Competition in several sports began on January 15, with the official opening ceremony held on the evening of January 20 and the closing ceremony scheduled for the evening of January 27. The ASEAN Para Games bring together para sports delegations from 11 Southeast Asian countries, competing across 19 sports with a total of 536 medal events.
This scale reflects the steady development of the para sports movement in the region, while underscoring the increasingly important role of the ASEAN Para Games within the international competition system. It also serves as a crucial stepping stone towards the 2026 Asian Para Games and the 2028 Paralympic Games.
Across the venues of the ASEAN Para Games, sporting achievement remains a goal for every delegation. Above all, however, the Games embody a spirit of sharing, the celebration of humanity, and the humanitarian values they promote.
Huynh Vinh Ai, President of the Viet Nam Paralympic Committee, affirmed: “Humanitarian values must be placed first. What matters most is that the community of people with disabilities has a regional sporting arena where they can integrate, compete, and be recognised by society with respect.”
Anna Ruiz, a representative leader of the Philippine delegation, said: “What leaves the deepest impression on me at each ASEAN Para Games is the sense of closeness between people. Most admirable of all is that despite living with disabilities, the athletes continue to strive and achieve outstanding results.”
The 13th ASEAN Para Games has also highlighted the host nation Thailand’s efforts to address shortcomings and limitations identified during the recent SEA Games. Tran Duc Tho, Secretary General of the Viet Nam Paralympic Committee, highly praised the efforts of the host country’s organising committee.
The performance gap among delegations is gradually narrowing as many countries have increased investment in young athletes, creating a need for renewed approaches and longer-term preparation across the region.
Competing at the 13th ASEAN Para Games with a delegation of 184 members, the Viet Nam Para Sports Delegation is taking part in 11 sports, aiming to win between 40 and 50 gold medals and to finish among the top five delegations at the Games.
Le Thi Hoang Yen, Deputy Director of the Viet Nam Department of Physical Education and Sports under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Head of the Viet Nam Para Sports Delegation, emphasised the significance of the Games beyond medal counts: “Each athlete is a cultural ambassador, carrying the aspiration to overcome themselves and conveying Viet Nam’s message of solidarity, friendship, and peace to friends across the region.”
With the slogan “Create Pride Together”, the 13th ASEAN Para Games continues to affirm the unique power of sport in connecting people, nurturing trust, and spreading enduring humanitarian values throughout Southeast Asia, today and into the future.
