Photos: Highlights of the 2019 SEA Games opening ceremony

Philippine delegates wave during the opening ceremony. In a spectacle filled with Philippine tradition and stardom, the nation welcomed thousands of competitors from around the region for 11 days of games that got off to a rough start due to transport snafus and a last-minute rush to wrap up construction.

Philippine delegates wave flags. As the Games opened Typhoon Kammuri was rumbling in off the Pacific, with forecasters expecting it to hit early next week packing heavy rain and strong winds.

Athletes and officials from Brunei. Despite the threat, the SEA Games opening ceremony at the national arena was a festival of dance, music and sport - even Duterte was shaking his hips.

"I declare open the SEA Games for the 30th time, celebrating the games of Southeast Asia," the president said in English, before welcoming visitors in Filipino.

Athletes and officials from Indonesia. The ceremony at the indoor Philippine Arena, 25 kilometres north of the capital Manila, kicked off with a medley of vibrant routines set to traditional folk music, with dozens of performers dancing or wielding machetes, daggers and sticks.

Athletes and officials from Malaysia (top) and Laos. Athletes and delegates from the 11 competing nations then paraded around the 55,000-seat venue in traditional Philippine pageant style, with many waving national flags and taking selfies.

Malaysian team march. The loudest cheer of the night came when Duterte - sat alongside Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah - was seen dancing and clapping along to the Philippine team's parade music, "Manila" by Hotdog.

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony. There were musical performances from apl.de.ap, the Filipino-American rapper best known for being in hip-hop group The Black Eyed Peas, local crooner Robert Sena and the Philippines national anthem was sung by Lani Misalucha, known as "Asia's Nightingale".

Cambodia's team hold flags. This year's Games in Clark, Manila and Subic, which run through to December 11, are particularly complex with a record 56 sports across dozens of venues that are in some cases hours apart by car, even before Manila's notorious gridlock traffic is factored in.

Athletes and officials from Brunei. Thousands of athletes have flooded into the Philippines for the multi-sport event, and an embarrassing string of gaffes led to Duterte calling for a probe into the chaotic organisation which even sparked the hashtag #SeaGamesFail.

Singapore athletes hold flags during the opening ceremony.

Athletes and officials from Thailand march during opening ceremony.

Athletes and officials from East Timor march during the opening ceremony.

Athletes and officials from Vietnam march during the opening ceremony.

Dancers in traditional dress perform during the opening ceremony.

Performers take part as a digital fireworks fountain is shown during the opening ceremony.