First-ever SEA Plus Youth Games slated in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will host the maiden edition of the Southeast Asian Games Plus Youth Games, a multi-sports event for athletes aged 16 years old and below set December 2-14 next year.

Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino, the founder of the biennial meet, said he would work closely with Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio, whom he has named as head of the local organizing committee, to make it a success.

“This is my gift to Philippine sports,” said Tolentino.

“It’s just the perfect event for what we have been promoting from the start — sports tourism,” Gregorio, for his part, said.

Unlike the SEA Games, the SEA Plus YG isn’t exclusive for the region’s 11 member nations, opening its door to Asian countries like Bahrain, Bhutan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Macau, Nepal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Turkmenistan.

There are also plans to allow either or both Australia and New Zealand to join.

Aquatics and athletics are put in as mandatory disciplines along with Olympic sports triathlon, judo, boxing, taekwondo, skateboarding, wrestling, fencing, basketball, tennis and gymnastics, non-Olympic events jiu jitsu, billiards, dance sport and mixed martial arts and traditional sport arnis.

Tolentino said gold medals to be won, particularly in the traditional event the host country will endorse, will be capped to a maximum of six golds.

Filipino-foreign athletes who want to compete will need just a passport to be eligible to see action.