PATTAYA, THAILAND – Chonburi province opened Thailand’s preparations for the 33rd SEA Games 2025 with a multi-district torch relay to Pattaya’s Bali Hai Pier on 16 November 2025.
Officials from the Chonburi provincial administration and the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) Chonburi led the relay through at least three districts to signal the start of a year-long build-up to the regional event.
Summary
Authorities in Chonburi used the relay between Daikin Industries (Thailand) Ltd. in the Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate and Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya to connect local communities along Sukhumvit Road on 16 November 2025. The torch event formed part of Thailand’s wider plan to stage the SEA Games 2025 across Bangkok, Chonburi, Songkhla and Nakhon Ratchasima.
Relay begins at industrial estate in Chonburi
Officials from the Chonburi provincial administration and managers at Daikin Industries (Thailand) Ltd. started the ceremony on the company grounds in the Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate on the afternoon of 16 November 2025.
Event coordinators from the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) Chonburi moved the torch out of the industrial estate at about 13:30 and placed the first runners on the route toward Sukhumvit Road in Chonburi province.
Route connects Bangsaen, Sri Racha and Banglamung
Relay organizers from the Chonburi provincial administration directed runners along Sukhumvit Road through the districts of Bangsaen, Sri Racha and Banglamung before the convoy reached Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya.
Local officials in Bangsaen, Sri Racha and Banglamung reported that residents lined sections of Sukhumvit Road on 16 November 2025 and cheered as the SEA Games torch convoy moved past their communities toward Pattaya.
Officials frame relay as show of unity
Senior staff at the Chonburi provincial administration coordinated the relay with the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) Chonburi to pull in residents from several districts on 16 November 2025 and to highlight Chonburi’s role in the SEA Games 2025.
“This flame stands for friendship, sporting spirit and the unity of our communities.”
said Spokesperson, Chonburi Provincial Administration.
Staged handovers between district leaders
The Secretary of the Chonburi Provincial Sports Association, Samrit Pongvirat, carried the torch for an early section in Chonburi province on 16 November 2025 and then passed it to Sri Racha district chief Weekit Manarojkit for the next leg.
Relay coordinators then scheduled successive handovers between at least nine representatives as the torch moved through Chonburi city, Sri Racha, Sattahip, Bo Thong, Koh Si Chang and Banglamung on 16 November 2025.
- Somjet Phanthachalermchai, Deputy Mayor of Chonburi City, carried the torch for a section inside Chonburi city on 16 November 2025.
- Anusak Phiriyom, District Chief of Sattahip, joined the relay in his district on 16 November 2025 and held the torch during one stage.
- Penpassorn Tongsiri, Director General of Central Sri Racha, received the torch within the Sri Racha area on 16 November 2025 and completed a defined stretch.
- Nanthawat Thongchuang, District Chief of Bo Thong, participated in a section in Bo Thong district on 16 November 2025 and then passed the torch onward.
- Representatives from the Sri Racha municipal administration took a turn carrying the flame through Sri Racha streets on 16 November 2025.
- Ekasit Armcha-on and Chaturaphon Boonchob, members of the Chonburi Provincial Council, ran with the torch along segments in Chonburi province on 16 November 2025.
- Chusak Nantithanyathada, District Chief of Koh Si Chang, carried the flame while representing his island district during the provincial relay on 16 November 2025.
- Phatcharaphat Srithanyanon, District Chief of Banglamung, led a group of runners with the torch as it approached Pattaya on 16 November 2025.
Final group carries torch into Pattaya
Organizers from the Chonburi provincial administration formed a joint running group for the final stage in Banglamung district and directed the team to bring the flame to Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya on 16 November 2025.
Officials at Bali Hai Pier confirmed that the torch’s arrival in Pattaya marked the ceremonial start of regional anticipation, set roughly one year before the formal opening of the SEA Games 2025 in Thailand.
Thailand distributes events across four provinces
Planners at the Thai sports authorities scheduled competitions of the 33rd SEA Games 2025 across four provinces: Bangkok, Chonburi, Songkhla and Nakhon Ratchasima, with events in both Pattaya and Jomtien inside Chonburi.
Officials involved in the Thai SEA Games preparations classified the 2025 edition as one of the largest multi-sport events in Southeast Asia and assigned Chonburi a key operational role for venues in Pattaya and Jomtien.
Flame to tour further host provinces
Coordinators from the Chonburi provincial administration and the Sports Authority of Thailand planned for the SEA Games flame to visit additional host provinces, including Bangkok, Songkhla and Nakhon Ratchasima, over the coming months before the 2025 opening.
Authorities in Thailand scheduled ceremonies around each torch appearance in the four host provinces to maintain public engagement and to channel support toward the SEA Games until the opening in the following year.
Stated aims of the relay campaign
Planning documents from Thai organizers identified three main aims for the SEA Games torch activities in Chonburi, Bangkok, Songkhla and Nakhon Ratchasima.
- Officials in Chonburi and other host provinces used the relay to boost regional cohesion among communities along the route in 2025.
- Thai organizers presented Chonburi, Pattaya and other venues during the relay as host locations in the wider Southeast Asian and international context ahead of SEA Games 2025.
- Provincial authorities in Chonburi aimed to motivate local initiatives in sport and tourism around the SEA Games schedule in 2025.
Officials in Pattaya stated that the relay with the symbolic flame on the city’s waterfront on 16 November 2025 launched a year of SEA Games preparations across Chonburi and the other three host provinces.