Host city Vientiane, Laos Nations participating 11 Events 240 in 17 sports | Motto We Are ASEAN Family Athletes participating ≈1700 | |
Opening ceremony 12 December 2012 (2012-12-12) | ||
The 2012 ASEAN University Games officially known as the 16th ASEAN University Games was a multi-sports event held in Vientiane, Laos from 12 December 2012 to 20 December 2012 with 240 events in 17 sports featured in the games. The games involves athletes from the universities of the countries which are members of the ASEAN University Sports Council.
Contents
This was the first time Laos host the games. Laos is the eighth nation to host the games after Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines and Vietnam.
The final medal tally was led by Malaysia, followed by Vietnam and Thailand with host Laos in fifth place. Several games records were broken during the games. With little or no controversy at all, the games were deemed generally successful, with the rising standard of university sports competition among the Southeast Asian nations.
Development and preparation
The Organising Committee of the 16th ASEAN University Games was formed to oversee the staging of the games.
Venues
The 16th ASEAN University Games had 16 venues for the games.
Logo and mascots
The 2012 ASEAN University Games logo is a "Nark" or "Naga" a worshipped animal thoughout the ASEAN nations. It is said to be an animal full of omnipotent power and it's believed to parry spirits and evilness. According to Laotian myths, "Nark" or "Naga" appeared as long ago as 450 years in the Lao saga before the establishment of Vientiane in which it took its name "Vientiane Chanthabury Sisattanabhut". The "Naga" logo bears the Plumeria alba, commonly known as Frangipani and locally known as Dok Champa, the symbolic and national flower of Laos which is filled with its beauty, fragrance and auspiciousness, symbolises Laos as the host nation of the games. Overall, the logo represents the ASEAN University Games which aims at creating good will of spiritual solidarity, friendship and peace within the ASEAN community as mentioned in the slogan "We are ASEAN Family".
The official mascots of the 2012 ASEAN University Games are a pair of bees named Mr. Santiphap and Miss Mittaphap. It is said that the Bee is a peaceful insect that will always protect itself from external disturbance and dangers and work in groups with great solidarity, strength and efficiency like savants and architectures of the ASEAN nations. The name of the male mascot, Mr. Santiphab (Mr. Peace) represents the Peace between the ASEAN nations whereas the name of the female mascot, Miss Mittaphab (Miss Friendship) represents the Best Friendship between the ASEAN nations.
Songs
The theme song of the games is "We are ASEAN Family", a song eponymous to the theme of the games.
Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony began with the parade of athletes from participating nations into the stadium. The Laos contingent was led by Sonexay Mangkhuela, the gold medalist of Taekwondo event at the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia. This was followed by the speech of the minister of Sports and Education of Laos, Phankham Viphavanh, the declaration of the games opening by Thongsing Thammovong, then Prime minister of Laos and the athlete and referee oath and the lighting of the games cauldron. The ceremony concludes with the song and dance performance by 1600 Laotian primary school students.
Sports
The 2012 ASEAN University Games programme featured 240 events in 17 sports and disciplines. The number of events in each discipline is noted in parentheses.
Medal table
A total of 800 medals comprising 240 Gold medals, 240 Silver medals and 320 Bronze medals were awarded to athletes. The host Laos' performance was its best ever yet in which it placed fifth overall among participating nations.
* Host nation (Laos)