🇮🇩 Indonesia pushes for a SEA Games reset
The proposed "plus" version invites outside nations to boost quality and focus on Olympic sports 🏅
🧭 The Main Takeaway
🇮🇩 Indonesia’s Olympic Committee has proposed a “SEA Games Plus” event to include sporting powerhouses like Australia and New Zealand, with a potential 2028 debut in the Philippines.
The move aims to boost competition quality and focus on Olympic sports, countering what it calls host-driven manipulation in the current SEA Games.
We are in contact with several countries to begin expanding the SEA Games. In addition to the 11 Southeast Asian nations, Bhutan and several Oceania countries such as New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji could take part.
(Raja Sapta Oktohari, President of NOC Indonesia)
📡Why It’s on Our Radar
The SEA Games Federation is at a crossroads after a controversial 2025 edition in Thailand.
Indonesia’s surprise proposal risks dividing the 11-member bloc and could redefine Southeast Asia’s premier multi-sport event just as post-Games reforms are being discussed.
⚠️What’s at Stake
🤝 Regional unity – The unilateral proposal bypasses traditional consensus, threatening the SEA Games’ identity as a Southeast Asian event.
🏋️ Athlete development – Exposure to top-tier nations like Australia could raise standards, but may widen the medal gap for smaller countries.
💸 Financial burden – Hosting a larger, more competitive event could strain budgets and logistics for future hosts.
🏅 Olympic focus – Shifting emphasis to Olympic sports may marginalize popular regional sports and alter national medal strategies.
🏅The Big Picture
The SEA Games have long balanced regional camaraderie with competitive ambitions.
Indonesia’s push reflects frustration with host countries prioritizing sports where they excel, a practice that peaked at the 2025 Thailand games, where the host topped the table with 233 golds.
🌍 The Regional Stakes
🇲🇾 Malaysia – The 2027 host has given a non-committal response, emphasizing the need for collective discussion before any format change.
🇵🇭 Philippines – Positioned as the proposed first host in 2028, with parallel youth games (“SEA Plus YG”) also planned for Manila.
🇸🇬 Singapore – Has welcomed dialogue but awaits formal federation discussions, highlighting the need to avoid calendar clashes with existing youth events.
🇱🇦 Smaller nations – Countries like Laos, Myanmar and Brunei risk being overshadowed if the games become dominated by sporting powerhouses.
The idea of enlarging the existing SEA Games or organising a separate 'SEA Games Plus' will require comprehensive discussion by all since it will affect not only athletes' preparation programmes, but also the infrastructure, logistics, and overall costs of the Games.
(Jefri Ngadirin, Malaysia’s National Sports Committee Director-General)
🏠 Why This Hits Home
For athletes and fans, this debate shapes the future of regional competition.
A more competitive format could offer better Olympic preparation but might reduce medal opportunities for smaller nations, directly impacting national pride and sports funding across Southeast Asia.
🧭 Beyond the Headlines
While the 2025 games set new athletic benchmarks, including five world records in weightlifting and Thai sprinter Puripol Boonson’s historic 9.94-second 100m, controversies marred them:
🇰🇭 Cambodia’s withdrawal over border conflict safety concerns 🚧
⚠️ Cheating scandals, including a lifetime ban for a Thai e-sports athlete 🎮
🏟️ Poor attendance at major venues despite Thailand’s record 233-gold haul 🥇
🤼 Officiating disputes in sports like pencak silat and muay thai 🥊
The chaotic backdrop underscores why Indonesia is pushing for reform—and why other nations urge caution in redesigning the region’s sporting flagship.
Bottom Line
🇮🇩 Indonesia wants to upgrade the SEA Games by introducing tougher competition, but the plan must first navigate regional politics and consensus.
The future of Southeast Asian sport now hinges on a federation-wide debate about ambition versus tradition.
Need More Angles?
Daily Tribune Indonesian batting for SEA Games expansion
New Strait Times NSC chief says it’s premature to discuss ‘SEA Games Plus’ idea
The Strait Times SEA Games 2025: After a colourful and chaotic Games, Thailand says goodbye
The Strait Times A youth SEA Games? Multi-sport meet for athletes aged 17 and below proposed by Philippines
VNExpress Indonesia proposes expanded SEA Games format including Australia and other nations
(ELS/QOB)