In case you're unaware, Team Singapore's athletes are currently in Kuala Lumpur for the 29th biennial Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

While we cheer them on, let's take a look back at Singapore's history with the SEA Games.

Humble beginnings

Originally called the Southeast Asian Peninsular (SEAP) Games, this event has brought together the best athletes from across Southeast Asia since 1959.

The games came into being when, in 1958, Vice-President of the Thailand Olympic Committee Luang Sukhum Nayaoradit proposed a regional sports event to help build cooperation and relations among Southeast Asian countries.

This inspiration struck during the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo. 

Delegates from the participating Southeast Asian countries met to discuss this idea during the games, and eventually agreed to hold the first SEAP Games the following year.

Burma (now Myanmar), Kampuchea (now Cambodia), Malaya (now Malaysia), Laos, Thailand and Vietnam were the founding members who formed the SEAP Federation Committee.

However, Cambodia was unable to participate in the first games, and this opened the door for Singapore's participation.

Singapore, having recently gained self-government, stepped in to take Cambodia's place, and so became one of the games' original six competing countries.

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In December 1959, athletes from these six nations gathered in Bangkok for the first games.

Only 12 sports were played: aquatics, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, cycling, football, shooting, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, and weightlifting.

Singapore sent a small contingent of athletes to compete in various events. Here are some photos of our team, back in the day:

The event lasted for five days, and Thailand won the overall tally with 35 medals. Neighbouring countries Burma and Malaya came in second and third place, with 11 and 8 medals respectively.

Singapore didn't lose out completely, however. It took home its first-ever gold medal at these games, courtesy of schoolteacher Tan Eng Yoon. He came in first in the 400m hurdles, and called it the "greatest moment of his life".

Over the years, Singapore has hosted the SEA Games four times - in 1973 (when it was still called the Southeast Asian Peninsular Games), 1983, 1993, and the last one in 2015. 

And while Singapore has so far not topped the SEA Games medal tally, it has come in second (four times) and third (three times) in past games.

In total, Singapore has won 1,135 bronze medals, 828 silver medals, and 749 gold medals (not too bad leh). Many of them come from swimming, which Singapore has traditionally been strong at.

Let's hope Team Singapore adds to this medal tally at the 29th SEA Games.

Go Team Singapore!

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Top photo via NAS.

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