TO further elevate the competitive level of Filipino athletes, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino unveiled his landmark program SEA Plus YG (Youth Games), a new biennial multi-sport event that will become the youth version of the Southeast Games.
Tolentino aired the hope that the SEA Plus YG program will expose Filipino athletes to tough competition at a young age when the country hosts its inaugural edition featuring 11 ASEAN countries and 12 invited nations from Asia next year.
“Dati kasi Batang Pinoy then Palarong Pambansa, after nun, lalaban na agad mga atleta natin sa slot para sa SEA Games, Asian Games at iba pa. Dito, ginawan natin sila ng tournament na sila-sila ng same age group nila magpapagalingan,” said Tolentino during the press briefing and launch at the PSC Media Room in Manila.
SEA Plus YG fills void
“Gusto kasi nating punan yung void between Palarong Pambansa, Batang Pinoy tapos Asian Youth Games na agad then Youth Olympic Games. Masyadong malayo yung tinatalon. Dito sa SEA Plus YG, may regional level sila na paglalaruan para mas maihanda sila sa pag-kayat sa AYG at YOG,” added the POC chief.
Tolentino bared that aside from our neighbors at the ASEAN, they have invited participants from Bahrain, Bhutan, Japan, Krygyztan, Macau, Nepal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Turkmenistan.
The biennial event will host 2 mandatory sports, 12 Olympic sports, 5 Asian non-Olympic sports and 1 traditional sports when it kicks off at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, SMX Convention Center, New Clark City Aquatic Center AND Athletic Oval.
“I think, it’s time we also tweak the format of the SEA Games para mas malawak ang competition. There are member countries who are telling me to add Oceania teams. Kaso wag muna, focus muna tayo sa Southeast Asia then yung mga nearby countries,” he said.
“Umpisa pa lang naman yung SEA Plus YG,” he added. “Pero tiwala tayo tatagal at lalaki ito. Maganda naman ang ating plano."
Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick Gregorio said the event will be a big boost to the agency’s grassroots sports development program.
“It is a great idea, it is an excellent idea as a matter of fact because this is what we need in terms of youth development, grassroots sports,” said Gregorio.
“Thailand Sea Games pa lang matagal na itong ibinubulong ni Cong Bambol sa akin. 100 percent sa side ng PSC, yung page-expand ng national pool for the national youth teams will be very much supported. Atleast we have a new tournament to look forward to."
Gregorio also revealed that with athletes from 33 countries arriving in the Philippines for the maiden SEA Plus YG, this will also be aligned to the PSC” sports tourism program.
“Shoot na shoot ito sa program natin, sports tourism. Akala ko nga yung plus ni Cong Bambol akala ko mga dalawa o tatlong bansa lang, pero look, 12 ang invited Asian teams plus 11 ASEAN countries, ang dami nun,” he added.
“Very exciting ito for us. Tumitibay na rin kasi yung program natin to support the national youth pool and very timely itong program ni Cong Bambol,” added Gregorio.
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