SEAGAMES 2007 Nakhon Ratcharima games SEA-GAMES 24 th. SEA GAMES

This December, get ready for the 24th SEA Games or Southeast Asian Games — gathering over 5,000 athletes from the best teams in 11 countries (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Timor Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mayanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) in a colorful and exciting week-long championship.

Until 1975, the SEA Games were called the South East Asian Peninsular Games. When Indonesia and the Philippines were accepted as members, the name changed to to South East Asian Games.

Today the SEA Games test the mettle of top players in soccer, volleyball, cycling, judo, taekwondo and dozens of other sports in a lead-up to the 2008 Summer Olympics.

In all, 400-plus gold medals will be in contention during the nine-day event being hosted in 2007 by Thailand from December 6, 2007 to December 16, 2007.

For the past year, the Bangkok area has been feverishly building two indoor stadiums and a 20,000 capacity outdoor stadium, Olympic pool, bicycle track, shooting range, and more in anticipation of the games, which will coincide with Thailand's 80th birthday celebration of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

On the Web, catch all the action at sites featuring pictures, news and updates, scores and schedules, story articles and a bit of history on the Southeast Asian Games