🎣 Opening
Hello, and welcome to The Southeast Asia Desk Weekly Dispatch Podcast.
I’m Akasha Viandri.
This is where we slow down the headlines and make sense of the stories shaping our region.
Knock, knock. Who’s there?
A question: Should Southeast Asia’s beloved multi-sport festival get… bigger?
Because Indonesia has just dropped a new idea on the table, “SEA Games Plus.”
Hmm. Interesting. Let’s hear the proposal.
📝 The Proposal
To understand this, we need to go back to the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand.
That edition sparked more than a few controversies.
From cheating scandals that led to a lifetime ban for a Thai e-sports athlete, officiating disputes in several sports, Cambodia’s withdrawal, and that’s not even the full list.
After all that, a thought surfaced: maybe the SEA Games need a refresh, and that’s where Indonesia comes in, with an unusual idea.
Indonesia’s Olympic Committee, led by Raja Sapta Oktohari, has proposed an expanded version of the Southeast Asian Games called “SEA Games Plus.”
Under this vision, the 11 member nations would open the competition to outsiders like Australia, New Zealand, Bhutan, and Fiji.
The aim?
To boost competition quality, rather than a rotating buffet of events,
and, quietly, to counter what it calls host-driven manipulation.
Ups!
But the point is, this could raise standards, create tougher competition, and better prepare for major international events, like the Olympics.
⚖️ The Struggle
Now, on the surface, this sounds exciting.
But here’s where it gets complicated.
First, identity.
The SEA Games have always been Southeast Asia’s festival.
Shifting toward Olympic-focused sports might improve global competitiveness,
but it could also sideline regional sports, the very events that give the Games their unique flavour.
Second, keeping up.
With Pacific powerhouses joining in, the medal gap could stretch even further, especially for smaller countries.
Third, the bill.
More nations mean more logistics, more travel, more scheduling, and more costs.
You know, bigger games, bigger budgets.
All of which future hosts will have to carry.
🌏 Diverse Reactions
Reactions across Southeast Asia have been mixed.
Malaysia, set to host the 2027 edition, is cautious, stressing that any reform must be a collective decision, not a solo move.
The Philippines, appears more open. They are likely to host the proposed 2028 SEA Games Plus, with parallel youth games also planned in Manila.
Singapore has signaled interest in the conversation.
And the smaller nations?
They’re watching closely, aware that expansion could bring excitement, but also a more uneven playing field.
🎙️ The Wrap
And this is what makes the proposal so challenging.
Because this isn’t just about sports.
It’s a debate about cooperation and competition.
And about what Southeast Asia really wants from its flagship Games.
Add regional politics into the mix, and the decision gets even heavier.
And no, nothing has been decided yet.
This is still very much in the talking stage.
Which also means this won’t be an easy road. Or a short one.
Whatever the final outcome, whether it’s SEA Games Plus, SEA Games Reborn, SEA Games 2.0…. you name it, let’s hope it’s the right one.
A decision that brings victory not just for individual countries, but for Southeast Asia as a whole.
Because once we step onto a larger stage, whoever wins doesn’t just represent themselves.
They show the strength of Southeast Asia.
I’m Akasha Viandri, and this has been The Southeast Asia Desk Weekly Dispatch Podcast, where we slow down the noise and follow the region’s compass.
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter at thesoutheastasiadesk.com, and join us again next weekend for stories to linger over, one weekend at a time
(AKS/QOB)
