzling one that awed spectators in the stadium and beyond with its theme of honouring past sporting heroes and legends while celebrating the stars of the future.
The opening, which was also attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, was anchored by a spellbinding showcase of Malaysia’s cultural diversity that brought together live action on the field embellished with dramatic lighting and sounds that mesmerised the crowd.
Some couldn’t hide their pride after watching the spectacle, profusely offering congratulatory messages to those behind the show.
“Tears of joy and so proud of my beloved country Malaysia for hosting the 2017 SEA Games, a world- class opening ceremony indeed,” Nisa Batrisya tweeted through her account @NisaAjax.
“Perfect, impressive, great.. you name it #KL2017 #SEAGames2017 such a ‘wau’ opening ceremony.. #RisingTogether #bangkitbersama,” tweeted Shahfizam Wahid on his tweet handle @shahfizan.
Other messages were addressed to Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, fondly known as KJ, who delivered a rousing speech in which he rallied Malaysians to wholeheartedly support the country’s athletes.
“Dear @KhairyKJ. Congratulations for the great opening of SEA Games 2017! I can’t express how proud I am to be a Malaysian,” Syakira Hafifah tweeted on her account @hafifaharikays.
Malaysia are eyeing 111 gold medals to become the overall champions of the Games it last hosted in 2001 and currently have pocketed seven.
At stake are 404 gold medals in 38 sports, including the debut of ice hockey, ice skating, indoor hockey and cricket.
Khairy also apologised to his Indonesian counterpart over a mistake on the Indonesian flag in a booklet on the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games 2017.
He said that the mistake was purely unintentional. “Bapak Imam, please accept my sincere apologies for this. There was no malice.
“I very much regret that this mistake happened. My apologies,” he said on his Twitter account in response to a tweet from Indonesian youth and sports minister Imam Nahrawi, regarding the matter.
In the booklet, the Indonesian flag appeared upside down.
The Malaysia SEA Games Organising Committee (MASOC), in a statement, apologised to all Indonesians over the unintentional mistake.
It said Khairy, who is also MASOC chairman, would call on Imam Nahrawi today to extend a personal apology on behalf of the committee.
“We truly regret this error and we hope that the close ties between the two countries will be further enhanced in the spirit of the SEA Games,” the statement said.
– Bernama