 |
| (Image Source: Manila Standard/Philippine Olympic Committee) |
The Southeast Asian Plus Youth Games (SEAPYG) was officially launched in the Philippines through elaborate day-long activities held last July 11, 2026 — a fitting ceremony for a first-of-its-kind multi-sport competition that benefits not only the country’s young athletes, but also those of the region and Asia as well.
During the multi-sport event's media launch at the Solaire Resort in Parañaque City, SEAPYG’s founding president and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino stated, “Where do our [young] athletes go to grow? Between the playgrounds where dreams are born and the grand arenas of the Asian Youth Games and Youth Olympic Games lies a gap our region needs to bridge. The SEA Plus Youth Games is our answer — built by Southeast Asia and open to the wider Asian family, it is dedicated entirely to athletes 16 years old and younger who represent the future of the Olympic Movement.” Tolentino welcomed top National Olympic Committee and embassy officials from 15 nations at the launch of the inaugural SEAPYG which will be hosted by the Philippines and is slated to take place in Manila, Pasig City, Tagaytay City and Subic on December 2-14, 2027 where athletes from 28 countries — 11 in Southeast Asia and 17 from the rest of the continent — will compete in 23 sports spread out over the four clusters, according to Ramon “Tats” Suzara, president and CEO of the Local Organizing Committee. “With 23 sports and four clusters, we will be able to be at par with international standards in different sports. This is one of the strong agreements with President Bambol and [PSC] chairman [Patrick] Pató Gregorio,” said SEAYPG Local Organizing Committee President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ramon “Tats” Suzara, noting the other main goal of hosting is to utilize the sports facilities of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
The day started with the games’ first Executive Council Meeting and the delegates’ tour of the facilities at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) and at the SMX Center for International Trade and Exhibitions (SMXCITE). Activities concluded with a gala dinner and cultural presentation that regaled the delegates from Qatar, Chinese-Taipei, Bhutan, Japan, Kuwait, Nepal, Maldives, Malaysia, Macau, Kyrgyzstan, Bahrain, DPR Korea, India, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Turkmenistan. The SEAGPYG program is composed of mandatory sports, athletics and swimming, 12 Olympic sports, five non-Olympic sports, one traditional and para athletics and swimming. The other sports are arnis, taekwondo, judo, billiards, dancesport, fencing, jiu-jitsu, karate, mixed martial arts and wrestling to be played at the SMXCITE; 3×3 and 5×5 basketball at the PhilSports Complex along with aquatics and athletics; boxing, tennis and gymnastics at RMSC; golf, speed cubing and skateboard in Tagaytay City; and triathlon in Subic.
