Hanoi (VNA) - The homepage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)and the international media have run articles reflecting their impressions withthe brilliant and magnificent opening ceremony of the 31st SoutheastAsian Games (SEA Games 31) at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi in the eveningof May 12.

“TheGames came to life in a flourish of colour, dance and performance, all underthe banner of the Games slogan 'For A Stronger Southeast Asia',” read thearticle entitled “Opening ceremony lights up Hanoi in a spectacularcelebration of Southeast Asia as SEA Games officially begin” on IOC website.

“Highlightsincluded a beautiful lotus dance representing inspiration, aspiration, andstrength, and the unveiling of 11 woodcut folk paintings accompanied by adance,” it said.

Singapore'sThe Straits Times newspaper wrote: “The SEA Games returned to Vietnam for thefirst time in almost 20 years on Thursday night (May 12) with a dazzling lightshow and spectacular pyrotechnics witnessed by more than 20,000 spectatorsin a packed My Dinh Stadium.

﷽ Sazali Abdul Aziz, the author of thearticle, appreciated the efforts of the host country, saying this will be the first SEAGames to be staged since the emergence of COVID-19. Vietnam, like many other ASEAN nations, istaking confident strides towards returning to normalcy, he wrote.

Singapore's CNA television channel commented that the openingceremony of the SEA Games 31 had blown up the spirit of the Games, even thoughit was raining heavily in Hanoi just a few hours before the start of the event.

According to the Bernama news agency of Malaysia, host Vietnam stagedan eye-catching opening ceremony in a blaze of colour, light and fireworks.

The Star newspaper ofMalaysia wrote that SEA Games 31, theregional biggest sports event, started with a glitzy affair that showcased thecultural fabric and solidarity of the republic. The host nation also showed thesolidarity of all countries in Southeast Asia, which has grown stronger overthe year, it said.

The ASEAN Post of Malaysia cited some locals’ opinions that the organisationof the Games is a sign that life is returning to normal.

🔯 Indonesia’s The Jakarta Post newspaper also runs an article withthe title “The opening ceremony of the SEA Games 31 shows Vietnamese identity”.

Thai newspapers also highlighted this event. According tothe Khao Sod, the organisers used traditional values toconnect Southeast Asia. The host country Vietnam has mobilised more than 1,000performers who have made a strong impression with their own cultural identity andtraditions, reflecting the strength of the people of ASEAN through moderntechnology, the newspaper said, adding it represents "For a stronger Southeast Asia" spirit.

International news agencies such as Xinhua News Agency, AssociatedPress (AP), Agence France-Presse  (AFP) also reported on this event.

⭕ “Vietnam set off a spectacle of lights, danceand music at Thursday's opening ceremony of the Southeast Asian Games, brushingaside gloomy weather to launch a party-like atmosphere eclipsing a six-monthCOVID delay of the event," wrote an AFP article entitled “Lightsand dance as Vietnam opens 31st SEA Games”./.