Athletes from Thailand parade waving the

Athletes from Thailand parade waving their national flag during the opening ceremony of the 25th Southeast Asian Games at the national stadium in Vientiane on December 9, 2009. The 10-day biennial showpiece officially opened on December 9 in the capital Vientiane, with attention focused on medal hopefuls a head of the Asian Games in China in 2010. The region's biggest sport event will gather athletes from Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam to compete. AFP PHOTO/Bay ISMOYO (Photo credit should read BAY ISMOYO/AFP via Getty Images)