The 13th ASEAN Para Games are poised to begin in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, with an opening ceremony scheduled this evening at seven o’clock local time that will usher in one of the region’s most significant para-sport gatherings.

Athletes from across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are arriving in Korat for the week-long multi-sport event, which runs from twenty to twenty-six January and will feature competitions in nineteen sports for para athletes, making it one of the largest editions in the history of the Games.

The province is hosting the tournament for the second time since two thousand eight, reaffirming Thailand’s leadership in regional sporting inclusivity and accessible competition.

Preparations have been extensive, with organisers emphasising safety, accessibility and the unifying spirit of sport as more than two thousand athletes prepare to compete in disciplines ranging from wheelchair basketball and blind football to para-athletics and para-swimming.

The Games will be marked by inspiring performances, strengthened cooperation among Southeast Asian nations through sport, and the display of cultural vibrancy as Korat’s local community welcomes visitors to venues across the city.

The opening ceremony itself is expected to showcase local culture woven with high-profile staging and will be available to watch through designated live broadcasts, allowing fans across ASEAN to witness the official start of the event.

As competition gets underway, athletes will compete for regional supremacy and personal achievement, embodying inclusivity, resilience and the collective pride of the ASEAN sporting community.