PUCHONG, Aug 23 — The official number of athletes and officials involved in this year's SEA Games in Thailand will be known on September 1, said Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria.
However, the number would be larger than the previous edition in Cambodia, as Malaysia will be participating in 49 sports.
"We believe the whole contingent, including athletes and officials, will be more than one thousand. But right now, I cannot give the exact number because it has not been finalised yet.
"That is because some associations are still in the process of selecting their athletes to be sent to the SEA Games, whether under Category A or Category B," he told the press after the prize-giving ceremony for the OCM Santokh Singh Cup Under-18 Unity Futsal Championship today.
At the Cambodia SEA Games in 2023, the Malaysian contingent comprised 677 athletes and 277 officials who were involved in 34 sports.
Meanwhile, Norza said the safety and well-being of the Malaysian contingent at the SEA Games are a priority for the OCM, following previous tensions at the Thailand-Cambodia border.
"We are ready to send a strong contingent, while at the same time ensuring the safety and welfare of our athletes are fully protected. The safety and welfare of our athletes and officials is a priority and will never be compromised," he said.
For the record, the national contingent to the Thailand SEA Games will be led by former national swimming queen Nurul Huda Abdullah, who will be assisted by three deputies: Datuk Kenny Goh Chee Keong, Nazmizan Mohamad, and Jivan Mohan.
The Thailand SEA Games 2025 will take place from December 9 to December 20 in three regions: Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkla.
