Host city Manila, Philippines Events 28 sports Closing ceremony 3 December 1991 | Nations participating 9 Opening ceremony 24 November 1991 | |
Officially opened by Corazon Aquino
President of the Philippines | ||
The 1991 Southeast Asian Games, officially known as the 16th Southeast Asian Games was a multi-sport event held in Manila, the Philippines from 24 November to 3 December 1991 with 28 sports featured in the games. This was the second time the country hosted the games and its first since 1981. It was officially opened by President Corazon Aquino at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila through a colourful opening ceremony. It was the only SEA Games at that time where the overall championship was heavily contested. The deciding medal came from the last sporting event - women's marathon where Indonesia got the gold medal.
Philippines is the sixth nation to host the Southeast Asian Games after Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
* Host nation (Philippines)
Concerns and controversies
The Philippines should have tallied a total of 91 gold medals but one of the gold medals from boxing was proclaimed unofficial. The said gold medal should have been fought by a Filipino boxer against a Thai boxer but the latter was found positive in the doping tests. The gold medal was, at first, given to the Philippines but after a few days, the SEAG Organizing Committee declared that there will be no gold and silver medalists for the said event in boxing because there was no battle fought. They had forgiven the Thai boxer.