Inaugural SEA Plus Youth Games to be held in Manila in 2028

The Southeast Asian Olympic leaders have approved the launch of the first youth-focused multi-sport competition in the region, which will be first held in Manila in 2028.

Open to athletes aged 17 and below, the Southeast Asian Plus Youth Games is designed to prepare competitors for the Asian Youth Games and the Youth Olympic Games. It is ideally scheduled at least one year prior to the AYG.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who will be the founding president of the organization, said that nine of the 11 national Olympic committee presidents of the SEA Games have given their approval to join this event. They are Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Timor Leste.

“The SEA Plus YG is Southeast Asia’s answer to molding athletes at the grassroots level, make them competitive at the AYG level and able and capable of winning medals at the YOG,” said Tolentino.

The lineup includes two required sports, up to 12 Olympic sports, and a maximum of five non-Olympic Asian sports. One traditional sport with a limit of six medal events will also be featured.

The 'Plus' element allows for the invitation of at least one non-Southeast Asian nation per edition.

Manila will host the inaugural edition, with subsequent events held biennially to maintain alignment with the AYG schedule.

According to Tolentino, the goal of SEA Plus YG is to build the strong competitive groundwork these athletes need to challenge for spots on the Summer and Winter Olympic stages.