2025 Southeast Asian Games

On 21 July 2017, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) announced that it was withdrawing its support for the Philippine hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games saying that government decided to reallocate funds meant for hosting to the rehabilitation efforts of Marawi which was left devastated following the Marawi crisis.[2]

On 10 August 2017, Maj. Gen. Charouck Arirachakaran, the vice president and secretary general of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand (NOCT) stated that Thai prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha agreed on the 2019 Games replacement plan after the Philippine's withdrawal. The candidates were Chiang Mai, Chonburi and Songkhla.[3]

Six days later, the Philippines, through the Philippine Olympic Committee president Peping Cojuangco, confirmed that the country would host the 2019 Games, after Cojuangco wrote Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte and appealed for reconsideration.[4]

These cities are the potential hosts by launching its bid or being appointed by Sports Authority of Thailand.

Bangkok

During the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, governor the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) Kongsak Yodmanee criticised the organization of the games, as the Philippines held the games in many cities and municipalities, causing to the various concerns and controversies. He will propose to hold the next Thailand's Southeast Asian Games in "one" city or province. He also suggested Bangkok and Chonburi Province are the best choice for hosting the Thailand's games. He mentioned Bangkok traffic is less congested than Manila and the city has many existing venues for the games but water sports venues.[5][6]

Bangkok hosted the inaugural games in 1959 and 1967 as Southeast Asian Peninsular Games, which were the precursor to the modern Southeast Asian Games, and 1985 as Southeast Asian Games. Bangkok hosted many global and continental events such as four-time Asian Games and Summer Universiade in 2007.

Bangkok will host the 2021 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games with Chonburi Province.[7] It acted as the test event and a prelude for the future multi-sport event, a proposed Youth Olympic Games in 2026.

Chonburi

Like Bangkok, Chonburi Province was also mentioned by Kongsak. He mention it is able to hold the water sports event and also comfortable to travel by airport and a proposed high-speed rail linking three airports. Chonburi will prepare to build the sports complex for the future multi-sport events.[5][6] Chonburi hosted 2007 Southeast Asian Games in water sports event. The province also will host the 2021 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games with Bangkok.[7]

Amnat Charoen, Sisaket, Ubon Ratchathani, Yasothon

Governor of Ubon Ratchathani Province, Sarit Witoon revealed that Ratchathani-charoen-si-sothon, the second cluster of southern Isan provinces including Amnat Charoen, Sisaket, Ubon Ratchathani, and Yasothon, will join to bid the next Thailand's Southeast Asian Games.[8][9] The joint bid was set after Ubon Ratchathani proposed to bid the Southeast Asian Games.

On 2 September 2016, Former governor of Ubon Ratchathani Province, Somsak Changtrakul announced that Ubon Ratchathani would bid the 33rd Southeast Asian Games and 13th Asean Para Games in 2025 at the Ubon Ratchathani Citizen Association. They delivered their bid file to former governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), Sakon Wannapong.[10]

Udonthani[11]