In 1959, the first edition of this multi-sport event was organised in Bangkok to promote co-operation and understanding among countries in the Southeast Asia. The biennial event was subsequently held at different cities in the region, including in Singapore for the first time in 1973.

Determined to make a good first impression, the then young nation-state embarked on the construction of a National Stadium and also designated the newly-built public housing town of Toa Payoh as the Games Village for the athletes and officials to stay in. The result was a spectacular introduction to Singapore as a modern city-state.

Various publicity materials and merchandise were also produced for the event. They included a poster advertising the event, art matchboxes featuring the pictograms of all 16 events and a set of commemorative stamps. They came in modern designs paired with a gold-and-silver theme, which were seemingly inspired by the now iconic Olympic Games identity that German designer Otl Aicher created for Munich a year earlier.