As well as the opening ceremony, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen presided over the closing ceremony of the 12th ASEAN Para Games. The opening ceremony was a comprehensive art performance with hundreds of participating artists and a brilliant fireworks display.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the ceremony. Photo: BTV Cambodia

The organizers played back memorable and impressive moments of the athletes competing at the games, before Cambodian officials delivered speeches evaluating the success of the 12th ASEAN Para Games.

One of the touching images at the Closing Ceremony of the 12th ASEAN Para Games was when Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and everyone else made a heart shape as a message of love to disabled athletes in particular and people with disabilities in general.

The organizing committee took the time to introduce the achievements of the sports delegations participating in the 12th ASEAN Para Games. At the end of the closing ceremony, there were torch extinguishing ceremonies, flag lowering ceremonies and handing over to Thailand, the country that will host the 13th ASEAN Para Games in 2025. Finally, the congress ended with the song "Thank you Cambodia".

Scene of the closing ceremony of ASEAN Para Games 12. Photo: THAI DUONG

Participating in the 12th ASEAN Para Games with 127 athletes, competing in 8/14 sports, the Vietnamese disabled sports delegation successfully completed its mission by winning 66 gold medals, 58 silver medals and 77 bronze medals, ranking third overall (the initial target was to win from 50 to 55 gold medals and rank in the top 4 overall).

The Indonesian delegation ranked first overall with 159 gold medals, 148 silver medals and 94 bronze medals; second was the Thai delegation with 126 gold medals, 110 silver medals and 92 bronze medals.

The moment fans at Morodok Techo Stadium clapped and sang along to the music. Video: THAI DUONG

HOAI PHUONG