What started as an idea to address a missing step in youth sports development is now becoming one of the Philippines’ biggest international sporting projects.
The inaugural Southeast Asian Plus Youth Games (SEAPYG) took a significant step toward becoming a reality after holding its first Executive Council Meeting on Saturday at Solaire Resort in Parañaque City, gathering representatives from Southeast Asia and neighboring regions ahead of the event’s scheduled debut in December 2027.
For Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, the Games were born out of a simple question during the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain: where do promising young athletes compete after national grassroots tournaments but before reaching the continental level?
“Naisip ko yan nung (2025) Bahrain Asian Youth Games. Asian Youth Games papunta sa Youth Games parang kulang. Ano ‘yan pagdating ng school, diretso ka na sa Asian Youth Games? Sila Palarong Pambansa, sila Batang Pinoy diretso na sa Asian Youth Games? Parang may kulang,” said Tolentino.
That gap became the foundation of the SEAPYG, an under-16 multisport event envisioned as a developmental bridge rather than simply another competition on the calendar.
Tolentino also explained why the event carries the word “Plus” in its name, emphasizing that the tournament aims to extend beyond Southeast Asia and raise the overall level of competition.
“Southeast Asian Plus Youth Games. Bakit plus? Para yung non-Southeast Asian maisama natin para mas marami, mas maganda, competitive,” he explained.
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MEET THE SEAPYG EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Regional officials and key sports leaders from founding member nations and invited Asian nations gather for the 1st Southeast Asian Plus Youth Games 2027 Executive Council Meeting.
The inaugural SEAPYG is set for December 2027. (
: POC) | via… pic.twitter.com/D1KgGy50gC
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) July 11, 2026
The concept has already generated regional interest as Eight Southeast Asian nations participated in Saturday’s Executive Council Meeting, while delegates from 15 countries under the tournament’s “Plus” category also attended. Among those represented were the Maldives, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Chinese Taipei, Bahrain, and Nepal.
Although Japan, Palestine, North Korea, and India were unable to send representatives, Tolentino remains optimistic that their absence from the meeting will not prevent them from competing when the Games officially begin.
“Dalawang school of thoughts. Pwedeng umattend ngayon pero hindi pala magpaparticipate. Pwedeng wala dito pero magpaparticipate. So, kaya sabi ko kanina na we’re praying na lahat ng nandito will participate. And, positive naman. I think they will. So, this will be a very, very good start and exciting and for the country, for the youth, lahat nandito na,” he added.
Momentum continues to build toward the inaugural edition, with representatives from eight of the 11 Southeast Asian Games Federation members and delegates from 17 invited National Olympic Committees taking part in the planning process.
The Philippines will host the Games across four venue clusters—Manila, Pasig, Tagaytay, and Subic—with competitions expected to showcase the country’s existing sports infrastructure.
Local Organizing Committee president and CEO Tatas Suzara said the focus is not only on staging the tournament but on delivering an event that meets international expectations.
“Of course, my role here as President, CEO is to make sure we deliver the games with international standards. I think, with 23 sports and four clusters, we will be able to deliver at par with international standards with different sports,” said Suzara.
He added that the organizing committee plans to maximize facilities managed by the Philippine Sports Commission under chairman Pato Gregorio, including the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City and the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
More than a new regional competition, the SEAPYG is being positioned as a long-term investment in athlete development—one designed to give the region’s next generation a meaningful stage before they step onto the wider Asian and global sporting scene.
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