KL2017 · 29th Southeast Asian Games

29th Southeast Asian Games

KL2017

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  ·  19–30 August 2017

“Rising Together”  ·  Bangkit Bersama

11Nations
4,646Athletes
38Sports
404Events
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Origins & Growth

A 65-Year Legacy

The Southeast Asian Games trace their roots to a small gathering of six nations in Bangkok. Over six decades, they grew into the region’s foremost celebration of sport and unity.

Football at the SEA Games
1959 — Bangkok, Thailand
SEAP Games Founded
South East Asian Peninsular Games launched with 6 founding nations: Burma (Myanmar), Laos, Malaya (Malaysia), Singapore, South Vietnam & Thailand. 527 athletes competed across 12 sports in the inaugural edition.
1977 — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Renamed: Southeast Asian Games
Expanded to include Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. The name was updated to “Southeast Asian Games” to reflect a broader, more inclusive vision for the entire region, no longer limited to the Malay Peninsula.
1989 — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Malaysia Hosts for the 1st Time
The 15th SEA Games marked Malaysia’s debut as host nation, cementing a growing sense of national pride in regional athletics and the Games’ expanding prestige.
2001 — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Malaysia Hosts for the 2nd Time
The 21st SEA Games was a second successful hosting that reinforced Malaysia’s standing as a world-class organizer and a passionate supporter of regional sport.
2017 — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
KL2017 — Malaysia Hosts for the 3rd Time
The 29th SEA Games became the largest edition to date: 11 nations, 38 sports, 404 events, and a historic first inclusion of winter sports. Malaysia topped the medal table on home soil under the theme “Rising Together.”

KL2017 Fast Facts

At a Glance

11
Participating Nations
4,646
Athletes
38
Sports
404
Events
3rd
Time Malaysia Hosted
29th
SEA Games Edition
Rimau, the KL2017 mascot inspired by the Malayan tiger
Rimau: The Mascot
An anthropomorphic Malayan tiger unveiled on 14 November 2015. “Rimau” is an acronym built around the Games’ core values:
Respect Integrity Move Attitude Unity

38 Sports · 404 Events

Sports Programme

Olympic & Aquatics
  • Athletics
  • Swimming
  • Diving
  • Water Polo
  • Gymnastics
  • Cycling
  • Weightlifting
  • Shooting
  • Judo
  • Rowing
Martial Arts & Combat
  • Pencak Silat
  • Muay Thai
  • Taekwondo
  • Karate
  • Wushu
  • Boxing
  • Fencing
Team & Racquet
  • Badminton
  • Basketball
  • Volleyball
  • Table Tennis
  • Tennis
  • Squash
  • Netball
  • Football
⭐ Historic First: Winter Sports
  • Ice Hockey
  • Figure Skating
  • Short Track Speed Skating

Held at Empire City Ice Arena in Kuala Lumpur, making it the first time winter sports were ever included in any SEA Games edition.

Regional & Outdoor
  • Sepak Takraw
  • Petanque
  • Lawn Bowls
  • Bowling
  • Cricket
  • Golf
  • Rugby Sevens
  • Triathlon

Athletes & Moments

Star Highlights

Swimming pool lanes
🇸🇬
Joseph Schooling
Singapore · Swimming
The 22-year-old dominated the pool, winning the 50m Butterfly in a Games record 23.06 seconds and collecting 5 gold medals, the most decorated swimmer of KL2017.
Swimmer in action
🇸🇬
Quah Jing Wen
Singapore · Swimming
Just 16 years old, she set a new Games record in the Women’s 200m Butterfly (2:12.03) and anchored Singapore’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay to a national record of 3:44.38.
Underwater swimming
🇸🇬
Quah Zheng Wen
Singapore · Swimming
Sibling of Quah Jing Wen, he matched the family’s dominance with 5 gold medals across multiple events, helping Singapore claim an impressive 4th place on the overall medal table.
Basketball game
🇵🇭
Philippines Basketball
Philippines · Basketball
The national men’s team delivered a decisive gold medal victory over Indonesia on 26 August 2017, igniting celebrations across the archipelago and adding to the nation’s basketball heritage.
Athletes competing
🇲🇾
Malaysia: Host Nation
Malaysia · All Sports
Performing in front of a roaring home crowd, Malaysia topped the medal table with 145 gold, 92 silver and 86 bronze (323 medals total), their best performance since hosting in 2001.
Indoor ice arena
❄️
Winter Sports Debut
All Nations · Empire City Ice Arena
For the first time in SEA Games history, ice hockey, figure skating and short track speed skating were contested, a remarkable achievement for a tropical host nation making history on ice.

Final Standings

Medal Table

Gold Silver Bronze
1
🇲🇾 Malaysia
145
92
86
2
🇹🇭 Thailand
72
86
88
3
🇻🇳 Vietnam
59
50
60
4
🇸🇬 Singapore
57
58
73
5
🇮🇩 Indonesia
38
63
90
6
🇵🇭 Philippines
23
33
63
7
🇲🇲 Myanmar
7
10
20
8
🇰🇭 Cambodia
3
2
12
9
🇱🇦 Laos
2
3
21
10
🇧🇳 Brunei
0
5
9
11
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste
0
0
2

Closing Reflection

A Shared Legacy

“More than medals and records, KL2017 was a declaration that Southeast Asia rises together: 11 nations, thousands of athletes, one shared spirit.”

🇲🇾 Malaysia
🇹🇭 Thailand
🇻🇳 Vietnam
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇮🇩 Indonesia
🇵🇭 Philippines
🇲🇲 Myanmar
🇰🇭 Cambodia
🇱🇦 Laos
🇧🇳 Brunei
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste